"I should have paid more attention. But I didn't know they hunted this area..." I said.
"I'll be having some of my mates sweep the area for any remaining traps." Dad said.
I nodded. "That's a good idea."
"It would not be good for any poor child to be teleported into what remains of that room." Dad said.
"Snow's spell was handy." I replied. "I was able to stop giving Reinier the emotional response he desired because of her."
He adjusted his head up, looking at Snow. "Thank you for taking care of him while I could not."
"I wouldn't personally say that I did anything to be thanked for, but you're welcome." Snow replied.
"If you're still wishing for us to go along with you to the mansion, it will be a couple of days. I'm going to have some things to sort out." James replied.
"Mm. I'll admit to being very curious about what your baby mentioned, but realistically speaking, I don't have my instruments, nor do I have a weapon aside from my claws. So if the mansion is in an abandoned state, it's likely unsavory things have moved in. I don't like playing the game of, 'will my magic outlast the enemy count.' Not that I've had to." She sighed a little. "Basically, I'd be a fool to run off into unknown situation without back up."
"Alright. I will try to wrap this all up as soon as I can." James said.
"It's hardly pressing. But I do think I'm gonna torment this Plight fellow." She said off handedly, appearing every bit as aloof as a cat acting like it's not got prey before it. "His perception needs some boosting."
"Well then, why are we working on magic theory if you want to work on my perception?" Plight asked, very slightly amused.
"Because, I can't have my pr-" She cleared her throat. "It's fine. I'm fantastic at multitasking."
"Oh.. Alright. I could try to learn both at the same time." Plight said.
"Or don't and have a heart attack." I said. "Since she's gonna hunt you."
She raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended, "I said no such thing. Besides, I think it would be funnier to hunt the other one."
"Depending on how you hunt him, it could be funny, or very dangerous." Dad told her.
"Oh, I saw. That's why it's interesting to do. It's a challenge. And if I improve my skills along the way, it's purely a win." Snow grinned.
"I may have forgotten that she's crazy." I commented.
"Eh. Would have to be." Snow said off handedly, then she was a little upset, "Oh, the theobroma necromnal! It's at the mansion.. Ah, well. It'll still be there."
"The what now?" Plight asked.
"Theobroma necromnal. It's a type of poison that I learned to make into a delightful treat. There's a way to neutralize the poison." Snow answered him.
"I've heard turning poisons into medicine, but not poisons into a treat." Dad said.
"Oh, you'd like it." Snow insisted. "Though, I guess it could be medicinal? My eye sight improved once I figured out how to neutralize it."
"So, it's a tasty medicine? Children everywhere would love that." Dad said.
"No offense, but they can go make themselves ill repeatedly then." Snow said. "I only share when I feel like it."
"It's your knowledge to do with as you wish." Dad replied.
"Besides, I don't know if it will effect everyone the same way." Snow said. "There could be simply no effect to others."
"It would require research to see it's effects on others." Dad noted.
"No effects for Alex?" I asked.
"Not that I could tell. I only shared it with him once, though." Snow replied.
"What is this treat called, that you've come up with?" Dad asked her.
"Chocolate. If you add it to warm cream, it's so good." Snow told him.
"That certainly does sound interesting." James said.
"Easy to burn yourself with, though." Snow agreed.
Marie interrupted, then. "Pardon the intrusion, but dinner is ready."
"Ah, I'd hate for their efforts to go to waste, so let's go and eat." Dad suggested. He looked down at me, "Are you ready to go eat? Would you like me to put you down?"
I straightened up his mane a little where I'd messed it up, and nodded, "Yeah, I suppose." Marie excused herself, heading to whatever other duty she had.
He stood, setting me down, "Well, then. Let's go enjoy our meal."
We headed to the dining room, then. Snow, too, though Plight still ate separately. Uncle joined us, having cleaned himself up. He was now his shiny, silvery self again. He hated cleaning up after his jobs, but he doesn't bother to not get covered in gore. So there's that.
"Do you purposely match Isarial's walking speed, do you usually match others, or is that your natural speed?" Snow asked Dad.
