Peach is still happily riding on my back. Somehow, her Avatar differs from Yggdrasil's, as she's able to go much further from the trunk of her physical body than her 'mother'.
*Analysis of entity reveals a mostly physical form composed of flower petals made animate by its inherent mastery of Plant Magic. Yggdrasil's form is, instead, akin to an illusion. Estimating the range of Peach's movements to be around the area the roots of her true form covers.*
Hm, I wonder why they have such different methods of creating an Avatar. I hope Yggdrasil might be able to learn Peach's method...
We arrive at the throne room. It hasn't changed much, but there's an uncomfortable aura coming from beneath the throne, but I can't sense the origin. It's as if something cursed had been laying there for a long time and suffused the air around it with its bad vibes but then it was moved yet the vibes remained.
I shake off the uneasiness, focusing instead on a very happy Argos Eye that divebombs me once it spots me. After rubbing its leathery 'face' all over my cheek in a sort of hug, it then settles onto Actvi's head, much to his chagrin.
"They like you." I smile as I'm being assaulted by Peach, who, having seen what the Argos Eye did, also wants nuzzles.
"Well... I can't say the feeling is mutual. I'm meant to be imposing, I'm protecting His Highness after all. Having a small eyeball-monster nestled on my head isn't exactly making my job easier." Actvi shrugs. I can tell there's a hesitance in his words, though.
"Anyway, Millibelle, let's get to discussing the finer points of the upcoming... event." King Dervix gestures towards the seating area of the room. Various papers lay atop a table surrounded by four cushioned chairs. I switch into my humanoid form before taking a seat.
"You look... quite noble in that. Is it Octopus Cloth?" Dervix seems nervous. I'm unsure if it's due to what happened last time I was here, or the fact that the leaders of four of the major nations on the continent are about to meet for the first time in over fifty years.
"It is. I have a few spare, if you desire?" There's a glint of desire in his eyes, but it's snuffed quickly as he shakes his head.
"If anything, they might do nicely as gifts for the others. Not that you'd be expected to bring gifts." Actvi suggests. I-Is that a tradition?
*When two nations meet, it is custom for both of them to bring one or more gifts to give to each other. The nation hosting the meeting is expected to offer a gift greater in value than the one offered by the others. As a sign of good will towards a nation, the visitor nation would bring a gift of local produce, but of otherwise low value, as to not appear greedy for a grand gift of big value in return.*
So, we know to expect resistance if any one of the others bring very valuable gifts. Dervix coughs politely, snapping me out of it.
"Now, I know you might be tired from the trip, but please focus for just a while longer. As I was saying, I hope you can help with security." His tone is not condescending, but I can sense some annoyance at me.
"Well, since I'm going to be there for the meeting itself, no-one would be dumb enough to mount an attack at that time, right?" I think I know what he's hinting at though.
"Yes, anyone with ill will towards any of our four nations would be foolish to try an all out attack, it's the time before and after the meeting I worry about, particularly in regards to the Harmekian delegation." Worry is evident in Dervix' face, even more now that the topic of the Harmekians is brought up.
"I'm not too worried about the other two nations. Prime Minister Kalim is well liked and popular with Eyslef and Parshura, though there's been some tensions with Harmek due to the war between us and Harmek. Yo'ud as a nation is also dependent on trade with us to obtain certain necessities that are hard to come by in the arid climate." Dervix explains.
"Eyslef has calmed down a lot recently, possibly due to the death of Chief-Mother Helcha Eaglecrown. I'm not sure if that's the reason why, but the Eaglecrowns and Argenfeathers have ended their blood-feud and joined forces, making them the de-facto leaders of Eyslef as they were, when they were fighting, the two strongest tribes. Together they're unmatched by any other tribe." He says he has no knowledge of why, but I think Helcha's death was the catalyst for this...
"As such, both Chief Auron Eaglecrown and Matron Kantarra Argenfeather will be joining the talks. We're on good accord with both, and since the peace in Eyslef benefits all the tribes, I highly doubt there will be any trouble from that front." I notice Actvi tensing slightly at the mention of the Matron. I suppose his family at one point split from the tribe and migrated to Parshura, but the reverence for the leader might be hard-coded.
"No, the problem will most likely lie with Harmek, and its relations with us. I don't fear aggression from Harmek, but there's the undercurrent of distrust and anger at how 'easily' Harmek got off with regards to the war within Parshura that I can't ignore." Dervix sighs.
