章節 8: 27
27
In the following months, with Sylphie and Ariel…
Sylphie woke to a strange smell and strange sounds, in a strange bed, in a strange room. Sitting up, it took her several moments to remember just where she was and what had happened the previous day.
A blond man falling out of the sky. His features coming into focus and becoming familiar as he neared the ground. A splatter of red.
She shook her head, trying to force the memory nightmare from her mind. It was just a dream.
Getting up out of bed, she used magic to clean the clothes she had worn the day before and got dressed. Then, she stepped out of the room Ariel had loaned her. Which way was the princess's room?
Frowning as she tried to remember, she turned and walked left. After a few moments, she smiled as she found a maid cleaning. "Excuse me?"
The woman looked up from her work with a look a confusion and a growing look of alarm. "Yes…?"
"I'm looking for princess Ariel's room?" Sylphie tried.
The woman knocked over her bucket of water in her rush to get to her feet. Reflexively, Sylphie used water magic to gather the spill up, right the bucket, and put the water back. The maid went wide-eyed and screamed. "Assassin! Mage assassin!"
Sylphie's heart hammered in her chest in alarm as she looked behind herself, electricity dancing over her fingers as she prepared to defend herself. "Where?!"
She turned back to the maid to find her running away at speed. I don't see any assassin and she just left me here—
Guards began storming into the hall just a moment later, the maid among their number. "There! That's the assassin!"
The maid was pointing at her. Sylphie's mind reeled. "Wha-? I'm not—"
And then the guards were swinging on her and reflexes took over. Lightning filled the hall and found a multitude of targets, all holding swords and wearing heavy, metal armor.
They may as well have been lightning rods.
Sylphie sighed as she looked around the pile of moaning men and women, the hallway starting to fill with the stench of singed hair, urine, and feces. Boots and the sharp clack of heels echoed through the hall as, a moment later, Luke and Ariel joined them.
The young man assessed the situation and put his sword away. Ariel simply sighed, before holding a hand out for Sylphie. "Come with me. We should go see my father."
Sylphie took the offered hand and allowed herself to be led through the castle. Before long, they were in a small, private dining room with a man eating breakfast. He looked up from his plate and frowned at the sight of Sylphie in Ariel's company.
"Daughter. Who is your friend?"
"This is Sylphiette. She saved my life yesterday, after Derrick was killed, father."
The man hummed quietly and nodded his head. "I see. What was she doing within the castle in the first place?"
"She was—"
"I'll hear the story from her own lips, Ariel."
Ariel hid her frustration and turned to Sylphie. "Would you?"
The white-haired girl nodded. "There was a flash of light over Roa and everything disappeared. I blacked out for a moment and when I came to I was falling from very, very high up, over an unknown city. I cast a spell to get myself to the ground safely and came down inside the castle walls, destroying a Terminator boar in the process. There was a man there bleeding out and I tried to help, but I couldn't."
"From Roa, you say?" The king murmured. "Sounds like a spell gone wrong or something. Wasn't there a report of a strange magical phenomena Sauros was looking into…" He trailed off and shook his head.
"So you're a mage. What level? What field of expertise?"
Sylphie smiled. "I'm a King-level Water Mage, but I can cast every element at that level except fire. I'm also… Probably Saint-level in healing magic."
"Impossible. You can't be older than ten summers, there's no way you're King-level even if you have learned some magic at your age. And no one outside the Church of Millis gets past Advanced-level in healing or barrier magic."
"I've been working on my own spells," Sylphie explained. "I can also cast silently—"
"Horse shit."
"It's true, father," Ariel countered. On the opposite side of her from Sylphie, Luke nodded.
"I don't believe… It." He trailed off as Sylphie held up a hand and conjured a Water Ball. "Well. I'll be damned. …How old are you? Are you a hobbit?"
"I'll be ten next month, sir," Sylphie supplied. "I'm… mixed. Part elf, beast-kin, and human."
"I'd like to hire her as my personal bodyguard, to replace Derrick. Also, there is the matter of locating her lost family, who were also likely teleported in the incident," Ariel supplied.
The king hummed, taking a few forkfuls of his scrambled eggs as he considered the trio before him. "Who was your teacher, girl? Or are you self-taught?"
"Roxy Migurdia and Rudeus Greyrat, your highness," Sylphie answered with a smile.
"I've heard of Roxy Migurdia before. Just made King-level herself, over in Shirone," the man mused. "Greyrat, you say? Is he one of your kin, boy?" he asked, turning his attention to Luke.
The young noble turned bodyguard looked thoughtful. "It's possible…" Turning to Sylphie, he asked, "Who's his father?"
Sylphie's smile slipped. "Paul Greyrat. Rudy's mother is Zenith."
Scratching his head, Luke thought for a few moments, before coming to an answer. "I think I have an uncle named Paul who left the family years back, long before I was born."
The king nodded once. "I remember now. Amarant's oldest boy. He was disowned oh, some twenty-odd years back and your father was made the heir to the Notos Greyrat family." His lips twitched as though he wanted to smile at something, but he smoothed out his expression quickly. "Tell me boy, what's your estimation of the girl?"