"I am indeed matching his pace." Dad answered. "It would not do much good to have him racing after us. And no, I don't match paces with just anyone."
"You say that like it's common sense, but majority of adults stride ahead leaving their kids or little siblings to practically chase them. Not to mention how many parents practically drag their kids while walking holding hands." Snow replied.
"Maybe I'm better at this 'fatherhood' thing than I thought." James commented.
"Are you really going to harass and try to scare Plight?" I asked her.
"Only as long as it's amusing to do." She replied.
"He already thinks you're mad at him." I told her.
"If I was angry with him, I'd make him dance for a few hours." Snow replied, unconcerned.
"I understand it was not his fault, but even I am a little steamed." Dad said.
"Oh, he... no, that didn't happen.. How is that a memory?" I frowned deeply, I was recalling a situation where Plight couldn't find Ash's body after she died being shot by a bunch of goblins.. Not that we left her dead, I'd made a cart and we took her body to the church to revive her. As I focused on these foreign memories, I started to pale.
Snow's hand was on my shoulder then, lightly, "Are you alright? What's wrong?"
I felt some magic wash across me as she asked. I wasn't concerned. "I am remembering things that didn't happen... And they are not good."
"You.. I feel you have plenty of things to think about already. Maybe we just focus on today? Some terrible people got their comeuppance." Dirthin said.
"... Probably a good idea." I shivered.
Snow withdrew her hand, looking quizzical, ".. Being god touched must be a burden for you."
"Huh?" I asked. "I'm not religious."
"The fickle things don't need you to be religious to grant you 'blessings'." Snow replied.
"What god.. has blessed him? They always want something for their blessings." Dad said.
"I do not know. Identify doesn't show the who, just the what. It shows as 'Blessed with Charismatic Gifts'.... It's a hell of a boon to have recieved while not being religious." Snow replied.
"Does it state what it does?" Dad asked.
"No, Identify doesn't reveal that, just magic effects and what spells placed it there. However, I have heard of this. It's said to be from a god's 'benevolent love'. The gifts are the word of knowledge, increased faith, the gifts of healing, the gift of miracles, prophecy, the discernment of spirits, kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues." Snow explained. "Were his previous parents religious?"
"Not to my knowledge, no. Especially not the father." Dad answered.
"Hm.. Doesn't mean he has all those, usually it's just one or two that are prayed for that are recieved. Perhaps he made an accidental offering to a god?" Snow suggested.
"Not that I know of." I said.
"Well, if we insult every single god in front of him, maybe something will happen?" Uncle suggested.
"That might be fun. Unless the god seeks revenge on him. Gods are like petty children fighting over shiny things." Snow said.. And then her ears went back with concern and she looked at me. Nothing happened.
"Well, at least whichever ones blessed him aren't that petty." Uncle said.
"Or they just thing you're both too little and silly to be insulted by." I said dryly.
"Well that's just upsetting." Uncle replied.
"Maybe I will ask Archimedes how to deal with all of this." Dad said.
"I think Archimedes is already investigating that." I said. "He was rather upset with someone over his Decks of Many Things."
"He could probably use a reminder." Dad said.
"Why was he upset over his Deck of Many Things?" Snow asked.
"Because of ten cards I drew, two were Wish and the only bad one was Talon." I answered. "Out of two different Decks."
"Impressive." Snow said.
"Rigged, more like." Dirthin said.
"Would you prefer him to have pulled Flames or Ruin?" Snow asked.
"Is Flames bad?" I asked.
"Flames is powerful devil becomes your enemy. The
devil seeks your ruin and plagues your life,
savoring your suffering before attempting
to slay you. This enmity lasts until either
you or the devil dies " Snow explained.
"Eh. Bel attacked me a few times, but the knight kept him away." I shrugged. "I only consider something bad if it directly impacts me, my family or people."
"Bel?" Snow asked.
"Zariel's second in command. Asmodeus commanded Zariel to take him for that position. The only reason Bel obeys her is he thinks Asmodeus supports Zariel. Course, that could be false information, but I don't think Phintias would lie bout it." I told her.
