"I can kill stealthily." He said. "I just don't like to."
I chuckled. "Do you need to?"
"Eh, I suppose not." He said.
"I appreciate you." I said.
"Why? Because I'm so warm?" He asked.
"That, too." I said. "You've offered to help me, even without the potential to gain anything. You're sweet."
"Eh, I don't need much, and besides, I don't do things to get stuff." He said.
I poked his nose, then pretended like I didn't. "Are you snacky?"
He nipped at me, then stared off, "Yeah, I could eat."
"I'll make some salty snacks." I told him, getting up and heading out of the room. He elected to wait in the study. I went down stairs and made the snacks, bringing them back upstairs to share with him. Essentially it was crispy fries.
"What do I need to do to be the champion?" He asked.
"You can earn it through great feats, or I can designate you at my coronation." I said.
"Oh. I wouldn't mind a demonstration, you know." He said, "If anyone wants to challenge your authority.."
I laughed lightly. "A Champion's challenge would take too long to complete right now. It's best done when you have no attachments. If you're wanting to fight, I'm afraid there is nothing on the island worthy of you."
He sighed. "Fine."
"I'm sorry that you're bored. You don't have to stay cooped up with me, you know." I gently reminded him.
"It's not that. It's just, finding less and less worthy challenges." He said.
I stroked his arm sympathetically. "Well, I could always get Traxigor to fight you."
"What in the realms is a Traxigor?" He asked.
"An otter. An otter that is an Archmage." I replied.
"Well that just sounds interesting, even if I don't fight it." Dirthin said.
"He's a clever little thing." I agreed. "Some say he's a wizard that wished his accidental polymorph into permanence. But honestly, he himself has said he is a planeswalker."
"I can only imagine the conversations between him and a certain wizard." Dirthin commented.
"If you prefer bloodthirsty things to fight, I do know where Ravager's live." I said. "I'd recommend starting with a spawn."
"I'm a bit versatile with my fights. I can prefer either a calculated battle or a blood bath." He said. "And what is a ravager, by the way?"
"It is a huge monstrosity. A vampyric beast that looked like a sleekly scaled werewolf with horns. They are commonly found deep in the Underdark, or roaming in some plains, North and East of here." I said.
"Now that does sound interesting. What are their hunting patterns? Pack or solo?" He asked.
"The small ones, without horns, hunt in packs. The big ones are solo, but their territories are tightly overlapped. They have three forms, crawler, brawler and flier." I said. "They are dumb, but wise and quick to take notice of anything and everything. Tremorsense helps with that."
"Sounds like it could be quite the battle. Do they have any particular weaknesses or strengths?" He asked.
"They are resistant to nearly all weapon types, even elemental types. They also can't be charmed or frightened." I told him. "I don't know of any weaknesses."
"I might actually have to gear up for that." Dirthin said.
"Recommended if you want to live to see your cub. Barak killed one once. He said it was the most difficult thing he ever underwent." I said.
"Well, I'm not one to be shown up, so I'll have to give it a shot." He said.
"It heals.. every time it hits you, and the times in between that." I warned.
"I've fought things like that before. You just have to kill it before it heals. And sometimes kill it again." He said.
"Well, warn your brother before you fight one so he can revive you if need be." I said.
"Ouch. I feel offended." He said. "Let me tell you a little something. If I were to ever die, my doors would rust. So if you ever see my door had rusted, you'll know why."
"That's scary." I said.
"Eh, should be fine. I don't intend on dying." He replied.
"... Maybe before ravagers you could just fight Raiden." I said.
"Oh, I'm definitely going to fight Raiden." He replied. "The only question is when."
I stretched against him. "Ugh. I look like I'm getting fat. Even my breasts are changing."
He placed a hand on my belly, "You are definitely not getting fat."
"It's not fat, but it looks like it." I said.
"My dear, I can protect you against a great many things, but self consciousness is not one of them." He said.
"As half of the cause, you can listen to me whine." I replied.
He smiled and caressed my cheek. "Happily. Whine away."