"She's a very strong mage, sir. Before we came here—"
Ariel snapped her fingers, putting on a thoughtful face. "Oh, that reminds me, father." The man looked a bit annoyed at having Luke's report interrupted, but let it pass. "Before we came here, some poor maid mistook Sylphiette for an assassin and summoned the guards. She dispatched them all, non-lethally. But they should probably receive treatment. I would volunteer Sylphie's service, but I'm afraid a few of them may bear some grudge, due to the manner in which she incapacitated them. It was quite humiliating."
Frowning, the man stroked his beard. "How many guards?"
"Thirteen," Luke answered immediately. "I believe she used a lightning spell. I recognize the signs, having been on the receiving end of that spell myself."
"But that's a King-level water spell and would have leveled the castle."
Sylphie held up a hand, letting lightning dance between her fingers. "Rudy created a new element."
Studying the girl, he asked, "You say you came from Roa? Rudeus is a Greyrat and your master. Would you happen to know of Phillip or Sauros Boreas Greyrat?"
"Mm!" Sylphie nodded. "Father and Grandfather—I mean Phillip and Sauros employed Rudy and myself. Rudy taught their daughter, Eris, magic, literacy, and math. Rudy also created a few things and he and Phillip had a business together, before the accident."
"'Father and Grandfather?'" the king echoed.
Sylphie blushed, but nodded. "We all agreed—that is, Roxy, Eris, and I agreed to marry Rudy together. Eris is like a sister to me. And, well, they wanted me to call them that in private."
The king snorted. "Of course they did," he rolled his eyes, muttering, "Typical Boreas." Shaking his head, he continued, "That explains the source of the sudden increase in tax revenue from Roa. You wouldn't happen to know anything about new roads, or a road builder…?"
"Oh, that was Rudy too. Eris and I helped, but it was mostly him," Sylphie nodded. "Gr—Sauros hired Rudy to improve the roads."
"I see." Nodding to himself, he asked, "And you were involved with this project?"
"Mm! It was good mana pool training," Sylphie agreed. "I also repaired all of Rudy's inventions that Phillip used for their business. The cannery, printing press, and a few other things."
The king stilled, swallowing on a suddenly dry throat. "'Printing press,' you say? Does that do what the name implies it would?"
"Y—"
"Sylphie." Ariel's tone was sharp as she cut the girl off. The king's greed-filled gaze shifted to his daughter, who had crossed her arms over her chest and was now leveling him with a glare. "Sylphie is my friend and I won't allow her knowledge or skills to be exploited unfairly, father."
The implication was clear to the king, even if it went over Sylphie's head a bit. Sylphie, and by extension Rudeus, were Ariel's contacts. Roa saw a huge boom in trade, revenue, and subsequently Ars saw a boom in taxes coming in from Roa. Ariel brought the King-level mage to the table, and potentially two others besides. Not her father, not her sister, not her brother, but Ariel.
Saint-level mages were tactical weapons, deployed on the field against enemy armies. King-level mages were strategic weapons, deployed against enemy kingdoms. Mages in general were invaluable resources to the economy, capable of finding metal under ground, pulling it from the ground, converting it or even conjuring it directly in limited amounts, at varying expense of mana. With the proper spells, they could walls around a city or even aid in the construction of buildings.
Unfortunately, those that could do either of those last two were few and far between, requiring someone specialized in earth magic and who had an interest not only in constructing permanent fortifications using stone works, but one who understood construction to some degree or could follow the orders of someone who did. Those sorts of mages were the sorts of people spoken of in legends of days long gone—or remembered as nightmares working for the enemy, erecting fortifications behind enemy lines and allowing their forces to amass underground to later swarm up and attack from the rear.
That Sylphiette and Rudeus could apparently create as well as destroy—well enough to be hired by one of the king's four governing lords for official work for the region, and that they were both in Ariel's pocket so to speak raised her own value in her father's eyes.
Instead of looking upset, the king seemed pleased. "Very well. Do you know how much Sauros was paying Rudeus to lay down roads?"
"I don't," the white-haired girl shook her head.
"And it's a shame that the duties I've hired her for would preclude her from working on such a project, without my express consent and Sylphie's own agreement," Ariel cut in, earning a quiet chuckle from her father.
"Yes, very well Ariel. You'll have your bodyguard. You mentioned locating her lost family. Shall we dispatch some men…?"
"I'm already looking into it, father," Ariel answered simply.
"Very well." The man considered his daughter for a moment before a small smile pulled at his lips. "Of course, you'll have to present her to the court. As you know, there is an audience being held today in the throne room. I expect you to be in attendance."
The message was clear to Ariel. If she wanted to play adult games, she had to act and be seen to act the part. And that meant showing off her new find to all the degenerates nobility. She couldn't keep Sylphie secret. This would, of course, paint a target on Sylphie's back. I'm going to have to make it up to her, Ariel mused.
"Of course, father. If you'll excuse us, I have to go find something for Sylphiette to wear. Luke, Sylphie, this way," she hurried from the room, the pair of bodyguards following in her wake.