"Ah. The fallen angel. She ousted Bel, then." Snow said. "Because Asmodeus gave her Avernus, the first layer of Hell, and made the previous ruler her second."
"The only thing I know of the nine Hells is that Asmodeus has a very large issue with my brother." Dad said.
"Is that why he was never around when Uncle was?" I pondered aloud. "Nah, can't be. Previously, my companions and I were hassled by Asmodeus often."
"Ah, Alex had the same problem." Snow noted.
"Well, you'll just have to hang with me more often. If he comes to pester you now, I' just have a fun tine." Uncle said.
"He was a better companion than those who traveled with me." I replied, "So, unhealthily, I have no fear of him."
"If you could possibly get him on your side.. it could be beneficial." Dad said.
"Hm. I suppose I could tell him some interesting torture techniques or give him Miran. He likes his screams." I said. "If Dean didn't kill him already. He's equally beneficial as an enemy. because he takes it as a personal insult if someone else kills his amusement source."
"Yeah, he's always going on about his entertainment sources. Then I kill him." Uncle said.
"I freaked him out the first time I met him." I grinned.
"Oh, you gotta tell me about that. How did you freak out the Devil?" Uncle asked.
"It was after I had died. My soul was bound to a six inch statue. Bibs created a clay body that perfectly resembled my original one. When I first met Asmodeus, I refused to answer his question and told him to leave, because he was a strange man who walked out of the woods and approached us at camp after dark. Lana was on my side with this, and a fight ensued. After I shot him, he telepirted behind me and tried to rip my brain from my skull. However, he got the statue, and proceeded to have a significant meltdown over it." I told them the story, then mocked his words and actions, shaking my hand like sludge had been on it, "'What? What is this? Oh, that's sick. That's disgusting. Ugh. It's on me.' And he teleported away, gagging."
Uncle started laughing uncontrollably. "He always hates getting dirty."
"Yup. He called us uncivilized when I shot him with an ink and dirt filled sack. I'd attached it to a bolt." I said.
Snow snickered, "That's devious."
"But it would be extremely effective." Uncle said.
"Of course. That was the last time we could do that, though. He made his suit impervious to dirtying." I huffed. "But I ended up with a different hobby."
"And what hobby would that be?" Dad asked.
"Griefing the Undead." I replied, grinning. "Every two to three days, I'd head over to the bridge and blow it up while the Undead tried to rebuild it to get across."
"Sounds like you were making all kinds of friends." Dad said.
"Yes and no." I said. "Many people liked me, except the people who I traveled with. Ash went psychotic, Lana molested me, Fish went power crazy and died, Kali got killed when Ash abandoning her duty, and Yugo or Mila, whatever his name was left after Ash wouldn't pay him back for an item Ash mentioned she wanted. He took it upon himself to buy it for her, asked to be reimbursed, and she refused, considering it a gift. When he threatened to leave, I told him to go, because no way was I going to trust him at my back in a fight after all that."
"That does sound a bit absurd." Dad commented.
"Oh, it gets better. Lana and Ash were constantly seeking magic items to become more powerful. Yet I never did. I only improved my own physical prowess, they made me take a shard of the Shadowfell, which bonded to me, letting me move through shadows and summon shadow soldiers. They forced it on me and blamed me, saying I was power hungry, even after everything I did for them, and how many times I kept them alive. I learned to heal others for them. How the Hell does that work in their mind?" I complained. It was still a source of frustration for me. And it hurt.
"Well, that's simply idiotic." Uncle said
"I agree. That makes no sense. Did they tell you that?" Snow asked.
"Yes. When I fought with Lana over a signet ring that allowed Asmodeus to take over the wearers body. I wanted to hide it, and ordered her to hand it over, hers and Ash's track records had proven they'd use it. Ash had, after all. It was the second time she molested me, after promising to never do it again. She hid herself in Leodmund's Tiny Hut to avoid being killed, because I was going to kill her. When it dispelled, she was already dead, and the ring no more." I explained the situation.
