"Yeah, Kershka taught me how to carve wood. It's relaxing.... Does Gregor drink alcohol?" I asked.
"He did for a bit but kicked the habit thankfully. Said running the guild branch kept him too busy." Bibs replied.
"Phew. Good. I don't like drunk Gregor. He's a great person when sober." I said.
"Yes. I didn't like it for the short duration it lasted here." Bibs replied. "As for this contract, I'm very interested in bringing this to him. Knock out two birds at once. Have him sign the contract first, then start pelting him with questions."
"That's quite fine. Jack helped me make potions for the war that helped keep survivors alive. I like him, though mistakenly called me a hero." I shrugged.
"But I like Alex more and Kershka best. Hmm. Tilton..."
"Yes?" He said grumpily.
".. Um.. You should check the mortar around town as casually as possible. Well, maybe wait till Snow Den is here, she has a spell that can repair the town..." I said, conflicted, I started fidgeting.
"Why, oh, why do I feel like there is still something missing from that conversation?" He said dryly.
"Tilton, I don't know about right now, but in twelve years Dueling Rivers was over run by Oblex. Every bit of mortar holding stone together was replaced by oblex. If triggered there will be great loss of life." I told him. "If you don't believe me, I can tell you a lie so that you may know the one thing I can't be is a liar."
"Go right ahead and tell me a lie, but just so you know, the walls are made of wood at the moment." Tilton said.
"You can make Glassteel if taught. Bibs annoys me. Phintias is a normal human." I said. Truth, and two lies. Which now my Dad knows what a terrible liar I make.
"Alright. I can certainly believe you on that." Tilton said.
"I don't know why I can't lie." I sighed, then shrugged. "I fink that's all the stuff I had to tell you both.. How is Alex's matter gonna be handled, if I may know?"
"I will take care of that." Bibs said. "An if you happen to have this, 'de-aging cake' at some point, let me know. That could be easier to handle."
"Hm. Tibin has a de-aging potion and Kaz is the one who baked it last time." I said. "Sylvia is kind and likey to help if asked. Snow Den didn't leave Marshall's mansion, by the way. She got trapped in a time loop by Azerime. I asked Archimedes to get her out so she should be around soon."
"So.. That explains why we couldn't find her. And now Archimedes is messing with it." Tilton said.
"Yup. Just be polite and talk to her if you meet her Tilton. Otherwise you'll be her favorite target to pick a fight with." I warned him. "Apparently she sends daily letters in the other reality. One sentence letters."
"That sounds truly awful. Bibs, I think I'll let you handle that one." Tilton said.
"It's not all bad. Cause as much as she enjoys irritating her favorite people, she protects them and helps them as much. She's a pleasant person." I told them.
"She certainly sounds it." Tilton said dryly.
"It's been a pleasure to meet you, and if you ever need any assistance, you know how to reach me. We have a devil to go see." Bibs said.
"Ok, see you both later." I said, smiling. "I hope everything goes well. If not, know that I'll see Asmodeus as a snail again."
"Before I leave, I need to hear that story." Bibs said, looking at me.
"He was pitching a fit in Dueling Rivers, because I refused to sign his contract to fetch the King's Crown. Kali used polymorph on him and turned him into a snail, we brought him to my Dad who used a true polymorph scroll on him to make him permanently a snail." I explained, while Tilton appeared amused, "I kept him as a pet in an atrium. Then his mind started slipping, so I took to reminding him daily of who he is. He's quite pleasant company when he isn't trying to kill you, you know. He was more pleasant and nice than my companions at the time. Even when trying to kill me."
"Well that's.. Quite the story." Bibs replied. As Tilton now looked concerned.
I nodded and said, "We also trapped him in a pocket dimension that turned out to be a late friends after life. That late friend.. 'mounted' him to assert dominance. Which we learned when he next tried to kill us because he yelled it at us."
Bibs snorted, trying not to laugh or show amusement, though Tilton looked disgusted. "I don't think I'll tell him that. Though that is quite amusing."
"I was sympathetic towards that one, probably why I tried so hard to keep him from losing himself." I admitted. "But humans tend to bond to anything and everything, so.. Anyways, see you both soon enough with as old as you are."
"I may be old, but this one is ancient." Tilton said.
Bibs laughed. And they excused themselves to James and left. Once the door closed, I looked at James. "Tilton's grumpy." I then went back to writing the future events.
"He certainly seemed it, yes." James agreed.
"I think my physical age shows through a bit much." I said.
"What do you mean?" James asked.
"Hmm. If Bibs wasn't here I might not have survived that encounter, even with you right there. I was impulsive and my mind wonders more than I'm accustomed to." I told him.