The door closed behind them and the king laughed quietly. Speaking quietly to himself, he worked through the situation and its potential consequences. "Pilemon and James are going to be apoplectic. This Rudeus is a clear threat Pilemon—his claim to the headship of the Notos family is stronger, given who his father is. With the boons to Roa's economy, should Phillip survive and somehow make a comeback, he'll be in a prime position to challenge his brother for headship of the Boreas family. With the boy marrying Eris, that would effectively give him control over two of the four Greyrat branches. He'll likely also succeed Sauros, if that old bastard doesn't hand the Lordship to Phillip. I imagine Darius is going to be disappointed, given how he had his eye on Sauros' granddaughter…"
Sylphie's ears twitched as they left that wing of the hall, the silent wind spell she'd cast dropping off as a frown pulled her lips down. They're only thinking of how they can use us to their benefit. I should be more careful around Luke, if his father may see Rudy as a threat.
Ariel knocked at the door and waited, standing in the hall in nothing but a nearly see-through silk nightgown. Nearby, one of the maids went about her nightly duties, tending to laundry and linens. Ears and eyes. All the walls, all the hallways. There is nowhere safe. And I have to put on a show. New bodyguard. Young, impressionable. The princess already has a known taste for women and sadistic predilections. Of course she would force herself on the fresh, virginal, delicate, delicious little part-elf at the first possible opportunity…
"It's Ariel, can I come in?" Ariel called, knocking softly again.
The door clicked unlocked and opened a crack, one red eye and a bit of white hair peeking out and looking both ways up and down the hall. Nodding, the girl opened the door and allowed Ariel entry. She locked it after as Ariel made her way over to the bed and sat down. "I thought you might be lonely and want some company tonight."
Sylphie sat down next to her, dressed in nothing but a long shirt. "I miss Rudy and Eris. The bed is cold without them," Sylphie admitted. "It's weird. I never really slept with anyone before moving to Roa, and I didn't even get to do it for long. But now that I have, it feel so much lonelier without them."
Ariel's heart ached for the girl and a bitter feeling of guilt and regret welled up for what she was about to have to do. I wish I could tell you, but… I need your reaction to be genuine. I'm so, so sorry. Kami, I hate this. I hate having to be this person.
Years of practice kept her feelings off her face as Ariel smiled a smile any of the maids would have recognized. It was just the right mix of warm, friendly, and predatory that she had worked out over the years since she had first started seducing the maids as cover. Slipping an arm over Sylphie's back, she pulled the younger girl against her side, the white-haired girl's face pressing into the side of her breast and her breath teasing Ariel's nipple through the nearly sheer cloth covering it.
Despite the roiling feeling of self-loathing, Ariel felt herself growing aroused and her panties damp.
Or perhaps, that feeling was just spice that, along with the thought of pushing down a nine, almost ten year old in a world where that was not illegal when her modern/traditional Japanese upbringing screamed that what she was doing was wrong and child molestation, just made it that much more exciting.
Please stop me.
"You don't have to be alone," Ariel murmured softly, leaning down and planting a gentle kiss at the younger girl's temple. "I'll take care of you," she repeated her promise to Rudy, twisting the words and their intent even as she said them.
"Thank you, your—Ariel," Sylphie self-corrected, smiling up at her new friend.
Don't look at me with such innocent, trusting eyes! It only makes me want to do this more!
"Of course," she nodded, planting another kiss on Sylphie's forehead and pulling the younger girl into her lap. Giggling quietly, she bragged, "It works out well for me, too! I get a cute body pillow out of the deal, after all."
Sylphie let out her own giggle, before covering a yawn. Shifting to her more comfortable against the girl holding her, and making use of Ariel's not inconsiderable breasts as pillows, Sylphie wrapped her own arms around Ariel and returned the hug. "This is nice." Humming quietly, she asked, "You're lonely too, aren't you?"
Ariel froze where she had been leaning in to try for another kiss—slowly closing in on Sylphie's lips as she had been. "What do you mean? I'm surrounded by people day in and day out."
"They aren't your friends," Sylphie pointed out, and Ariel felt her ardor cool. "You have to hide who you are, every day. This place is full of… awful people who just want to use everyone around them. I can hear them, all the time. It must have been so lonely."
It was! Ariel felt her mask crack as heat built behind her eyes.
"But it's okay! You have us now," Sylphie smiled up at her, and Ariel's heart broke.
Weaponized moe. That's fucking unfair! I call foul!
"You and Rudy are both strangers in a strange land, here. Everything must be so different, and confusing, and frustrating at times." She chuckled quietly as she admitted, "I think part of why he worked so hard on plumbing was because he wanted something to remind him of Earth." Her smile fell as she quietly added, "But you didn't even have that much. You weren't really able to play with magic and throw yourself into training and distractions like he was. Not with everyone here watching and judging everything you did."
Shifting in Ariel's lap, Sylphie pulled back a bit and sat up so they were pretty much face to face. Red eyes stared up into Ariel's blue with such an earnest, accepting look… It made her heart pound in a way that had nothing to do with her lewd, wicked thoughts of earlier, and set a blush spreading over her cheeks, down her neck, all the way to the tops of her breasts. The girl stared into her soul for what seemed like an eternity before seemingly coming to some sort of decision, as she nodded to herself and smiled. "No one here will ever understand you the way we do."
Thrown for a loop, Ariel floundered. "Wh-what are you saying?"