I smiled in response, "Damn, you really are sweet. Hella cute, too."
"What's all the flattery for? You know it goes straight to my head." He said.
"I guess I'm a little hormonal. I have the strongest urge to baby you." I said.
"And how do you go about babying a grown man?" He asked.
I raised up and snuggled him, holding onto him and petting him. "There we are, that feels better."
Rather than being offended, he snuggled into me, petting me. We stayed like that for a while, only rearranging enough for him to start reading the Empire's unification book, until I got hungry again. Which announced itself plainly. Which drew a chuckle from him. But I got up and headed back down to the kitchen to make us a meal.
I decided to make barbecue. He'd followed me down this time. And while I was getting out the ingredients, I asked, "Hey, do you like barbecue?"
"Yes, actually. It can get a bit messy, though." He replied.
"Good. Because I'm gonna make barbecue and it's gonna be deliciously messy." I replied, getting out a much larger portion of meat.
"Bring it on." He said.
I was super excited while making the food. "I'll show you my secret to it not taking all day of cooking to be good." And I proceeded to show him a special way of scoring the meat, followed by a flash boil, fry, and baking it with the sauce I made. Then I made some tteokbokki to have coated in the sauce after cooking it. It took nearly two hours for it to be done properly.
Once it was set up at the table, I poured him some Saki I'd found in Raiden's stash. I also made some tea to go with it. I encouraged him to try all of it. He was very enthusiastic.
"The best way to try and not get messy is this way." He said, picking up some meat and putting it in his mouth, removing it from the bone, and taking the bone out of his mouth before chewing. He tried the Saki and commented, "This is far better than any mead I've had."
"It goes well with all sorts of food. Glad you approve." I laughed, starting to eat the barbecue myself. It was so good, better than I remembered it being, and I felt tears begin to drip down my face.
"Are you alright?" He asked, growing concerned.
"Yeah. I just really wanted barbecue." I said, embarrassed.
"Well you certainly got it." He said.
I nodded, "Yeah, ignore it." He took the advice. Continuing to eat. Once we'd finished the food, I was finally able to get the tears to stop. "That was good."
"Indeed. But we both need to clean up. My strategy failed." He said.
"Yeah, that we do." I agreed. Taking the dishes up and disposing of the bones. "With as often as we bathe together, maybe we should have you an extra set of clothes."
"Eh. We could probably get some clothes. I could either bring some over. Or hell, we could just go shopping." He said. "Do you have a way to get to the Empire? Or would you like to go to the Realm?"
"Three days by boat to the Empire.. and I'll get seasick." I shrugged. "Let's wash up."
"Alright. We can go to the realm in the morning and find some clothes." He said.
I helped him wash the sauce off, and he helped me in return. "This place doesn't have any climbing trees.." I said, my voice trailing off as I heard it starting to pour rain outside.
"Sounds like it's starting to come down out there." He said.
"I could start a fire in the den and we could have smores." I suggested, then started double checking that we had the stuff for it.
"What is a smore?" He asked.
"A snack made of chocolate, marshmallow and ah, we don't have graham crackers.. well, we could use these." I said, taking out some ginger snap cookies.
"Well, that sounds very interesting." He said.
I took out the chocolate and broke off a piece for him to try. "This is chocolate. A treat from the Empire."
He tried the chocolate. "It's um.. very different. I like it though. It tastes a lot like this drink my sister in law makes."
"Does it? Like chocolate milk?" I asked.
"No..? It's hot. Very hot." He said.
"Oh, hot chocolate." I said. "It's chocolate milk, but hot."
"I'm not sure if she will appreciate other people knowing how to make that. She went through quite a bit to try and make it." He said.
"Oh, yeah. If you eat pure cocoa, you won't ever be constipated. And it tastes bad. Really bitter. You have to ferment it for a week.. but the results are good." I said.
"Yeah, she went through quite a bit perfecting her recipe." He said.
"So, don't give her chocolate, got it." I said.