"Do you think Tilton would of done something to harm you?" James asked.
"Very likely. If he was the Half Elf, then definitely. But I would have also antagonized him." I nodded.
"You would openly antagonize someone you are concerned would harm you?" He repeated.
"Yes. Often." I said, still writing. "I can admit to some level of suicidal tendency. It's actually gotten a lot better since I was elsewhere. I gained a sense of self worth."
"Well, I certainly hope you continue to gain a sense of self worth. It's very important to have." James said.
"I thought I was abandoned and un-cared for." I told him. "It neber occured to me until after I started calling you my father that you didn't know how to show affection to me. My fear of you abandoning me pushed me to reject you.. I was really happy when you said that even if you had biological children that I was still your family."
"Indeed, showing affection is not a strong suite of mine. I'll admit that." James said.
"That's ok. Snow will smother the both of us with all the affection she lacked growing up." I told him.
"It certainly sounds like getting her will be a benefit to everyone." James said.
I looked at him, my eyes bright, "That spell I mentioned, she invented it. It cleans and fixes things she knows how was as she plays her melody."
"That certainly does sound like a helpful spell." He said.
I nodded. "She repaired Scraver's Coast and Dueling Rivers with it. She invented it based on a theory about channeling magic and manipulating it. Just because she was bored."
"The true terrifying ones are the ones who are creative and bored." James replied.
I nodded again. "I'll admit that I didn't like her very much when I first met her. She acts like a clueless person. It's how she survived as a kid. Putting on an act of cutesy and dumb."
"Well, if.. that's what got her by." James said.
"It did. I won't tell you how to get her out of that mode." I said. "You don't need the help."
"I feel I might, but alright." He said.
I grinned. "But can I ask you a moral question? Just because I'm curious bout your opinion."
"Moral quandries are not my stromg suite, but I will attempt it." He said.
"If you knew someone was going to suffer a lot, and you knew you could help them, but it would probably make someone you love miss out on a lot of happiness, would you help that person to not suffer anyways?" I asked.
"If someone close to me would miss out on happiness, no, I wouldn't help them. I may even become a detriment." James said.
"Plight and I feel the same. But I still feel a little guilty." I admitted.
"Feeling guilt is a bit of a luxury." James said. "At the very least it means you do care about who you're not helping."
I nodded. "If I helped her, she wouldn't become the strongest in her clan. And if she met a certain person sooner than nine or ten years from now that person wouldn't feel the same bout her, I'm sure of it. So I can't help her."
"Certainly sounds like not helping her is the way to go." James said.
"Yeah. Today was successful." I said, changing the subject. "Alex and Jack are gonna be helped and maybe something can be done for Ashtar."
"I don't feel there is much I can do for that situation." James said.
"That's ok. They'll either broker for possession of her soul, or he'll have already released her. In five years, I'll go introduce her parents to Tilton and make them relocate. Then maybe they'll live. But if they revive her, then I don't know what will happen." I told him.
"Depending on what happens with her soul, it may be best to relocate them before her birth." James said.
"She knew where and when she was born, approximately." I replied. "So I have no idea where they are. They are also werewolves."
"Mm. Yes, that does make it a little more difficult." James said.
"She wasn't even positive if she was eleven or twelve when I met her." I said. "She's a year or two younger than my brother Vincent. Or if her life is restored she's twenty one."
"Seems like she's had about as confusing as a life as you." James said.
I laughed. "Yeah, we were both raised by two men, one calm and reasonable and the other with poor impulse control."
He chuckled. "I can only imagine Dirthin is the one with poor impulse control? I am quite contained." James said.
Nodding, continuing my writing again. Little breaks in between were helping me write longer. "Are we sure I can't train with Uncle today?" Again, it was recommended.
"No. You cannot." James said firmly.
"Haah. Alright. I've written a lot of fings." I said.
"Come and show me." James said.
I brought him the papers. I'd managed to cover all noteworthy events up to when I was fifteen years old. There was much, much more from my sixteenth year. I climbed up on him and sat to where he could take the papers and review them. He, of course, accepted this and began going over the papers, asking questions occasionally. Some of the things I'd wrote were things I'd done for James himself.
I ended up taking a short nap during this time. When I woke I was still in James lap. "How do you think I could get to Nafan?" I asked.
"Welcome back. To get to Nathan.. I could simply set up a meeting with his family. I'm sure they'd love to hear from me." James said.
"Sure. If you want to hear the snarky insinuation that you or Uncle have a taste for small boys. I've been called your lap pet more times than I can count." I responded. "Denoir hates you as much as he hates balding."