"Well, you'll probably get married one day. Can you really think of anyone better than the one man who comes from the same place and understands you in a way no one else can?"
It was a thought that had occurred to her, when she learned of Rudeus' origins. More like an errant daydream. The one possible escape from the life she had found herself reborn to. To hear it not only voiced, but outright suggested by one of the people capable of making it happen…
It was too much, and it didn't help her right now. It didn't change what she had to do. It only made her regret it all the more, and completely killed any enjoyment her perverted libido may have taken from the act.
She leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Her lips pressed against Sylphie's and the younger girl's mouth opened in surprise. Ariel took complete advantage, her tongue darting in and flicking at Sylphie's. She tastes delicious, she noted idly, shifting the girl in her arms around to lay her on the bed and pressing her down into the soft mattress and quilt there. Laying there, face flushed, white hair spread about her head like a halo, Sylphie looked breathtaking. In just a few years, she'll be truly amazing.
Seeing the girl's stunned state, Ariel pressed her advantage further. Her lips found Sylphie's neck, sucking and licking in a way she knew would leave a very visible hickey, while her hands busied themselves elsewhere. One hand trailed down Sylphie's over-sized shirt, teasing the nubs of the girl's hardening nipples through the fabric. The other hand started at the girl's knee and trailed its way up, across the warm expanse of creamy, muscular inner thigh towards the treasure at their juncture.
"What," Sylphie gasped quietly, "what are you doing?"
Ariel leered against the skin of the girl's neck, teeth nipping the delicate flesh in a bite that made Sylphie tremble. Her voice was loud in the quiet of the room. "The more innocent," a kiss on her throat, "and pure," a lick along the jugular, "a thing is," another nip at her collarbone…
If you don't stop me, I'm, I'm going to just keep going.
Sylphie didn't stop her, and her fingers found the girl's peace—puffy, and covered in a light fuzz that felt like fine angel silk to Ariel's fingers. And with just a little exploration, her lower lips parted, revealing that the white-haired girl's warm, moist folds positively dripping with arousal.
Ariel's voice sounded predatory even to her own ears. "The more satisfying it is to corrupt it."
A quiet buzz filled the air and the hair on the back of Ariel's arms stood up. That was the only warning she got as her body locked up with a crackcrackCRACK! and she was thrown violently across the room in a gust of wind. Ariel crashed into the wall opposite the bed, knocking over a table and a vase there. Sylphie pushed herself off the bed, a look of hurt, betrayal, and anger on her face as the room filled with the flickering blue light and the cracking sound of lightning dancing across her fingers.
Ariel got her mouth working enough to let out a moan that wasn't… entirely fake, given the way her nipples had gone stiff and her entire body sang in a way she'd never felt before, that would have left her panties stuck to her and transparent, if she were wearing any. …And if the zap hadn't caused her to lose bladder control and she weren't sitting in a puddle. "Mmm. Again. Harder."
Sylphie paused, a look of confusion crossing her face through everything else. Ariel shakily raised one hand, silently asking the girl to hold. A moment later, the smaller girl's ears twitched and even Ariel could hear the rushed sound of footsteps hurrying away. Ariel relaxed, letting her hand flop bonelessly to the ground as she closed her eyes and tried to breathe and settle her heart down.
The white-haired girl knelt next to her. "What was that?"
"They were listening," Ariel admitted in a whisper, knowing the other girl would hear her just fine. "Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
The all-over buzz, the ache in her back faded, and her heartbeat grew steady as green light radiated out from Sylphie's hand, healing her wounds and minor lightning damage. "Then I was right."
The blonde nodded. "They're always listening. I have to pretend to be something I'm not all the time. Pretend that I'm one of them—just another perverted, degenerate noble, except I'm a royal so I have to try to top even that. To the point that I'm worried I'm starting to become the thing I'm pretending to be. I, I don't want to live like this any more! Please, help me!"
Ariel was surprised when Sylphie's hands took her own and pulled her to her feet—surprising her just how strong the little girl was, but she supposed that was touki at work. She was more surprised when Sylphie lead her to her bed and used water magic to clean her up. Then, the smaller girl tucked her in before crawling in beside her and wrapping her arms and legs around Ariel, attaching herself like a little squid. A small hand stroked through Ariel's hair while the other rubbed her back and, within moments, the mask that had cracked finally shattered.
Ariel cried, her body shaking as she broke down and sobbed, biting her lip until it bled to make sure her sobs remained silent.
"Shh. It's okay. I forgive you." Chuckling quietly, she added, "That just means you need us more than you knew."
That only made Ariel cry harder.
"What… is it?" Luke asked warily, studying the metal box on wheels. "It looks vaguely like a carriage, but I don't see anywhere to hitch horses."
"That's because it doesn't use horses. It's a magical… horseless carriage," Ariel explained. Sylphie heard the way she corrected herself instead of saying what she really wanted to, but kept it to herself.
The blonde opened the door and examined the interior. Seeing the placement of the steering wheel and pedals, she sighed. "Why did he put it on the wrong side? Annoying American," she muttered, just loud enough for Sylphie to catch, before closing the door before moving over to the other side and climbing behind the wheel. "Okay, everyone stand back. I'm going to give it a try."