Snow petted my head. "I cannot fathom why they'd say so. Knowing how people tend to be, they probably saw you as superior to themselves. Greedy people are intimidated by intelligent people. I don't know the full situation, but I'd say the problem was just with those pathetic people."
"I find myself in agreement." Dad said.
Snow said, "Try to only surround yourself with people who are for you, who like seeing you do well. Unless you intend to use them as cannon fodder. Then just teach them to die for you."
"Yeah, you're morals are on par with Dad's." I said.
"Again, I'm in agreement." Dad commented.
"It is what I intend to do now. Whereas I could be persuaded to let Ash live, I plan to kill Lana though. I won't forgive her." I shrugged.
"Surprised you're willing to forgive either of them." Dad said.
"She showed her psychoticness cause of Uncle, and wronged him far more than I. She just stressed us both out." I shrugged. "A lot. I did like Kali, though. She was awesome, but her curiousity hurt her significantly before she died."
"Why in the world would this Ash stress me out? Did you ask me not to kill her?" Uncle asked.
"No, I was gonna let you. And I thought it was hlgonna be hilarious. A cleric paid you to not kill her when she ticked you off. As for the rest... I'm not sure I should tell you. But I will if you'd like."
"If you're not sure you should tell me, then don't. It sounds like I shouldn't know." Uncle said.
"I'll put it this way.. You taught me patience and tolerance while dealing with her. And it was repaid with needless chaos." I replied. "And that's all the detail I'm willing to share with you about it."
".. Then when did you learn patience and tolerance? Wouldn't your father have taught you?" Snow asked, tilting her head.
"Nope. I learned it once I was an adult. My Dad and Uncle taught me to deal with things directly and quietly." I replied. "The thieves guild also doesn't teach much tolerance."
"Yeah, I can imagine the thieves guild is not big on patience." Uncle said.
"Dean tried. But I can admit to being compulsive and unconcerned with consequence." I said.
"I feel that might be on me." Uncle said.
I shrugged and said, "Self esteem issues. Nothing mattered because I mattered least of all to me. The day I was brought home was quite traumatic."
James seemed to be deep in thought at that. Snow asked, "Do you still feel like you don't matter?"
"No. My mindset is very different now." I answered. "That man wasn't ever a good parent, but that day he was very cold and actually scared me. He'd dragged me to the drop off location and ordered me to stay. In turn, I have no idea what either of them look like right now. I just know how they'd look in twelve years."
"When I came by the drop off and saw you, I was admittedly pissed." Uncle said.
"If you hadn't come I'd have stayed there." I said. "I wasn't scared of you. Never have been, even if you're angry."
"Yeah, never understood that part. I scare most people by existing. I like it." Uncle said.
"Maybe it's cause your furry?" I suggested jokingly.
"Children often sense people's intentions. After that experience he most likely viewed you as a hero, consciously or unconsciously." Snow said.
"Most consider me the exact opposite. I'm okay with being a hero to one." Uncle said.
I knew Snow viewed Alex in a similar way. She was speaking from her own experience on that one. She could empathize, though she never cried over the ones who'd abandoned her. She did have a tendency to attention seek because of it, though. "Most don't matter." I pointed out.
"True, true." Uncle said.
As dinner was over, we started to leave the room. Snow touched Dad's arm lightly. "Not that this is my business to say.. But, you may have orchestrated the event that led to Isarial being here, but you are not the cause of the trauma. But the wrong thing to do, can be the right thing. Isarial is better off with you, or, as a smart child, why would he bother returning to this vulnerable state?"
"I hope you are right. But I still hope to be better." Dad said.
"If the sudden stiffness in you is guilt, release it." Snow advised, she then lowered her hand, "Of course I'm just a foolish bard, so grain of salt and all that. I'm gonna have to punch Alex." She picked me up after she stopped speaking and walked out if the dining room.
"Why are you carrying me?" I asked.
She raised me up above her head, and said, "To play with you. And treat you like a toddler."