"It is true that we and the Denoirs do not get along." James said.
"Plus Nafan isn't allowed to socialize." I said. "Because his ideals do not align with his family."
"Then we'll simply have to find a time that he is out by himself." James replied.
"I guess he does go outside sometimes. He'd have to." I pondered this. "I was thinking of climbing the house to his room."
"Again, you are four years old. You don't need to be climbing up to anyone's window." James said, looking at me.
"But Plight could carry me. Vampires climb really easy." I replied.
"That's.. Still not ok." James said.
"Mills is just nine now anyways." I said.
"And who is Mills? Someone else you're wanting to meet? If you want to go the stealth route, let me have someone take him from his room. That is far safer for you." James insisted.
"Mills is the identity Nathan gives himself while evading assassins sent by his father. It's how I got used to calling him in the other reality." I said.
"Ah. Well, that's fine. Atleast it's not someone else on the longer list of people you're wanting to meet." James replied.
"Hm. I don't think you're disappointed that I have powerful connections." I noted, looking up at him. "Simon, Dean and Nafan are... Simon and Nafan are good kids. Dean is a scamp."
"Scamps can be quite useful." James said.
"He is skilled. He tought me all about roguery. His only real failure was teaching me to lie. He's an orphan." I told him.
"Should we bring him in as an agent? Or just let him be?" James asked.
"If you can it would be a serious accomplishment." I replied. "I'm doubtful it can be accomplished, though."
"Well, you should never underestimate your old man." James said.
"Well, maybe it can be done, because he's only seven right now. I met him originally when I went to the thiebes guild." I responded. "Maybe he's not as jaded yet."
"I don't think I've ever met a jaded seven year old, but I suppose it could be possible." He said.
"I think kidnapping Nafan could be funny." I said. "I don't think his father would care."
"Well, let's not try to rub that in." James said.
"I would neber unless earned." I replied. "Especially when he already is aware of it."
"From your descriptions of your feelings in your past, I feel you two will get along quite well." James said.
"Funny enough, I made his dream real once by chance. Though I don't know if it's his dream right now." I said.
"We'll just have to ask him after we kidnap him." James said.
"What do we do with him after?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, by the sounds of it, send him home." James said.
"I want to prevent him from getting backstabbed this time. Before, like Dean, I thought he was a fake sympathizer. But after getting to know him, I'm a little protective." I commented.
"Whereas this may be the case, if we take him from the environment that breeds him then we are doing him a disservice." James said.
"I know. His backstabbing event is in seven years. I just have to be quiet bout it." I replied. "I can't handle him the way I dealt with Bibs and Tilton, or the way I will deal with Phintias. But he did say, 'I wish I had a friend like you at that time.' So he will."
"A strong friendship may bolster him further." James said.
I nodded. I snuggled his arm for a moment before getting down and heading to the blank papers again. Then I started drawing schematics. I incorporated Sarial's designs and my own simpler tastes into the buildings, and drew an over view of the city I'd build one day. When it was time for dinner I'd finished my drawings.
"I really may have missed out on utilizing my skills, Dad." I said.
"Oh? Let's see what you have." James said.
So I handed him what I'd been working on. Schematics for houses, a school, medical facility, cafeteria, training areas and more. And the picture of the over view of the city. I even included specifications for farming and the lighting.
"These are incredibly well done. And the overview is beautiful." James complimented it. "Time to test that memory." He put them in his desk. "Do it again as close to the originals. You can start right after dinner."
"Alright. I can do that." I answered. "You could save onto it anyways because I won't be ready to make that for a long while."
We went to the dining room where we ate our meals with Uncle. Then after dinner we returned to his office and I started on the schematics and drawing again. This time I added another page for a playground, too. My hands were sore by the time I finished and I was growing tired. But I brought him the results of his challenge.
He took out the originals and checked them, finding only a few inconsistencies, where I simply missed a small detail here or there. With his praise, I was sent off to bed. I stopped in on Plight beforehand. He was enjoying reading a lot. He didn't have any words he'd had difficulties with today, so I went to my room to sleep.
Though, I asked him to read me a story to go to sleep. The story was about myths in the Kingdom. Plight read well with no awkwardness or messed up words. I was impressed with how well he did. I figured I'd teach him other languages tomorrow. I managed to listen for only a chapter and half before falling asleep.
The next morning I took a bath and went to breakfast. After breakfast I joined Plight in the library to start working on another language with him. He chose Dwarvish. After I went over the different alphabet and their sounds, Marie came to fetch me. I had a visitor in Father's office, Phintias. So I invited Plight to come with me.