"I want you to protect the delegates from Harmek. I can't trust anyone else to do it, I fear even among my own, there are those that hunger for the complete annihilation of Harmek. Show no mercy to those that would seek to cut off the head of our neighbor, for who knows if they'll decide to turn on us next." There's a heaviness to his words that make me hesitant. Just who is it that's so war-hungry they'd risk the wrath of four nations combined?
"I'll keep them safe. I promise. But I must ask, you mentioned aggressors among your own?" I need to know, if only to be wary of the individuals. Peach, who's now sitting on my lap, is slowly nodding off. I guess the conversation is boring to her.
Dervix hesitates for a moment, his expression conflicted, before he sighs heavily. "Argon Amberroux, son of my brother, Radon Amberroux. He's an easily misled fool, and some of his... less desirable friends have convinced him that not only have the Harmekians replaced me with a Doppelganger in order to feign peace so that they may march unhindered, but that he's the rightful heir to the throne, even though he's Third Crown Prince at best."
"I see... They're vying for the power of the throne through Argon." I infer, as Dervix nods sadly.
"And I can't deal with them openly either, as they're all well connected and in otherwise immaculate standing. Let's just hope that they're not foolish enough to go after Foreign Minister Seul. I give you free reign to secure him and the ones accompanying him, but please try to keep any would-be assassins alive for questioning." Dervix seems quite dejected, but he regains his vigor as we continue on discussing the menu for the banquet.
As we talk, Peach suddenly glows before evaporating into a poof of petals. Although both Dervix and Actvi are startled, I explain that she just fell asleep. Some Skills just don't keep working if you're unconscious, and it seems her Avatar Skill is one of them.
The conversation then continues until dinner.
"Your Highness, Minister Seul Gloombottom has arrived alongside his retinue. Will they be joining you for dinner?" Bunsen announces just as we're seated by the table.
"Of course, of course, there should be plenty for everyone." His tone is jovial, as the King has already had a few glasses of wine, we (well, him mostly) were testing what drinks to serve at the banquet. He's much more relaxed now that's he's slightly buzzed.
Bunsen nods before retreating from the room. We- King Dervix, Actvi, Sakaya and me- end up waiting a few minutes before the door opens again. In comes a plain-looking man, though one can tell by the way he carries himself that he's practiced in the art of charisma. Behind him, two people I know well. Vasper and Faye.
Our bond lets them know who I am by just a glance, and their expressions tighten slightly, though they otherwise don't let slip that they've recognized me.
"Harmek's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seul Gloombottom. High-Elite Vasper Brookmarr, High-Elite Faye Emberbore." Bunsen announces their entrance. I guess it's standard practice regardless of who enters the same room as the King.
"Minister Seul! It's good to finally meet you in person. I trust your travels weren't too arduous?" The King greets Seul as if they were on equal standing, a bold move considering their recent history. I guess he really wants to keep the newly gained peace.
"You honor me, your Majesty. The trip wasn't too hard, I'm used to low-key travel." Seul seems a little taken aback by Dervix's actions, but he recovers fast. "Grand Priestess, King Protector and...?" He greets us in turn, though he pauses at my presence. No wonder, really.
"This is the Great Monarch, Millibelle. Her Evolution has granted her the power to transform her body as well as to speak Common." A small lie. It's well known by now that I'm able to do this, but to keep Dervix from losing face for having lied about it previously, this is the lie he tells to smooth it over with the others.
"It's much easier to be seated at the table like this, I'm afraid my real body is a bit too big for it not to be awkward." I smile, anxiously keeping an eye on the temperature of the food. It's going cold!
Seul and the two soldiers take a seat and we start eating. It takes a lot of willpower not to shed tears of joy at the sensation of actual cooked and spiced food. I've missed this so much!
"I've explained the plan to Millibelle, and she's agreed. She'll be in charge of your safety whilst here." Dervix explains to Seul.
"Thank you, Great Monarch. As you've probably guessed, we arrived early to throw off any attempt at waylaying us on the way here. Officially, I'm supposed to arrive two days from now, so we'll mostly stay in our own rooms to keep attention to a minimum." His face gets a complicated expression before he continues, as if he's considering whether or not to.
"You should know- it's only fair- Vesper and Faye are the two surviving soldiers who were with the Summoned Hero that we... Her late Majesty... sent after you. Sorry, I'm so used to taking the blame for her, it's taken some time for it to even set in that she's dead." His expression grows grim.