"I'm not sure how she'd take it. Either really well, or I don't know.." he said.
"It's really sweet that you care about her." I said, taking the chocolate, marshmallows and ginger snap to the den. I paused, uncomfortably by the window, watching the rain with growing anxiety. I shivered and continued into the den, lighting a fire in the fireplace.
"I do have a bit of curiosity about this Island. How well does it do with heavy rains and storms?" Dirthin asked.
"I.. I don't know.. but the Isla floods.." I replied.
"If it is still raining in a couple of hours it would be good for me to go out there and have a look." He said.
I was alarmed, "No! No, floods are not safe. You can't!"
"Of course floods aren't safe. That's why I need to check it out and make sure you're alright here." He said patiently.
I shook my head, "You can see from the window."
"Are you alright? You seem a little stressed." He said.
"Floods are terrifying and deadly." I said.
"Yes, but you seem to have some kind of personal experience with it." He said.
"The Isla floods.." I said.
"Alright. I'll stay inside. And we'll keep an eye in it through the windows." Dirthin said.
I calmed some, "Should I ask Raiden?"
"He should have some knowledge about the island he brought you to." Dirthin agreed.
I nodded, setting down the treat and fetching my communication item. I immediately asked Raiden, "Does the Island flood?"
"Little busy." Raiden said. Then a moment later, "What did you say?"
"Does. This. Island. Flood?" I repeated.
"Yes. It does. By a foot. The house is elevated enough to withstand that.. but if the wind and waves kicks up, tell me." Raiden said.
"What does that mean? Raiden! What does that mean?!" I demanded to know. He didn't respond.
Frazzled, I returned to Dirthin. "He said it floods, but just a foot, which is a lot of water... and that if the wind or waves picks up to tell him." I informed him.
"Alright, well that's good information to have and something to keep an eye on." Dirthin replied.
I nodded, grabbing two cookies, a marshmallow, and breaking off a piece of chocolate. I roasted the marshmallow with the flames, then smooshed the cookies and chocolate into the marshmallow, to make a sandwich. I offered it to Dirthin.
He took it. "That looks interesting." He took a bite. Then immediately ate the rest.
"You like it?" I asked.
"It's so gooey." He said. "How many of these can we make?"
I smiled a little. Making another. "As many as you like. Why?"
"It is very good." He said.
I offered him another, making one for myself, and another for him. "You're such a foodie."
"I am. That's why I work out a lot. That and I like to work out." He said.
"Maybe we should walk the Night Market in Fu Shang sometime." I replied.
"What is any of that?" He asked.
"Fu Shang is a city in the Empire. The Night Market is a large market that sells their goods out of tents, stalls, and carts. Plenty of those are various foods from around the world." I informed him. "It's open all day, but it's called the Night Market because it's the only one open at night."
"That sounds pretty cool. What else do they sell?" He asked.
"All sorts of things. Animal products, herbs, ingredients, household things, art, weapons.. Just about anything you could want." I said.
"What about ancient artifacts with immense power?" He asked, putting on a voice and wiggling his fingers theatrically.
"That's the wholesome part of the black market. Though you can get magic items and artifacts in the Night Market." I said.
"Isn't it amazing how black markets spring up alla round the world? Almost as of someone is placing them." Dirthin commented.
"Greed is universal." I said with a shrug. "The black market is legally ran, though illegal to exist, in the Empire. It's an open secret and nothing will happen to buyers or sellers as long as the black market participant don't step over the line and broadcast it's use."
"Well, that just seems like another headache to manage." Dirthin said.
"My aunt tried to sell me there once when I was eight. That didn't go as intended for her." I said.
"More and more, I do not regret chopping off her head." He said.
I patted his arm. "This is a huge secret, but the Emporer bought Raiden and his brother from there."
"Well, what in the world was someone like the emporer doing inside the black market?" He asked.
"He owns it." I said quietly.
"Another one of those well kept open secrets?" He asked.
"It is a insta beheading for treason if you even appear to know it sort of secret." I replied.