"I don't know that it's safe, princess. Perhaps you should let someone else—"
"It'll be fine," she waved Luke off, closing the door and rolling down the window. "Ooh, nice. I wonder what kind of leather he used for these seats."
With a shrug, she found the key in the ignition and turned it to the 'on' position. It didn't make any noticable change, aside from the dash lighting up with a numerical display. Speedometer? Nice. And of course it's in miles per hour. Well, it's probably measured by this world's miles. Which, unless I'm off on my calculations, are 5000 feet instead of the two hundred odd more that an American mile is. About 1.524km.
The shifter was a simple lever marked 'forward,' 'backward,' 'neutral,' and 'park' set in the floor. Pushing the shifter into forward, she eased on the accelerator and grinned when the truck started forward. "Very nice," she nodded, driving through the private pasture they used for the royal family's own horses. She put her foot to the floor and picked up speed, watching the speedometer climb. It hit 50 in a few seconds, when she started to feel unsafe on the grass even with the seat belt holding her in place and she slowed down.
Letting off the accelerator, she eased into the brake and tested those, before bringing the truck around in a sharp turn, back towards the barn. Over the next few minutes, she put the truck through its paces—all things she remembered from driver's education class over… That was over my last summer on Earth, she realized.
Looking at the dash, she found herself longing for the comfort of a radio and familiar songs, but none were forthcoming.
Finally, she pulled to a stop in front of Sylphie and Luke, put the truck in park, and climbed out. "It's nice. I think this will serve us well."
"You should take the key," Sylphie said, pointing towards the steering wheel.
"Eh?"
Pulling out her own motorcycle key, Sylphie explained, "If you have the key, you can summon it to you. Watch."
Holding the key out, the ran mana through it and her green motorcycle appeared before her in a subdued flash of light. Ariel quickly yanked the key out of the ignition and stuffed it down the top of her blouse, against her breast. "That's very handy," she admitted. "So, what do you say we go get cleaned up and ready, and we can make the rounds of my supporters and show off the new magical tool?"
"Very well, princess. I should speak with my father, anyway. I haven't in a while," Luke admitted.
"Right. Sylphie, let's go get changed!" Ariel paused, a frown pulling her pouty lips down. "Oh, wait. I've got a nice set of riding leathers for myself, but you don't have any. Well, let's get that taken care of. I know just the place. Luke, you don't mind carrying a lady's shopping, do you?"
The man among them sent the princess a flat look, before gesturing towards the truck. "While I would happily volunteer to be the princess's pack mule, I believe we have a more fitting tool for the task. The streets of Ars are easily wide enough to accommodate it, and doing so would allow me to keep my hands free in order to better serve in my position as bodyguard instead of pack mule."
"Whine, whine, whine," Ariel rolled her eyes before climbing back into the truck. "Very well. Come along, you big baby. Sylphie, will you ride with us, or on your bike?"
The white-haired girl considered them both for a moment before gesturing at the bike. It lifted up into the air and she pulled aside the cloth tarp over the back end of the truck before setting it inside and securing it in place. Then, she climbed up in the front seat. Luke frowned as he realized he was relegated to either riding with the motorcycle or in the back seat, as neither woman looked willing to use the middle seat.
They finished some time around after noon, and then Ariel began the rounds of calling on her supporters in Ars in person.
The three of them drove around the capital, going from one mansion to the next. In every case, she introduced her new bodyguard (on a more personal level than the show that was her father's court) and explained the need to reunite Sylphiette with her mother as a debt of honor for saving her life. She also explained her desire to attend Ranoa university for a time to study magic and make contacts within the college, along with Ranoa itself, the Duchy of Neris, and the Duchy of Basherant—the three Great Magic Nations.
She did not go into detail about exactly why she wanted those connections, however. Nor did she mention Rudeus or Sylphie, and their involvement in Roa's fortunes. And she certainly didn't bring up her hope that, given his penchant for building and recreating things from Earth, Rudeus would do his level best to modernize as much of this world as he could. Her father barely saw the tip of the iceberg and he was already salivating at the potential. Sauros and Phillip, whom she spoke with on a near daily basis now, knew what Rudeus had done so far and expected great things from him, but they didn't know. Roxy was the one who came the closest to both knowing what could be if Rudy put his mind to it and understanding what it would do to their world. A revolution was coming the likes of which this world had never seen—that Earth had only seen over time and in several smaller stages. And Ariel intended to be there, beside him, for all of it.
Ranoa being where the greatest magicians of the human kingdoms were trained, at the college. They would need competent mages in the future—those who could be trusted and taught their method of silent casting, or if not, then at least taught how to modify their own spells so they could help.
Neris, known for its manufacturing of magical tools. If a deal could be struck with them, they could be used to produce cheap household tools for sale to anyone with the money to buy one, further propagating the spread of technology. Not only that, but they may be willing to trade research and information on enchanting things that could broaden Rudeus' range of magic, giving him more options for future projects. Not to mention all the completed tools up for grabs, that Rudeus could then potentially reverse engineer. No self-respecting mage had any sort of respect for 'intellectual property' after all, and felt that if you couldn't protect your enchantments then you deserved to have them stolen improved upon by someone else.