Plight agreed to join me, and I stopped by my room to get the papers necessary for Phintias before heading to the office. Phintias was seated comfortably in a chair when Plight and I entered. He and my Dad were casually chatting when we entered. I waited a moment for a lull in their conversation.
When it occurred, I said, "Hello, Phintias. I apologize for the wait. My name is Isarial Hearthry."
"No apologies needed, James here was keeping me quite entertained." Phintias said.
"Only you could be so flippant about such an honor." I laughed.
"I suppose I am flippant about things others would consider vastly important." Phintias responded.
I smiled and said, "Not that I think you care currently, but that you will, this is Plight. Plight, let's get comfy while I harass this world's oldest being."
Phintias had a big smile while correcting me, "Not the oldest. Alright, maybe the oldest while still being considered mortal."
"So, chat casually, or cut to the chase?" I asked him directly. "Or should I tell you about you?"
"Ooh, I do love hearing about me. What do you have?" Phintias asked.
"You have always wanted to be a father." I said, then wanted to push him some, "And you've been worshipped as a God a few times."
"Well, I.. Certainly feel you know me quite well. How did you know about the God bit? That hasn't been for a few centuries." Phintias said.
"You told me." I answered, then paused before making the statement a lie. "Last year."
"Ooh. That was visceral. Like I feel I could awe the universe bleed from that." Phintias said.
"It was necessary to be adequately believed." I said.
"So, I told you about all these things, but I certainly don't have a memory of it." Phintias said. "So what is this? Time travel?"
I shrugged. "I guess so. I want to solve some problems the Realm is going to be facing soon that's probably in effect now even. And I want you to do something for me that really only benefits you."
"So you want me to do something that benefits me? What is this, self help?" He asked.
"Sorta? You see, I'm certain that in twelve years the woman you wished to marry died. I want her to live." I told him directly. "And I want to play with your daughters again."
"Future knowledge is a little bit.. It can twist things." Phintias said.
"True. They could have different personalities or genders, but as long as you go get Lucretia, I don't see how you'd not charm her. You're natural personality will make her comfortable, and she'll show her mischievous side." I told him.
"Mischievous, hm?" He asked.
I nodded. "Yes. You said, 'My own ray of light on a breezy day'."
"I must have finally lost my mind in the future. That makes no sense." Phintias said.
I tilted my head and said, "Water is an issue in the South, yes? Food is becoming one? As for the light thing. You had a hobby of laying in the sun when you were human."
"Alright. If she's all that impressive, then I should go meet her." Phintias said.
"Do you know of Lucretia?" I asked.
"I've heard the name, but I haven't met her." Phintias replied.
"Lucretia Acheron is an unreasonably gentle person. Cole Zelaria abuses her. They feed on her." I told him. "And Plight is the only other Acheron. They weren't aware of each other."
"Ah yes. The Acheron family. That is an old bloodline." Phintias said.
"You're the best option to keep Lucretia happy and safe." I told him.
"Well, I will inquire about her." He said. "Was there anything else you wish to discuss or reveal?"
"She'll decline a marriage proposal, probably. Without meeting you, she'll think you'll treat her just like Cole does." I warned him. "But I guess I should tell you about the Lich's plan to kidnap the guards' families, repair the bridge, and infiltrate Winter's Halt. The church there ignores it, and slowly starts getting turned into undead themselves. They keep Mirabell, the Saintess, ignorant and under control."
"She's nothing but a child. That shouldn't be to hard." Phintias said.
I shrugged. "I met her in August 872."
"Well, if that's the way they raise her essentially, then I doubt she'd see a reason to change." He said.
I approached Phintias and climbed up next to him, showing him the noodle recipe. "You can give this to the Sultan. Two cups of flour can create a pound of food." I showed him the other recipes for broths, sauces and such. And I showed him the preservation methods I wrote. "I don't have the ability to help supply foods yet, but this should help considerably." Then I showed him the arcaic formula.
"Hm. We can turn this into a staple food. Wheat is something they can produce easily." Phintias said.
"The arcaic formula is a spell to call water to the surface sustainably. A sorcerer can cast this spell easily with a little studying. Then new Oasis can be formed which will change the land some. In February 872, the Kingdom will close it's borders and trade to the Realm." I explained.
"What was the cause of this ban on trade?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, I didn't learn that because there were a lot of murders going on here that I was investigating." I told him. "But had I to guess, I would say it was a movement pushed by Elmire and Denoir to try to push for war. Not that that came to much because the Capital fell in March. Though, I'm gonna prevent that this time."
"Sounds like I should pay a visit to these nobles and see if I can't make them see reason." Phintias said.
"The only reason they'll see is death." I said firmly. "They are slave traders and worse."
