Milo came back with a contract that said I and my party would not talk about what was said inside of this room outside it. It was simple enough, but then Milo asked if Candi would need to sign contracts.
'You can control her if she gets out of control, but now that you have bit her both her and Trinity will be less wild.' -Drania.
"She will be fine, the one that's cuddled into her is a werewolf, so I think she will be fine, neither of them is very good at being monsters," I explained to Milo after Lesha got off my lap.
"Sure, mind if I ask something? You don't have to answer, your business is your own, but, are you all couples? I don't mean to pry, but I have never really heard of such a thing, and I found it hard to believe that there was a group of women like you."
I took a pin that Lesha handed me from I am not sure where, and I poked my finger with it. A small drop of blood formed and I pressed my finger to the page.
There was a brief flash in my left eye, but then it was gone. I felt no different, but then why would I. I should only feel something if I break the contract if I would even be allowed.
"Yes, we are all couples. This is Lesha, my partner. Over beside her are Candi and Trinity, the vampire and werewolf. The last two over there are Mei, who uses growth magic, and Gloria who loves her big sword," I explained, pointing to each of the girls.
"Interesting, I am glad that you have such a tight-knit group, you will need that as you slowly work your way up in the ranks. Now, let's talk about the real reason we are all sitting in this room."
I nodded for Milo to go on, and he continued.
"As you know from Kal, I wasn't always this person. I once had a person that I cared deeply for, and I still miss her every day. Nothing will bring her or my child back, but what I can do is prevent this from happening again. I want you to help me kill Dyster," Milo said, leaning forward into his chair.
I already knew this, and that was fine, but if I was going to help I had my own job while I was here. Not only did I need to train and get stronger so I could level up the guild, but I also need to start forming alliances. If that didn't work, then taking over the ones that couldn't be a part of what I was trying to do would be the next option.
"If I help you, then I will need something in return, more like a series of favors, but I won't ask you anything outside of what your Guild can do. For now, just giving us a place to stay and helping us will be more than enough, but I plan on bringing all the guilds, including yours, under my banner," I said without a shred of doubt in my voice.
I was fully confident that with time I would be able to slowly take our world back from these gods. It may not have been perfect before, but if I can get everyone working in the same direction, maybe things could be different than they were.
"That is a pretty bold claim, but my sources say that you might not be dreaming too big. I can agree to your terms if you're fine with mine. I look forward to seeing what the future is going to be like with you around," Milo said with a chuckle.
"First thing that we need to deal with, this Granvel, and his Guild," I said, looking directly at Milo.
He has sandy blonde hair and gray eyes that looked far older than the body they were in. For a moment, I thought I saw something in the back of them, but then Milo turned away.
"Don't worry about them yet. They are mad, but you also sent them a pretty clear warning not to mess around with you. We have eyes on them, and we will know if they start trying to move people around. First, you need to go up to the Waystone on the fourth floor. The girls have had a tour, so you should be eager to find your way. After, Hershal and Braum will be taking you out to grab a couple Gem Hearts if you can get them," Milo explained as he stood up.
We all shook his hand and then headed out of the room. So far everything has been in order, and things were in motion now.
The girls and I headed from the room and back through the now empty commons room.
"Jester seems like a nice person, so this should be good. I am really excited to see these Gem Hearts we have been talking about!" Lesha said with excitement as we started back up the stairs to where the room we were staying was.
"Yes, it will be nice to be out on the open sea in a boat," Gloria said with a smile as we passed the room and headed up another flight of twisting stairs.
"A boat? Like that little thing, we saw on the shore? I have ridden in those before and they aren't very safe! And what do you mean, open sea? Just how far will we be going out?" I asked with some trepidation.
I wasn't really overly thrilled about this idea. The only water I had ever been in was up to my neck when I stood in the deepest parts. We only had ponds and small streams, most of the water was pumped out of the ground.
"It will be fine, they use big boats, and the place we will be going to is only about ten meters deep so we can just swim down," Gloria said like it was something that everyone should just be able to do.
"Oh, um, hmm, well okay, that is a bit deeper than my neck, so I might be in trouble. We didn't have a lot of deep water, so, ya, I don't know how to swim," I said in a very small voice.
I had learned to swing a sword, fight with boys, ride horses...but I didn't know how to swim. For some reason, the way the girl looked at me with pity made me feel like I had made a mistake somewhere along the way.
I sighed, but Lesha squeezed my hand and kissed my cheek.
"You will learn, and we will teach you. You can be the only one that can help out, right?" Lesha asked with a smile that made me feel a little bit lighter.