Basherant, which was renown for its research on magic. This country could potentially supply researchers and knowledge both to their future efforts, whatever those may be.
When she left each of her supporters' homes, she invited them outside to see a new magical tool she had acquired. All of them were shown the truck and allowed to take a short ride in it as a passenger. They unanimously loved the idea, especially when the question came up of whether or not it could be used to haul goods in bulk, and her answer was a happy yes. Then she went on to explain that this was not the first such vehicle produced, it was just one of the first for transporting multiple people or heavy loads—even going so far as to show off the motorcycle still loaded in the back as an example of a personal vehicle.
The message there was clear. Ariel had a secret backer or resource she wasn't disclosing, who had the knowledge and resources to create a ground vehicle that would obsolete the horse and carriage within the coming years and likely corner the market on land trade. It was a very large, very lucrative pie, and there were slices enough for everyone who supported her to have a share… so long as they continued to support her, of course. That secured her more loyalty than anything else she had said to them today.
She had saved the Notos Greyrat household for last. Not as a slight, but because they would be dining with them that evening and she wished to give Luke some time with his family. The meeting with Pilemon went much the same as the others had, including her reveal of the truck and its potential to revolutionize everything from over-land shipping, to travel, to troop deployment—save that most of it was held over a meal. The man was interested and confirmed his support to her again, but given what she had learned through Sylphie… Ariel was not entirely sure of her relationship with the man any more. He had always struck her as the cowardly sort.
So it was that when they finished talking business for the night, Ariel offered to let Luke stay the night and catch up with his family while she and Sylphie went back to the castle. Luke agreed, though under protest, if only because it would Ariel down one guard. The princess waved his concerns off, gathered Sylphie up, and the two of them left the mansion.
"Sprite?" Ariel asked as she climbed into the truck and started driving away.
"I've been recording. It is as you suspected. Would you like to see the recording now?" the spirit asked. In the passenger seat, Sylphie looked both curious and wary.
Ariel hummed quietly before nodding. The truck was the most secure place for her to observe the conversation and not give away the impossible advantage Sprite and her surveillance gave them. "Audio only, please. Thank you."
A moment later, sound filled the truck.
Pilemon: "It's good to have you home, son."
Luke: "It's good to be home, father."
Ariel paid half an ear to the conversation as she drove slowly through town, until after a couple of minutes, something caught her attention.
Pilemon: "So tell me, what do you have to report on the princess's activities? We all heard the official story in the king's audience, but I want to hear it from you. What happened the day Derrick Redbat died? Who is Sylphiette? And do you have any idea where she acquired that magical tool?"
Luke: "Well father, the part about there being some sort of magical accident is true. The day of the event, a Terminator Boar was teleported into the gardens. It thrashed me and nearly got to the princess. Derrick sacrificed himself to buy her time. Sylphiette is the one who killed it as she fell from the sky. Sylphiette… is everything the King claimed and more. She is not a Saint-level mage, however. That was a lie. She is a King-level mage capable of silently casting spells, and with access to an entirely new branch of elemental magic in the form of lightning. She can fly or run on air. She also has had training with the sword. I'd put her somewhere between Intermediate- and Advanced-level in Sword God and Water God styles, normally… but she practices a strange style I've never seen before that combines both of those styles, magic, and the ability to maneuver in ways others can't into something unpredictable. I've yet to beat her in a spar, even when I'm not holding back."
Pilemon: "I see. Who were her instructors?"
Luke: "Hah. Well, you see, her instructors are tied to where the princess acquired the truck—that magical tool she demonstrated. I'm to understand that her magic instructors were Roxy Migurdia—"
Pilemon: "A demon. And a King-level mage. That explains her magical aptitude then."
Luke: "—and Rudeus Greyrat."
There was a very noticable pause and Ariel would have to remember to go back over the footage just to see what sort of expression the man made.
Pilemon: "Isn't he the one teaching Phillip's girl? Eris?"
Luke: "He was, yes."
Pilemon: "No other family name?"
Luke's voice was a bit strained in his answer.
Luke: "None that he gives or that others call him by."
Pilemon: "You know something."
Luke: "Yes, sir. Rudeus is my cousin, apparently. His father is Paul, who was one of Sylphiette's two sword teachers. The other being Sword King Ghislaine."
There was a spluttering, choking sound as Phillip audibly did a spit take on whatever he was drinking at the time. The man coughed for a couple of minutes, before getting himself under control.
Pilemon: "Fuck! He had a son?! And the boy's a mage? No, don't tell me—"
Luke: "The truck came from Rudeus. He created it, along with Sylphiette's 'bike,' and several other things. Apparently, the Boreas family was trying to pair him with their daughter after they found out he's a King-level mage himself—"
Pilemon: "Shit."
Luke: "And he's at least partially responsible for the increase in tax revenue in Roa, thanks to some inventions and successful investments on Phillip's part. Or so the king seemed to think."
Pilemon: "Damnation."
Luke: "I don't see what's so bad about this, father. Rudeus is a Notos Greyrat. We can just extend an invitation to rejoin the family, which will give him noble connections and resources, and in return we benefit from his power and coming wealth."