"Oh, ok." I replied. Not particularly caring. At my dismissal of concern, she lowered me a little and then hung me upside down by my feet. She started tickling me, and I squeaked before laughing uncontrollably, screeching and twisting. I caught her hand, panting and wide eyed.
She looked greatly amused, and Plight was nearby now. "Regret your acceptance?" She asked.
"No. But I haven't been tickled before. I don't think I like it." I said.
She took back her hand and cradled me, patting my stomach. "Well, you've a tickly tummy, haven't you?"
She tickled me again, making me squirm and laugh. I let it keep going for a a few minutes. When I asked her to stop, she did. I was ticklish on my feet, legs, sides, underarms, and neck. I didn't know if it was her goal or not, but I fell asleep shortly after her little game.
The next couple of days were filled with learning, jokes, drawing, training and playing. If I wanted to go out, snow accompanied us. She rather enjoyed using the city environment against Plight. She also joined the Adventurers Guild, though didn't do any work for them. Nathan also visited, worried for me.
Snow doted on him for being a good friend to me. Nathan seemed to really like her attention, and seemed reluctant to go home, though he did. He was still considering the opportunities I'd offered him. Which I then told Snow about, which interested her quite a bit. She called me a genius.
Dad had handled the business of making their actions legal and providing documentation on what all had been happening. The third morning since Snow had been with us is when Dad said we'd go to the mansion. After breakfast, I made the glyph, and Snow powered it.
Uncle had come with us, we were outside at this moment. When he pointed out the statue, Snow commented it was an eyesore and snapped her fingers, the resulting fireball leveled the statue. Which seemed to please her.
With that display completed, we all went inside. There were goblins, which I hadn't known. I might should have. Plight, Snow and Uncle made quick work of the nuisances. I stayed back with my Dad. Well, I'd been plunked into his arms by Snow, anyways. She had been carrying me.
She and Uncle checked over all the rooms, ensuring the enemy had been cleared. When they returned, she had her instrument again. "Is there a reason you or Plight don't want ownership of the mansion?" Snow asked after approaching.
"Because in the future you took ownership and I don't want to take anything from you." I answered.
"And if I don't want ownership, just my things?" Snow asked.
I tilted my head, considering the option. "Plight, would you want it?"
"I don't have much of a need for a mansion." Plight answered. "Should I take it?"
"You could. It wouldn't interfere with any of my plans. And if you have a family one day, it would be good to have your own home. Not that I don't enjoy your company." I said.
"Looks like this will be quite the fixer upper." Plight said.
Snow scoffed, "Hardly. I could fix and clean it up in less than an hour."
"Oh? That's quite the work ethic." Dad said.
"Not at all. Can't stand work. But I'll play any time." Snow said, "And I happen to know quite a bit about how this looked previously."
"So you're saying you can have this entire place fixed up in an hour, by playing?" Dad asked.
"Yep. I've got a nifty little spell that'll do the trick." Snow replied.
"You mind showing us what you can do?" Dad asked.
I was sure I'd mentioned her spell. Why was Dad asking her this? She raised her loot and said, "Sure thing, I'll give a tour."
With that, she started playing and singing about every bit of art we came across along with each room and it's noteworthy information. She was honestly stunning and filled with joy and energy. Everything repaired and tidied as she passed it. We ended in the previous mayor's bedroom. The floors after the second floor were merely dirty, so the library was virtually whole.
It had taken probably forty minutes. "What do you think?" She asked.
"A truly astounding spell. Very handy. Do you have to have seen the area you are mending?" Dad asked her.
"At the very least I'd need to know how it looked." Snow said. "I've not tested it out much."
"So a simple painting could do the job? Or a quick sketch?" Dad asked.
"Quite possibly. The theory is that my words and music guide the magic into following my will." Snow said. "Thus far, I've used it this way, and to keep my quarters here clean. Aside from that, I'm not the sort who believes in helping others out of the kindness of my heart. Though, I'm not usually opposed to, if asked."
"Is this a spell that she had taught you in the future?" Dad asked, looking at me.
"Nope. I don't think she's taught a single soul this spell." I answered.
"Good." Dad said. "Best to keep such handy spells to yourself until needed."
