"This is a lovely taste, where did you find these tea leaves?" Sitting across from Zelretch, I set down my teacup.
"I'm surprised you don't recognize them." Zelretch took a sip of his own. "They're from an 'extinct' Camella Sinensis strain found in Korea around the turn of the last millennia century. I couldn't help but fall in love with the taste, so I happened to pick up some seeds for later planting. Well, a few centuries later, they all but disappear due to a famine that swept the country."
"Ah, so you have some growing in your garden." I nodded my head, making a mental note to acquisition some for myself when he is distracted. "I feel like I should know that, even this taste is slightly nostalgic, but even with the story added on, I simply can't recall the origin from memory."
"Well, that's to be expected in all honestly. How long have I lived? It would simply be impossible for you to recall every single detail, ignoring any of the side effects of trying to transfer memories through such a way. I highly doubt that everything transferred appropriately from the start."
"True." His logic was sound. "It just makes me a little annoyed, I suppose. That feeling like something on the tip of your tongue but you can't quite speak it…. that's what's happening when something like this occurs." It merely stayed in the domain of annoying, but still. "I guess there are upsides. Knowing I like certain things without knowing why and rediscovering them all over again. It's been a really interesting experience."
Picking up my teacup again, I briefly closed my eyes to enjoy the taste passing down my throat. "It feels like forever since we've sat down and had a talk like this."
"Well, it has been quite a while for you. We had some words here and there before you left for Remnant, but nothing worth mentioning since you left for the Land of Shadows. How are you doing regarding that?" He asked.
"Good…..as best as I could be I guess." I admitted. There was no point to either lie to myself or him here. "I try to keep myself distracted, and spending time with my other girls helps quite a bit, but it still stings even though I know I'll get her back."
A small smile rose on his face. "Speaking of, you spent the night with dear Artoria, huh?"
I let out a sigh, though I couldn't help but smile. Rin practically dragged Artoria off after breakfast, no doubt a similar situation is happening in her workshop. "Yeah, it was a little surprising. She's the one who suggested we move to my room, In the first place."
"My, she's getting more confidant then?" Zelretch seemed pleased.
He was well aware of her own self esteem issues about certain aspects of herself. "She is, and I won't lie and say I don't love it. She even was blunt about her boundaries, telling me how far she was willing to go."
"Good." Zelretch nodded. "That girl deserves to be happy, and that attitude she had was not indicative of a fulfilling life." He hummed to himself lightly, enjoying the moment. "And what of your other paramours?"
I winced slightly. "Which ones?"
He let out an amused snort. "Shall I ask how many granddaughters I have running around now?"
"Artoria, Scathach, Meridia." I stated. "Those are the only ones I'm in a relationship with at the moment."
"At the moment? And where does Jinn fit in here, as well as any other girls, I hope you haven't forgotten about Kunou and her mother."
"I haven't forgotten about Kunou or Yasaka." I huffed. "You know very well how I feel about Kunou." I gave him a pointed look. "Yasaka though….I don't know, that's hard to answer. I obviously find her attractive, but..." I paused, looking up at Zelretch and back down. "I guess I'm kind of paranoid that she's just going to play with my feelings? She seemed flippant with her flirting, and it felt so hollow like it was her default setting. It makes it hard to try to emotionally invest myself." I ran a hand through my hair. "I know it's stupid, she doesn't seem like the kind of women to do that, but some insecurities are hard to just shrug off. I told her I would like to spend more time with her when I head back to my birth world, because I do enjoy her company." I sighed, it was hard to put my feelings into words right now.
"She is a 9-tailed fox, you should be aware of her nature as much as I am." Zelretch pointed out.
"I know, I know." I admitted.
"I get it, some things just aren't rational, just work through your own feelings at your own pace." Zelretch gently smiled. "And what of Jinn, she hasn't been exactly forthcoming with your relationship beyond her being bound to you now."
"That…." I thought it over. "She gave herself to me fully."
"Oh?" Zelretch raised an eyebrow.
"She's mine, so I'll take care of her no matter what."
"Careful, your devil nature is showing." Zelretch chuckled. "Or perhaps it's your added Dragon nature? Not all hoards comprise glittering gold and jewels."
"Both, probably. I feel really possessive about what's 'mine' so there is definitely a factor at play there." While I wasn't some caricature of a 'possessive boyfriend', I looked at all of my girls as mine. "I also like to collect and take things that catch my interest." I mused.
"Speaking of, how is your hoard coming along?"
"Funny." I said dryly. "But I have some good stuff. True Longinus, Staff of Magnus, that's two divine constructs among my other things." I mentally went over everything I had currently. "Should be beneficial for when the time comes. Any movements?"
Zelretch's expression turned hard. "A few minor things here or there, but they're within expected parameters. It's very unlikely the spider with awaken before the time we calculated."
"Yeah, I know you're right, it's just hearing it being said is a bit of a stress relief." I finished off my tea. "What are your plans for the future when we're away?"
"Haah" He let out an uncharacteristic long breath. "Act like a worried grandfather?" He laughed. "It makes me nervous if I'm being honest, to finally see Rin off on her first big adventure."
"It'll be good for her, to finally step out of yours and a lesser extension, my shadow." It was obvious she was feeling a little insecure when I first popped up, while we slotted into something resembling siblings, she still somewhat grates under my presence. The ease at which I am able to achieve what she's been trying for for awhile now.