"I thought there was something familiar about them... Don't worry, I've completely forgiven them. After all, they were just following orders." I give them a smile, though they see it as sinister.
"Ah- Good, good. I was worried for them, they insisted to come with as my guards even though your past history together would make it a bit..." Seul trails off, deciding to lose himself in the food instead. Not that I blame him.
Here we are, the leader of one kingdom and the representative of another that were, until just recently, embroiled in a war that was caused by the madness of one person. And with them, the ruler of all monsters and the knights sent to slay it, eating dinner whilst peacefully sitting across from each other.
After dinner, Seul and the two soldiers excuse themselves and retreat to the dignitaries quarters. It's an expansive section of the castle, filled for the most part with bedrooms. Though calling them bedrooms instead of 'hotel suites' is a gross understatement. There's a living-room and a large bathroom containing an enchanted bathtub that emulates a hot-spring in addition to a large, fluffy bed.
Luckily for me, the windows are far too narrow for any humanoid to get through, if the room even has windows at all. I don't have to worry about assassins climbing in the window in the middle of the night, at least.
"Minister Seul, before you take that bath..." I stop him from entering the bathroom with a gentle touch at his upper arm. "I wish for one of my Servants to accompany you wherever you go. Don't worry, they'll be out of the way and out of sight, but they'll be watching you. What I'm trying to ask is... Would you rather it be a man or a woman that does so?"
I'm asking this incredibly awkward question because the gender the Hitodama had before death is how they present themselves as Yurei. Having a ghost dude watching you take a bath if you're not into that would be traumatizing.
"H-hah, if I was to be watched by a monster, I guess a cute lady would be nice?" He laughs nervously, not entirely understanding the question, I suppose.
"Ah, well then." I smile before calling up the female Hitodama that volunteered for the mission. As usual, a small wisp of pale blue fire appears, its flames growing and shaping themselves before turning into a physical body.
Though in the case of the Yurei, it's more semi-physical. They even take no damage from weapons if they don't have at least a little silver in them. Makes me a bit sad I can't use Power Osmosis on creatures made by me.
A pale woman clothed in a flowing dress floats in front of us. Her wrists are bound with sacred Shinto rope, a long length between them allows her to move her arms freely despite being bound like that. Her face is covered with a paper slip, on which various symbols are written in red ink. Oddly, they don't look like katakana, hirogana or kanji, and World Knowledge is unable to translate them at all.
"This is Seul. Keep by him at all times, but try to stay hidden as much as possible. If you get hungry, give Seul a sign so he can bring you to me." I inform the Yurei, who nods wordlessly before getting behind Soul and vanishing. Even though she's invisible, she's still there. I'd know, as she's more a bright light of Magic to me at the moment.
"Now, Minister, I feel safe to let you take that bath." I smile to him. He nervously nods before walking into the bathroom, the Yurei following closely behind him.
"If you don't mind me asking, Millibelle, what do Yurei eat?" Vasper asks, his tone friendly as he relaxes into a recliner. Although Faye gives him a look, she too relaxes.
"They use Vitaephagy or Necrophagy. That's why I want Seul to bring her to me, so she can feed off me. Don't want him to wither away from his guard eating all his HP, now do we?" I remain standing, since they've claimed the only two recliners in the room.
They both nod. Then...
Faye asks, using our shared connection to keep Seul from hearing us.
I shake my head. "At this point, even if there was a way for me to ensure you never ever spoke about what I've done to you, I can't. Not without permanently damaging your minds."
Vasper looks down, his mood depressed. He looks at his companion. I know they've been... getting it on. Can't help it when intense emotions are hard to filter out.
Faye looks to me, a scared expression.
"Honestly, I'd not mind. I got access to Jax through you, I'd say you repaid your debt to me." I ignore the icy dread they both feel at those words. "I mean it. Once you've finished guarding Seul, you should ask to retire. Get a farm, have some kids, be happy. It's all up to you, though. Fate no longer holds a sway over you. That thread severed when I saved you from being killed by the rampaging Hero."
Faye looks shocked, and they're both having trouble wrapping their heads around the concept.
"It happens, sometimes, when an Otherworlder saves someone from their Fated death. The person keeps living, on their own terms, and they might even become stronger for it." I explain. I don't have to keep my status from them, after all, how would they tell others if I didn't want them to?
Vasper looks to Faye, a deep love in his heart, which she reciprocates.
"I'll leave you to it. I'll be in the next room over, so if anything happens I'll be there immediately." I give a knowing smile before leaving the room, eager to get a little rest.