I sit beside her grave, not quite able to realize just exactly what I've just done. My motions were made without any thought, and now I'm sitting by the grave of one of the few people who didn't fear Her when first meeting Us. I guess it hasn't sunk in yet?
Samantha is dead by my hand, even if it was to save her from agony.
I shake my head and am about to get up when I hear several sets of feet moving towards me. I recognize one set as belonging to Ame and Mabe, so the other must be...
"Where is she?!" Delpha shouts, her face red from exertion as well as anger. I wordlessly get up and step aside so she can see the grave. Delpha falls to her knees, no doubt hurting them on the hard winter soil.
"You didn't even let me say goodbye!" Tears are streaming down her cheeks. "She was the closest thing I ever had to family! And you- you just snatch her away and- and-" She sputters, too angry and begrieved to form coherent words anymore.
Before I know it, a rock- picked up from the ground- is hurtling towards me. If I let it hit me, Delpha might get hurt if it shatters on impact, but if I dodge it...
I liquefy the part of me that's about to be hit, trapping the rock in my body. It quickly disappears, digested by Geovore. Ame and Mabe give a hiss, I'm not certain as to towards which of us. "W-Why..." Delpha sobs, her body curled in on itself as if she's lost all will to keep herself from getting cold and wet from laying in the slush.
I look at her, uncertain as to what to do. I doubt even Millibelle would know. "Do you want me to stay here, or do you want me to leave?" I ask, even if the question is so awkward it makes my skin itch.
"..." Delpha worldlesly shuffles up to me, still on her knees, before wrapping her arms around me. I quietly reposition ourselves so that she's sitting off the ground, and let her cry her heart out.
I ended up carrying Delpha back to her house, after she cried herself into a deep sleep. The Servants who prefer staying close to Yggdrasil meet me at the edge of the grove, curious as to what is going on.
"Where Gramma?" Bug asks. He in particular was fond of the old woman, and often accompanied her whenever she left the grove.
"She's at peace now." I reply. Several of the gathered goblins chatter curiously between themselves, not quite intelligent enough to understand what I'm implying with that statement. A few Gyger helpfully explain, and a somber atmosphere settles onto the grove.
"But... Master make Gramma live again? Yes?" Bug hopefully asks.
I shake my head. "She didn't want that. Humanoids are weird like that. They don't like Undead, much less the thought of becoming one."
Bug, as well as many other Jotun, make disgruntled noises. "But it big honor! Serve Master forever!" One Jotne exclaims.
"She wasn't my Servant, though. She was a friend, and she didn't want to become an Undead. That was her choice, and I couldn't bring myself to force her." My reply seems to reach some of them. If I had ignored her wishes, all I'd end up with was an angry and vengeful Hitodama with Samantha's personality.
Pathetic mews grab my attention. It's Ammit, and she's prodding the packed snow outside the cave, seemingly reluctant to actually step out into the cold. She stops her pawing and, somehow, makes the most kitten-like squeak at me.
Right, she's a desert dweller. And also adorable.
I leave the Servants and enter the cave, Ammit happily trotting after me. She's probably hungry, but I don't think she'll be able to eat her fill on our winter rations... Share Nutrients it is then. Once she's sated, I spend the rest of the day resting with her.
Night comes far too soon, and I'm left with the conundrum of what to do with Ammit. Staying away from her for extended periods of time sounds like a bad idea, but I'm very uncertain as to how she'll react to humanoids... Well, she seemed fine with Delpha, but her experience with the Maker from the Sushwallow Marshes is bound to have inflicted some kind of lasting fear.
Or perhaps she's too damaged. Simply in the modus of 'mom isn't scared so I don't need to be'? Let's take her with us. The worst thing that happens is that I have to sedate and Teleport her home again.
A thought hits me. Mina. She might be able to treat Ammit. Okay, let's postpone the test of whether or not she has androphobia until I bring her to Mina. It would have to be after I return to make my report, though, so for now I guess I'll just drug her to sleep to keep her from being afraid when I'm not here?
I explain my plan to Yggdrasil, keen to hear her opinion.
"With my sedative sap, I can safely keep her asleep for two days. However, any longer than that and it becomes harmful. With the help of Vir'ava I'm able to tend to her for that time as well." Yggdrasil informs me, her tone manner-of-fact.
"I see. I hate to do this to her, but at the moment there's so many balls in the air that I can't focus on her alone. Once I've reported to Dervix and the others, I should be free to tend to her afterwards, since they all need to return to their own nations in order to prepare." I hesitate, before turning to Ammit.
"Let's go to sleep for now..." I lock eyes with her, and lull her to sleep with Hypnotic Gaze.
I walk outside the cave once Ammit is deep asleep. Delpha walks up to me, her eyes alight with a determination that tells me that whatever she's about to demand, I won't be able to say no.
"Take me with you." Her tone is cold. Not surprising.
"It will be very boring. And also you will have to be by my side at all times." I warn as I settle down to let her climb onto my back.