"Uh-huh. Well, what a better way to maintain your underbelly than to own it." Dirthin said.
"See, how it went was when my aunt tried to sell me there, one of his spies sent word to him and he seized my aunt and her late husband before they could even leave, because I'm a royal. She swore her husband made her do it, and she'd never allow it normally, so he was skinned and hung in a cage for the crime." I explained to him, shivering slightly.
"Well, that sounds adequately terrifying." Dirthin said.
"Honestly, that part was. But my aunt stopped paying attention to me for a while. Until I killed two of her sons, anyways." I said. "They were hurting me, so I used Asmodeus' fire to stop them."
"Good." He said.
I made a couple more smores, handing him one. "I always get scared about the rain."
"What about it scares you so?" Dirthin asked.
"When water rises it gets faster and violent. Clearly I am small. When it rains at the Isla, it rains for days, it can nearly swallow the palace even. Raiden's brother, Sangir, died in a couple of floods. He also saved me from that fate once." I explained. "It hadn't rained in the area I was in, but it swept in before I could react and climb."
"Floods are quick and devastating." He said.
I nodded. Giving him another smore. "Anyways, the Night Market is a good place to try a variety of foods, sweet and otherwise."
"I have thoroughly enjoyed what you have had me try so far, so I'm a little excited to try more." Dirthin said.
I smiled, "We'll have to get the graham crackers and have actual smores. The ginger snaps just aren't the same."
"Oh? Well, how do graham crackers taste?" Dirthin asked.
"Like cinnamon toast?" I said, uncertainly. "Mixed with a thin cookie."
"The Empire certainly sounds like it has a lot of interesting ideas." Dirthin said.
"Yep. I think the Empire might inspire Isarial if he ever visits it in the future. I don't think that continent will hold his potential for long." I said. He'd made a city after all, and he's five.
"Oh, no. It will not hold him long. As soon as he feels he's ready, he'll spread his designs across the world, I'm sure." He said.
"Are you proud of him?" I asked.
"I would say so, yeah." He nodded.
"The lights in his city.. I haven't seen anything like it before." I said. "The enchantment on the cave ceiling is amazing."
"Yes, he has managed quite a lot in that city." Dirthin said. "I feel he's almost bored with it already."
I stood up, to cuddle up to Dirthin, when lightning lit up the room, and thunder boomed outside. I crouched, covering my ears and shutting my eyes. I could feel the fur of my tail fluffing out. Dirthin moved to sit next to me, then moved me onto his lap. He began to stroke my head, calming me a little.
It sounded like the rain picked up outside. The lightning continued, too. I was embarrassed by my behavior, but at least I wasn't crying. Dirthin began to softly hum a tune, just being supportive in the moment. At some point, I'd drifted to sleep. I woke up to find the weather calm, but the sky being grey. I could see the window nearby.
I was curled up in bed with Dirthin. I kept myself still until he woke up. I got up and looked outside, it definitely flooded. The island was covered with about two feet of water. "It flooded."
"I'm gonna head downstairs and see if everything is still dry." Dirthin said, getting up and doing so.
I sighed, getting undressed to put on a different outfit. I needed to do some cleaning, most likely. Dirthin came back in while I was dressing.
"It seems the house is well prepared for flooding. You will perfectly safe from the rain in here." Dirthin commented.
"That's good news. I'd hate something of Raiden's to get wet." I joked.
"Alright, what can I chuck out the window?" He replied.
I laughed. "I am still sorry over that situation."
"Do you not believe me?" He asked.
I had to settle my pants lower on my hips than usual, because the pregnancy belly was in the way, I turned to him with my top in my hands, "I believe you meant it when you said you find it understandable and don't blame me. But I can still be sorry."
"Yes, you can be. Just know that I really don't blame you. My mother, on the other hand, sits squarely with the blame on her shoulders." Dirthin insisted.
"You would probably know better, but there is a chance I misinterpreted... whatever that situation was." I said.
"Honestly, I don't know. It could have been anything." He said.