"Death is something I can deal if needed, and then correct." Phintias said casually.
"Can I ask you a question?" I asked.
"By all means." He said.
"When I first met you was after meeting my mother. My group, mother and the Sultan were all in the Sultan's office discussing the upcoming assault on Winters Halt when you joined and taunted us by flashing your fangs. You invited us to your library after the meeting. Why did you taunt us?" I asked.
"It's hard to say without being there. Might be someone intrigued me, or annoyed me." Phintias said.
"My mother was the champion of the Arena for twelve years by that point. She won't be this time." I told him.
"You jump topics relatively. And being a champion for twelve years hasn't been accomplished for a long time. Most don't last longer than five." He said.
"I have a short attention span." I replied. "To answer your ignored question, I was sent to an alternate reality and your old friend Archimedes helped me return in exchange for me drawing five cards from the Deck of Many things." I frowned. "He got very angry and said someone is messing with his cards. Perhaps because from two separate realities and decks, I drew the wish card."
"That does sound rather tampered with." He noted.
"Also, in ten cards I didn't draw any bad ones." I said.
"Hah. That is just ridiculous." Phintias said.
"You're a good teacher." I said. "Ok, so maybe it's just because my mind cycles through memories constantly. Which reminds me, I thought of some weapons that may interest the Sultan that would be excellent against the undead. I haven't written the schematics down, though."
"And what sort of weapons might these be?" He asked.
I grinned. "Holy water shrapnel hand granades and arrow tips."
"Now that certainly does sound intriguing." Phintias said.
I said, "Thought it up last night when my uncle was talking about black powder. Oh, did you know holy water is just blessed salt water? So to save money on it sea water can be used and the weapons blessed. Mirabell told me bout holy water."
"Well that is certainly a cost effective method of harming undead." He said.
"Yeah." I said. "If you want help in the future, let me know. I'm a very useful individual, though I'm little currently. I know you like to avoid responsibilities."
"Like a plague. It keeps me locked down. Not a fan." Phintias said.
I smiled at him and said, "You're funny when you're not being antagonistic. I didn't bully you much. Should I share a memory with you?"
"Before I agree or disagree what does it pertain to?" He asked.
"You and her." I answered.
"Hmm, alright. Let's see it." He said.
I mind linked to him, they were sitting on a bench facing the sea in broad daylight while I approached. Their girls were collecting seashells and their son was running around energetically. Only to pause and run at me flailing the stick, playing. Lucretia laughed and cuddled into Phintias. 'We have a visitor, it seems.' She said with a dazzling smile looking only at Phintias. He'd glanced at me, before looking down into her eyes. 'Colin can handle him. Perhaps he can babysit.' She raised an eyebrow, 'Oh? Where shall we go?' I was still being whacked with the stick. 'I didn't say I'll babysit.' Lucretia said, 'Aw, you will though?' I walked around to the front of them, revealing her pregnant belly, 'I guess. They're nice kids. I'll stay around here with them for a few hours.' Phintias, amused, said, 'How kind of you. Think you can set up that portal to the flower fields?' I just drew the glyph, while the kids ran over to their parents to tell them to have fun. I ended the memory there.
He looked slightly flushed. Covered his mouth and coughed. "I think I'll be visiting them a little sooner than later."
"I can write down the glyphs to your house and hers, if you want." I offered. "Activating them is a bit much for me right now."
"Activating a glyph is not a problem for me. If you could, make it to their front door. I love to make an entrance." Phintias said.
I nodded, and got busy drawing the glyph to his home on a piece of paper. Then I wrote the one to the location he wanted. It took some time because I made sure it was accurate. With him having magic, he probably wouldn't need to draw the glyph to use it, but instead to just know it. When I'd completed it, I handed it over, explaining which is which and where it'd bring him.
"I will do my darkest not to mix them up." He said, storing the papers I'd handed him in his waste coat.
"I believe in you." I laughed.
"Well as you know, several people believed im me at one point." Phintias said.
"Let's share some stories one day." I replied.
"Seems I have already shared several with you. I'm not sure which would be new or old." He said.
"To be fair, it was just something you mentioned randomly while your child was fussy. As it turns out-" I cut myself off, "Um.. Well, really it was just a passing comment. Can Plight visit his sister from time to time?"
"That shouldn't be a problem unless she doesn't want to see him. I have no intention to keep her prisoner." Phintias replied.
"Ok. But if she wants to go shopping or out of your house, I would recommend accompanying her or having a body guard for her. Her allure will attract a lot of ill attention." I warned him.
"I surely wouldn't want somebody harassing her." He responded.