Pilemon: "Idiot boy! Paul is my older brother. If he hadn't left the family, he would be the family head. By right, Rudeus has more of a claim to the headship than I do, let alone you! Where is he now?"
Luke: "He was sent to the Demon Continent during the same event that displaced Sylphiette."
Pilemon: "Good, maybe the monsters or demons will take care of him. …No, how are you sure of that?"
Luke: "I haven't seen it, but he has some way to communicate with Sylphiette. It's how they arranged to get the truck sent to them using magic."
Pilemon spluttered.
Pilemon: "Instant, cross-continent communication and teleportation magic?! And the Boreas are courting him. If he married Phillip's daughter, he would be in a prime position to take over both the Boreas and Notos families, given that overturning James' headship of the Boreas would be trivial for someone with those capabilities."
Luke: "Father, I don't think it's as bad as you say—"
Pilemon: "You're right. It's worse. Because the second princess is involved. Meaning ties to the royalty. A mage of that caliber, with the sort of skill and insight he's shown? There's no way she's not already considering a political union."
Ariel nodded. If she weren't personally involved in a way the people of this world wouldn't understand, then the princess would surely be considering exactly that. As it stood, Ariel was still considering a union, just not entirely politically motivated. Damn weaponized moe. It's so unfair. Did he teach her to do that?! He had to have! Arg! Rudy!
Pilemon: "I'll have to have a talk with Darius Ganius. The prime minister has been making overtures for years now. This… this would be a good chance. Everyone knows he's had his eye on Sauros' granddaughter for years. Hm." He paused for a moment, before adding, "I should contact James. This is a threat to the both of us, after all. If the boy makes it back to Asura, Darius can deal with him. I'm sure James would be willing to give up Eris for some political favors. Yes, that would take care of things neatly."
Luke: "Father… What about the princess?"
Pilemon: "Keep your mouth shut to her, obviously. Darius is with the first prince's faction, while I am unsure of James' affiliation. The second princess would have to be neutralized politically, before she can further solidify and use her connection to Rudeus. She will likely be dealt with. In fact, we'll go to Darius tonight. He can get the word out to his people and she'll just… disappear when she goes looking for Sylphiette's family, or when she goes to the College. Did she know when she wanted to leave?"
Luke: "Somewhat soon. Within another month or two."
Ariel casually braked and made a U-turn, heading back towards the nearest crossroad that would let her turn and head for the city gate. Beside her, Sylphie looked up from where she had been watching their surroundings pass by in the dark. "Where are you going?"
Ariel smiled. "Away. Want to come?"
Chuckling, Sylphie nodded. "Sure."
"The gate is closed this time of night. Can you get us over the walls? Then we can summon the truck on the other side and continue."
The white-haired girl nodded again. "Easily."
Luke: "What about Sylphiette?"
Pilemon: "She'll have to have an 'accident' as well. She's just a child. It shouldn't be hard for someone to arrange."
Sylphie's eyes narrowed, but she remained silent.
Pilemon: "Come on, boy. Get your armor on while I have someone sent to prepare the carriage. We'll go now."
"That's enough, Sprite. But if you could, would you keep an eye on them? And peep in on Darius Silva Ganius for me?" Ariel requested. Under her breath, she muttered, "Would that I could have you simply spy on every noble in the capital."
"I will. Tracking Darius Ganius now," Sprite confirmed. "And I could. Do you want me to?"
Ariel blinked, the truck jerking slightly in her surprise as she jostled the wheel. "You could…?"
A hologram of Sprite appeared on the dash, in miniature. "I could observe everyone in the city from the one drone overhead, with little to no loss in performance. It would cost more mana, but," the tiny woman actually blushed, "Master provides… more than enough."
"Um. Would you mind doing so? In fact, doing so for every major city and point of interest? Perhaps start cataloging everything and build out a network of… everything, really?" Ariel asked.
Sprite nodded. "Of cou—" She froze, before a look of confusion passed over her face so swiftly Ariel almost missed it, before it was replaced with anger. "I have located Darius Silva Ganius. He is in his home in Ars. Second floor, eastern wing, master bedroom. He is, well, I'll show you."
A small hologram taken from inside the room sprang into being and the two women physically in the truck felt their blood run cold.
Fat hands with thick, stubby fingers pawed and mauled her flesh. An ugly face with a hooked nose, bald head, and disgusting expression leered down at her as she wept, before leaning his huge, fat, doughy body over hers. A stinking, drool-covered tongue spilled out of his maw and slurped along the corners of her eyes, licking away her tears.
"That's it! Yes! Cry more for me, you filthy little whore! Your tears are delicious," he laughed uproariously as he humped painfully away at her. "Daddy isn't coming to save you, slave! No one is, hehehehe!"
His giggling was just one more sour note to the whole affair, Tristina noted dimly—barely even aware at this point as her mind tried and failed to retreat. Every time she got close, he would slap her face, or painfully squeeze and twist her budding breasts.
The worst thing of all was the absurdly huge, warty thing that had torn through her maidenhood with all the force and subtlety of a battering ram through a castle gate—and about as much damage. She bled, and not just from having her maidenhood torn. It coated his thing, her flower, her legs and crotch, the sheets. So much blood she felt lightheaded at first, until he had forced a potion of some sort down her throat and the bleeding had slowed, before he muttered something about needing a healer to keep from breaking another toy.