Maybe swimming wouldn't be that bad, I mean I was an adult. How hard could it actually be? We continued on up the spiral staircase past the third floor until we reached a single room, with a big white stone with blue marking. It was just like the stone that Kal and Dyster had, but this one was a meter long.
Time to see what kind of trouble Healia had been getting into while I was gone.
"How do we do it?" I asked once I was standing inside the small room with the girls.
"You don't need to do anything but be near the stone" Called the familiar voice of Healia.
I was surprised, I thought that I would have had to do something like touch the stone and say some words.
"How is everything back there?" I asked, a bit worried about what I might get back for a replay.
"Things are good, but your brother Mort died, so there is that," Healia said casually, but that made me rush up to the stone.
"What? How? Wait, did the tree work? Is he alive?" I asked into the stone like it would help if it said the words closer to the stone.
"Yes, he is fine, mostly, but he has to stay in for the week with a third arm attached to his forehead. It's quite the comical sight, and your brother keeps trying to think up different handshakes. So, it's not all bad, and now Mort is helping your father with making things to sell," Healia explained and the tension left me.
The witch did that on purpose, she knew that it would get me worked up! I took a deep breath in and started to explain everything that happened.
Healia stayed quiet the entire time until I got to the part about the Ground Pounders and what I did to them.
"Good girl, men like that don't deserve to continue breathing, but what does this mean for you in the city? Dyster won't like that you hurt his prized guild."
"Jester has people watching them, for now, we just need to get stronger, but I wanted to ask you something. Is it okay for me to start a fight with Giyadel? He is killing human women by turning them into his bed with promises of riches and lives of luxury."
"You do what you want, but just know that Giyadel will bring the fight to us if you start interfering in his business. Still, I agree that the monster needs to be stopped, just use your discretion. You are still weak in the eyes of the gods, so I suggest you work on your own power before hopping into bed with a lion," Healia explained to me.
"I know that, but it is hard to sit by ideally when I know this is happening!"
"But going and getting yourself or the girls killed because you can't control yourself is not the answer to this problem. From what I have heard so far, this Jester is the real deal. So, try and work with him and get stronger. You need power first before you can challenge others," Healia told me, and I stepped back from the rock.
She was right and getting the girls hurt or worse was not my plan. I would just need to get stronger so I could protect everyone, but I would also need to help the girls get stronger.
"Thank you, I hope I can be finished here so I can get back home. I already miss my father, and even my brothers a little bit," I said straightening back up, and Lesha came and slipped her hand into mine.
"Don't rush K, this is your first time being outside in the world, you need to explore and try new things! There is no rush right now, your brothers are doing good, and once you get a Waystone, you can start to send the new member back."
"When I get the stone, can't I just come back and Visit with it?" I asked.
"No, the Waystones are from returning only. If you come back you would have to make the same trip all over again. Like I said, K, take your time, explore the world. The more you learn now the more you will prepare for the things that will come later. Learn how other people live their lives and see the different ways that people do things. Use this trip to expand your understanding of the world, and when it comes a time, you will be able to help people better."
Then she was gone, not even a goodbye, but this woman wasn't my mother. Still, I was glad to hear her voice and to hear her reassurances.
I turned back to Lesha who was still holding my hand.
"Okay, let's go and see these Gem Hearts. Hopefully, I can get Gobby to go in the water and get them," I said kissing her cheek and following the girls back down the stairs.
"I will teach you, don't worry. It's not that big of a deal, you never needed to swim so why would you have learned? We all will show you how," Lesha said kissing my shoulder and rubbing my arm.
I would need to learn, but I didn't want to look like an idiot in front of them.
'Don't worry about it too much, I think you will be fine.' Drania.
'Hey! You! Why did you tell me that Lishtani was some wild bloodthirsty beast?'
[She is just jealous that she has to stay inside of your head and has freedom. Unlike me, I get to come and take control of your body. Isn't that right, snookums?]
'Huh? What? Drania? Are you...like me? Do you like girls as well?'
[Oh, she likes girls, but something is wrong with her. She normally wouldn't talk about me so meanly, but I suspect it is just another part.]
'I can't control everything that I say, but Lishtani is not an angel! Yes, I like her, but that doesn't change how reckless she can be...can't tell you what… no, it's useless for me to even try. Whatever has been done to me is still there from before, but now I know that it's there, I just can't do anything about it. You need to get stronger, but until then, heed my words, but know that not everything I say can't always be trusted.' -Drania.
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GOT IT