"I call it the Nifty Darling spell, cause it's a darling little nifty thing." Snow said.
"Simple and clear. So you have a back for naming things as well." Dad replied.
What a flirt! But that wasn't a bad thing. Snow grinned at him and said, "Don't know bout that. But above here is the hobby room, and above that is where my things are. Along with the treasury. So we should go talk to Baxter."
"Naga! If you come down to the fourth floor you can see Baxter." I called out to him, not expecting an answer.
Snow raised an eyebrow at me, but we all headed downstairs. The goblin bodies had been moved outside by Plight while Snow and Uncle had cleared the mansion. We went into the basement, where we found several undead in cages, rotted and gaunt things. Snow had went over to the desk and got into, unconcerned and curious.
She barely managed to protect the book once the trap I hadn't know about had triggered. It did a massive fireball, that she shrugged off. "Well, that was surprising." She commented.
"Are you alright? You seem to have not been scorched, so I can assume your fine." Dad said.
"I'm alright. Just glad I wasn't carrying Isarial while being nosy." Snow said, opening the book, "And no, I haven't learned a lesson."
"If a single fireball is all it took to learn a lesson, it wouldn't be worth learning." Dad agreed.
"Are you insane yet, Baxter?" I asked the Undead that was watching us all quizzically.
"Have been for years, young one. Time may do that. How may I be of assistance?" Baxter asked.
"What are the rules for ownership?" I asked.
"Well, to be the owner you must willing to lock yourself to this house. Not locked in mind you, but you must take care of it. You must be alive and you must add to the house. Either a room a floor what have you doesn't matter." Baxter explained.
"What else can you share?" I asked.
"That is all child. The rest of my knowledge belongs to the owner of the house." Baxter said in a regretful tone.
"And why is that?" Dad asked
"I'm not sure, myself. But I have tried to share my knowledge before and it simply does not work. Even the owner cannot share what I tell them to some degree." Baxter answered.
"That sounds sketchy." Snow said, looking at me.
"I'm unconcerned. By 'alive', I suppose that means not an undead?" I asked.
"Of course, or I would still be the owner I suppose." He laughed.
"I thought you might have been murdered." I commented.
"May haps I was. Can't say for sure." He replied.
"Your snake became a Naga." I told him. I looked at Snow, "Unless you want to sign, may I have the book now?"
"Huh, well isn't that something. I thought I felt something familiar in the house. I always wanted to go and see what it was." Baxter babbled to himself while Snow handed me the book.
She looked hesitant to hand me the book. But did, since I was the only one who remotely knew anything about the mansion. I wrote my name in it. Isarial Hearthry.
"Oh, child, tell me someone hasn't put you up to this?" Baxter said. An odd note to his voice.
"I'm more than I look." I replied.
"Well, then, let's begin the process." Baxter said.
"Wait, what-" Dad said, time froze, however.
"As the owner of the house, you may ask anything of me. My resources are limited at the moment." Baxter said, "Which brings me to the first decision of the home. Do you wish to keep me here, or let me out? Obviously all previous owners have left me here. I shall warn you, though, once you decide, time will go on."
"You're funnier as a wraith. My plan has always been to ensure you'd be let out." I replied.
"If I might, what are you?" Baxter asked.
"A boy." I answered.
"Alright, well, if you wish to release me, all you must do is open the door." He said.
I approached. "Why'd you ask what I am?"
"You know things no small child should. You talk as though you've seen things well beyond your years, and things that haven't passed." Baxter said.
"I'm a Kalashtar. I traveled to another reality and when I returned, I came back in time." I told him. "It's a simple thing."
"And here I thought living hundreds of years as a human would be odd." He said.
"What else do I need to be aware of?" I asked.
"Ah, since you asked, there is an issue about assumed life span. Most owners don't live very long lives. They die to one reason or another; typically murder. Also, there can only be one owner at a time so guard that book with everything you have. It is tied to the house just as you are." Baxter informed.
"So, no passing it down?" I asked. "Someone could write their name in it and I'd die?"