I slipped on my shirt and gave him a hug. "I won't blame you if you choose to clarify. The cub is between us, but your family is your side."
"Oh, I'm going to clarify to her that she has no right to anything involving our family." He said.
I nodded a little and said, "Breakfast first, or is there somewhere in the Realm you like to eat?"
"There is a place in Ymir's Town I could take you." Dirthin said, switching gears quickly.
"Ah. The place with the librarian." I noted.
"Yes, that is the place." He said. "It also has far more shops than Winter's Halt did."
I poked his nose. "You're handsome even in the morning. I'm ready when you are." I grabbed my bag, and put it on.
He fixed up his mane, "I am, but I should also stop by my room on the way."
I giggled. "Anything you like."
"Alright. Let's go have an adventure." Dirthin said.
He led me to where he'd installed his door, and let me in. Then he went to the first door on the left and came back in different clothes, and opened the door to another place. This time, I briefly caught sight of the magic runes marking it as 'spacial' but missed the rest. They were written the same color as the door, so incredibly hard to notice.
We exited his room into another warehouse, with goods stored in it. They were neatly stacked and labeled, even. I followed him out of the warehouse, and along the street to a very open market.
Pleased with the layout, I said, "Oh, the Night Market is similar to this, just on a grander scale."
"How much grander of a scale are we talking about here?" He asked.
"Around a mile and half wide, five long. Fu Shang was where it was started, but it pretty much is just the Night Market now. And it may have grown since I was there last. It's been four years." I informed him.
"That certainly sound like it's gonna be an incredible sight." Dirthin said.
"Mhm. Have you ever heard of blood drinker weapons?" I asked.
"I can't say that I have." He replied.
"It's always some kinda blade, never blunted weapons, but when you sacrifice your blood or health to it, it harms your enemy twice as much." I told him.
"No, I can't say I've ever heard of a weapon like that." Dirthin said. "Why? Do they sell them at this night market?"
"There was one there." I nodded. "It's been a few years since I went there."
"We definitely need to go there." He said, showing great interest.
I giggled while he took me to the place he'd wanted to for breakfast. We sat where a waiter indicated to, and after a moment of perusing the menu, we ordered our food. We got our drinks and settled in for a nice breakfast. I told him a bit more about the Night Market while we waited for our food. Once we got our meals, we ate quietly and comfortably.
Once we finished eating, we paid and left to go shopping. We looked at a variety of things, and ended up getting some things for our cub. Mostly just a few furniture items the cub will need once born and clothing orders that Dirthin will have once they were ready. Then we got clothing for ourselves to have at my place.
Part of that was ordering maternity clothing, that wouldn't impede my belly as it expanded. To that end, the perfectionist tailor was measuring me. When the process was brought up, Dirthin said he'd be right back and headed out of the shop. While he was away, a tall man entered. I wasn't used to seeing humans that height, so I took not of him. He was picking some clothing up for his wife.
He noted me, smiled and said, "First time?"
"Mm, yes, it is." I nodded, figuring he was referring to the maternity clothing the tailor specialized in, and the need of it.
"You're in fine hands. Best tailor in the city." The man said. "My name is Phintias, by the way. A little rude of me to just start talking without introductions."
"Good to meet you, Phintias. I am Vexie Silver. Do I note a faded Canthelm accent?" I asked, casually.
"That and probably several others. Where are you from to be recognizing that?" Phintias replied.
"I am from the Isla Silver Reef, North of the Arverent Continent." I replied.
"Oh, yes. I was there a few times. I feel I know the answer, but did they ever take my advice on the flooding?" Phintias asked.
"What was it? I'm certainly all ears." I said.
"Team of mages using Mold Earth could reform the Isla." He said.
"Many of the houses are built up the trees in the last hundred years, and the palace is magically sealed against flooding." I said. "But that may be a good idea to move the flood waters along desirable routes. I hadn't considered it."
"If they haven't done it by now, they never will. I left that advice with the royal family a while ago." He replied.
"Well, I'll be the one to see it done." I said firmly.