It hurt so much, in so many ways she couldn't begin to count them all. If 'breaking' meant she wouldn't have to feel like this, would mean her days wouldn't be filled with more of being a sex slave to a disgusting human-shaped pig, she would gladly take that trade.
Her body shook, bringing her back to the present as the fat man grabbed her hips and hammered away at her even harder, grunting in exertion as he did so, sweat rolling off his stinking body and coating her own in a way that she didn't think she would ever be able to wash off—
The wall the window was set in off to her left exploded inwards, a howling gust of arctic wind crashing into the room and sending the man sprawling against the far wall—and yet, somehow, none of it touched her. Not so much as a breeze, no debris, not a speck of dust. Turning her head weakly to the side, Tristina's blue eyes widened upon seeing a girl who must have been a year or two her junior standing in midair—white hair billowing about her head in the wind and red eyes locked in fury on the man who had had her kidnapped.
"What, who," the man stammered, groaning as he hauled his nude form up from the ground. He took in the white-haired girl's form and stared, before a flicker of recognition passed over his face. "You! The second princess's new dog. What are you doing here?! I'm the prime minister, I'll have you executed for this! No, I'll have you arrested, rape you in front of that fucking brat princess until your belly swells with my child, and then I'll have you executed! Guards! GUARDS!"
Ice filled the room at a gesture of the girl's hand, blocking off the door off and leaving the prime minister encased up to the waist.
"I've never killed anyone before."
Her words echoed in the suddenly silent room. A considering look passed over her face, elf ears twitching slightly as she nodded. "It's what he would do," she murmured, before shaking her head and fixing the man-pig with another glare. "No. You aren't worth it."
Another gesture and the bed's sheets wrapped around Tristina, before some force carried her off the bed. "W-w-hat are you d-d-doing with that?! Put it back! That's my toy!" the man raged, teeth chattering in the cold. "Give it back!"
That was the last Tristina saw of the man before the wall closed up between them, stone flowing out from the bricks and solidifying. Then, they were moving through the air, so very fast it felt like, from the way the wind blew over her. Not even horses ran this fast. A green light from beside her drew her attention back to her savior, who held one hand over her while she ran. Her aches and pains faded away to nothing. Even the fire in her crotch was quenched under that cooling light.
Then, steaming water spiraled around her and she felt it scrub over her from head to toe, even getting the places his thing had violated.
"Sleep now. We'll speak in the morning."
The world went dark and for a time, Tristina knew no more.
Ariel sighed as she observed the sleeping girl laying on the back seat of the truck in the early dawn light.
"Well, it's not like the situation can get much worse," she sighed, shaking her head. "We all knew Ganius was a pervert even by noble standards, but kidnapping noble daughters and raping them?"
"Would it have been okay if they weren't nobles?" Sylphie asked from where she sat in the grass, leaning against the back tire.
Ariel shook her head. "Well… yes, technically. Take your friend Eris, for example. Her family buys beast-kin slaves. Now, admittedly, they treat them very well and they do free them and offer them paid work, but at the end of the day no one says anything about it because it's just the done thing. Every noble house does it, to some extent. But other nobles are supposed to be off the menu, so to speak. And while I know this is wrong, especially given where I come from, but that's just the reality of the world we live in. Maybe we can change it one day, but that won't be today."
Sylphie nodded tiredly. "What now?"
Loosing a quiet chuckle, Ariel collapsed into the grass beside Sylphie. "The plan hasn't changed. We head north. Pick up your mother and sister. Then go to Ranoa. Make connections. Disappear for a while. All while Sprite keeps an eye on things for us and Rudeus builds up his forces, resources, and power. Then, when we're ready, assuming Rudeus is inclined to agree… we take the capital and the country. It's the only way I see of getting rid of people like Darius and Pilemon for good. They would never support the sort of changes I want to make, to bring this country—no, this world—out of the dark ages."
Turning to Sylphie, she smiled. "Go get some rest, I'll keep watch."
Sprite's hologram popped up in front of them. "I'll take care of it myself. Please, rest, both of you. I'll let you know if Ms. Purplehorse wakes, or if you need to move."
"Thank you, Sprite," Ariel sighed, standing up and stretching out. "And thank you for last night."
The spirit shook her head. "I just wish I had seen sooner."
"That's not your fault. And you can't just intervene if you see something like it in the future, unfortunately. It would give away your presence and the fact that you're watching. It's awful, but… you'll have to let things play out in the capital. For now, at least." Reaching down, she offered her hand to Sylphie, who took it. Hauling the smaller girl up, they climbed into the back of the truck, where Sylphie had summoned some of their things. They would have to buy travel supplies at the next town, but a few blankets was good enough for now.
Darius Silva Ganius. Everyone knows he supports my brother. Which means he likely knew and didn't care. I'll have to do something about him as well when we return. I can have Sprite gather evidence until then. Then come in and take care of it all in one fell swoop.
The thought brought a devious smile to her lips, as she lay in the bed of the truck under the canvas cover, cuddling with Sylphie. Lance the festering boil on the ass of this country that is the corrupt, degenerate nobility and let it all bleed out…
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