"I don't care." She gets onto my back, being intentionally rough as she does so. I sigh, giving Vir'ava the heads up that Delpha will be with me. Ame and Mabe walk up to us, expectantly.
"You're too heavy. Also, I don't think Bidras are allowed in B'dur." I half-lie. I could have brought them with if I wanted, but the logistics of bringing them with is a headache I want to save myself. "Be good and watch Delpha's home whilst she's gone." I offer a distraction.
The two heads seem to bicker among themself before agreeing on something, and wander off. Not giving anyone else the chance to interfere, I take off into the night sky.
"It's so big!" Delpha exclaims as B'dur comes into view. Most of the capital is dark, only the streetlights are on since it's so late at night.
"We'll be landing there." I point out the castle, which we are rapidly approaching- even as I slow down. In just a few minutes, I touch down in the garden. The night guard approach cautiously, but when he sees it's me, he relaxes and continues his rounds.
"Here, let's get inside." I switch to humanoid form and lead Delpha into the castle proper. A servant spots us. A bit nervously, she approaches. "Excuse me, Miladies, but who are you?" Ah, I guess since it's hard to tell I'm the Monarch when masquerading as humanoid, and Delpha is completely new here, caution is called for.
"Please inform His Highness that Millibelle has returned. I'm sure he's getting anxious waiting for me. I'll be in my quarters if he has anything urgent to discuss." I make a polite gesture, one intended for those in a lower rank than the one performing it. The servant nods and eagerly goes to deliver the news.
Now bothering to wait for Dervix to contact me, I head straight for the room opposite Foreign Minister Seuls'. To my delight, they tidied around the pile of bed-covers She had fashioned into a nest, leaving it in place for Our return.
I switch into my true form and get comfortable. Delpha goes to refresh herself in the adjoining bathroom. A knock on the door, Dervix is here already.
"Come in." I respond, and the door opens, revealing Dervix- and Actvi. There's an awkward moment as we both stare each other down, but it's quickly broken by the King coughing to get both of our attentions.
"Please, come in. I hope you're well, Actvi." I don't get up. "The Oracle, Delpha, insisted I bring her with me this time. She's just in the bathroom." Informing them of this seems to alleviate some concern Dervix was having.
"Ah, then this will be easier." He sighs, entering the room and settling down on a recliner. Actvi, somewhat stiffly, goes to stand behind him. "I've talked with the Grand-Priestess. She's concerned there won't be enough Faith for the rebirth of the Demigods." Straight to the point, huh.
"From what I am able to calculate using my Skills, my body harbors enough Faith to revive all the Demigods." I reply. A thought strikes me; We haven't accounted for the Faith needed to power the growth of the Divine Saplings we plan on planting. "... I might have forgotten about the second stage of the plan, though." I admit.
Dervix nods, as if this is what he was talking about. "I heard from Mira that you helped the villages neighbouring your Domain during the High Element Event. From their Gratitude, you were able to gather Faith." I look from him to the bathroom door, where I know Delpha is quietly listening.
"So, you're telling me I need to induce more Gratitude in order to gather more Faith." I surmise. I can actually see why he's proposing this. Peony, Delphas' sister, is known as a great healer, and would offer her services at the Church of B'dur. Now that she's become the Champion of Life, there's no-one with as high expertise with healing as her around, atleast, that's willing to work pro bono.
Despite Dervix' best efforts, there's still poverty. With poverty comes an inability to seek medical help because those who perform healing with Spells demand payment, and those who perform healing with potions demand payment. And even then, humanoids are unable to fully cure diseases with Spells, only weaken them.
"We would also need funds. And what is a better investment than a reading from the Monarch's Oracle?" A somewhat familiar look overcomes Dervix. Greed.
Delpha quietly steps into the room. She's turned the Octopus Cloth into a nightgown, so at least she's not in front of her uncle naked. "I'm not 'her' Oracle. Has the Grand-Priestess given you permission? You should know, all tithes made towards securing a reading with an Oracle are for the Church." Her tone is cold.
Slightly taken aback, Dervix takes a moment to compose himself. "Of course. I'd be a fool not to. Besides, the Church will benefit massively from this as well. After all, we're talking about the revival of Demigods here, the very thing the Church organizes the worship of." He relaxes his shoulders before continuing.
"It's great to finally meet you, Oracle. Your father is my older brother." He smiles sadly. "Oh, if your mother could have seen you now. You and Peony really do look identical. Though, you're not using a Masking Charm, so there's some difference between you."
*A Masking Charm is a Rare Amulet-Type Magic Item that lets the wearer apply slight changes to their appearance when worn. It can add or subtract markings such as freckles, subtly change color of skin, or drastically change the color of the iris. Peony and Aster both wear one to tone down how striking their albinism is.*
I thought it was a bit odd, how Peony didn't have red eyes but Delpha does. I should make one for her...
Dervix gets up, seems he's postponing our discussion to tomorrow. "Sleep well, both of you." He gives the same gesture I gave the servant, eliciting a raised eyebrow from Actvi, though he doesn't say anything.
Wordlessly, they both leave the room.
"I'm not sure I like him..." Delpha mutters.