"Oh? Do you have an in with the people in charge?" He asked.
"Unfortunately, I am the people in charge now." I replied.
"Oh, is that so?" He asked. "Well then, have you perhaps seen an old chest? Probably very old by this point."
"Which sort? There are a lot of old things in the catacombs, and other places." I said.
"Oh, lord. I can't think it'd get thrown into the catacombs. It was meant to contain coin to help fund the job." He said.
I blinked. "Do you mean the one that will only open with certain conditions met? The runes on it are all bound by the intentions of the one touching it."
"Well, yeah, you have to open it with the intentions of getting the job done. I wasn't going to hand out money for no reason. Honestly, I'm surprised the runes are still in place. I didn't do them that well, I put them down with haste." Phintias said.
I snorted then giggled, before informing him, "No one has opened it. The condition was never written into it, and there are no documents about it. It's in Wellspring Villa, Northwest of Valor's Crest currently."
"Well what in the world is it doing there?" He asked.
"Nothing probably. Beyond that, this is a little public for conversation to be deeper." I replied.
"Alright, well, I will be at the library, here in town. Join me there when you've got the time." Phintias said.
"So you're the knowledgeable librarian Dirthin had told me about." I said, connecting the information I had.
"Oh, you know Dirthin, do you? And he called me knowledgeable. He usually has different words to call me." Phintias noted.
"Yes, I know him a bit intimately, met his family, and a few of his nephew's friends." I acknowledged. "If you really have time, I think I will come by your library. I am sure Dirthin won't mind."
"Eh, who knows. But I certainly do have time." He replied. "You may stop by, whenever you choose."
He finished collecting the things for his wife, and concluded his business, before heading out. A few minutes later, the tailor finished with what they were doing. The way they did it here, normally, was payment for cloth and such first, however because of Dirthin they were willing to forgo their usual way. I insisted, however. I was fine with them notifying the Lucky Stone, James and Dirthin's business, when my things were ready, though.
I was just about to head out when Dirthin returned. He'd fetched us snacks, and gave me some. I was super excited over it and gave him an affectionate hug, thanking him. We found a place to enjoy it outside, though it was hot outside. After we finished our snacks, I told him about meeting Phintias, and the invite to chat at the library.
"Well, we can go over there, see what he wants to talk about.. I'll probably let you take care of that.. I'll stay.. outside." Dirthin said.
"He's trustworthy, then?" I asked.
"Oh yes. He will do nothing to harm you." Dirthin assured me.
"I trust you a lot." I noted. "Do you not get along with him?"
"It's, ugh, more of a personality clash than anything else." Dirthin said.
I nodded and leaned against him. "Alright. I'm ready to go talk to the librarian."
"Alright, well, his library is right over here." He said, showing me the way.
I went inside without him, and asked the person at the counter for Phintias. The person went through a door behind him and came back, shortly after, with Phintias.
"Welcome, welcome. Come with me." He said, taking me through the door and to a study. "Alright, so what is it you wanted to talk in private about?"
"You asked a question, I wanted to answer it. Before I do, do you have affiliation with Dirthin's mother?" I asked.
"The caretaker? No, I believe she covertly despises me, but knows there's no reason to go against me." Phintias said.
I followed his directive and sat when he indicated I should. "Oh, good. You asked why your chest was brought here. I had some family drama, and hoping to be a pain, I robbed my homeland and brought everything in the treasury to Wellspring. A woman named Nia, and her partner, Plight, have access to it currently."
"Well, that certainly won't do them much good. They certainly won't know how to open it." Phintias said.
"You can have it back." I said. "I have no need of it. Have you any curiosities I may help with?"
"Well, how goes the other continent? I haven't been there for a while." Phintias said.
"Arverent? Twenty or so years ago it was conquered by the Penrose Kingdom and is now the Southern Empire." I said. "Harper Penrose is Emporer, still. The Isla narrowly escaped becoming a part of the Empire."
"A whole Empire in a measly twenty years." Phintias repeated, surprised.