"Yes, I tell myself the same thing, but this old man can't help but worry." Zelretch gave a gentle smile. "I shall endeavor to keep my hands preoccupied. That dust is something I will most likely fiddle with in the mean time."
I would make sure to leave a good amount here with him.
"A word of warning don't take it into an environment without magical energy. I heard they tried to use the stuff to leave the atmosphere back on Remnant and there was a violent reaction, I could more or less guess that it becomes unstable without an abundance of magical energy in the air to catalyze its existence."
"Interesting." He rubbed his chin. "I shall see if I can do something about that."
Ah, I know that look. Something had piqued his interest and he would probably lose himself in his research for quite a while.
"I assume you are going to bring Jinn with you as well?" He asked.
"Yeah." I blinked for a moment. "I just realized; I never did fully explain what I had planned for her."
"Well, you are a young man and she is a beautiful women –"
"Oh, come off it." I scowled, earning a laugh from him. "Her lamp is similar to my sword I picked up. It was supporting a pocket dimension by itself after the magics were already woven. I was going to use her lamp as the focal point for my house."
"Oh, that is a novel idea." He looked genuinely interested. "And a pocket dimension created through magical means, did you analyze it before leaving?"
"Eh, I got a few looks at it. Nothing game breaking, but they were solidly done."
"Fascinating, I really seemed to miss some important bits from my looks over there."
"Couldn't really be helped, a couple of idiot gods messed up a lot of things, you had no way of knowing."
He accepted my words, his expression turning a bit more serious. "I believe I should speak of the heavy stuff now. I found a world that would do well without a Grail."
I felt my hands clench into fist unconsciously before releasing them, letting out a long breath. "Is that so…."
"Would you like the information?"
"I…..keep it for now." I couldn't help but run a hand through my hair again, this physical tick of my ever present. "I really want to see Scathach again, but I also need to see Meridia as well." I want to hold my goddess in my arms again. "Besides, I promised Rin and Artoria an adventure, I won't go back on my words." I don't think I needed to say that I would be too tempted with that information right now.
"Good, we can speak of this when you return." He nodded, a smile on his face. "I have no other issues I wish to bring up, perhaps we should check on Rin and see what preparations she has made and if she requires any help?" He got up, beckoning me to follow.
I looked at him for a moment, his eyes widened as I stood up and wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you." I said. He was always so helpful to me, helping me with my issues, letting me vent about things that bothered me. "You're a good grandfather."
He didn't respond, he didn't need to. I knew how much those words probably meant to him. Instead, I felt him return the gesture, and nothing else needed to be said.
***
Zelretch and I walked into Rin's workshop after receiving permission to enter, even having grabbed Jinn to come with us, as hard as it was to separate her from the library.
"Is Rin bullying you, Artoria?" I walked up to my girlfriend, giving her a quick pat on the head, earning a small noise from her in confirmation.
"She found my Lion." Artoria muttered.
Oh, the one I got her on our first date? I'm sure Rin must have been relentless with her teasing. And the fact that she sounded so possessive of it made me want to do some very intimate things with her right her and right now, but cooler heads prevailed. "Cute." I settled on a quick kiss to her forehead.
"If you guys are done flirting." Rin huffed.
"Never!"
"I think I'm ready to head out." She ignored my witty retort.
"Walk me through everything then." I decided to get a bit more serious.
"I have about a hundred Jewels ready for use. I read through all the books you brought back so I know a the basic history there and what I'm walking into." She stated. "The magecraft, I have a decent understanding of, and I can cast the basic spells with some proficiency."
"Where are you keeping everything?" I couldn't help but ask.
"The old man made me this." She held up a bag for me to inspect.
"Oh, this is well done." I nodded; it was basically as I would expect from Zelretch.
"I made one for Saber as well." Zelretch gave a gentle smile.
Artoria beamed. "I have stored the essentials I would require."
"It's full of food, isn't it?" I asked Rin who nodded, Artoria turning red and start stuttering denials. "So, I wanted to stop by the College first, get you both settled. The Archmage there is someone I trust quite a bit, and several teachers I know decently well, but there are a few people I would keep my guard around."
"You made enemies there?" Rin asked.
"Something like that." I sighed. "An elf named Ancano, don't be alone with him, don't let him get you to do anything. Treat him like a magus trying to delve into your craft."
"Easy enough." Rin nodded.
"He will not approach Rin without my presence." Artoria said firmly.
"He's a schemer and he is old, as in past a hundred years at a minimum. I ended up humiliating him, so he might try something on you both as 'revenge', don't underestimate him and don't believe anything he tries to spout."
They were more or less safe within the College, but extra caution would not be remiss.
"Do not make any deals with Daedra, consider them demons and stay the hell away. I have one I'm on good terms with, so if you must, pray to her and mention my name."
"Your other girlfriend?" Rin raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." I said simply.
"I am interested in meeting her." Artoria voiced.
"Don't worry, you will." I gave her a reassuring smile. "The Guards at the town bordering the college are good people, I know them well, if anything happens then mention my name to them and our relationship. But I should be giving them a heads up anyways."
Sheesh, I sound like a parent.
I withdrew the Staff of Magnus from my ring. "Rin, take this."
"W-why are you giving this to me?" She looked surprised. She knew it was divine in nature, so I guess she was taken back.
"Just want to make sure you stay safe." I smiled.
"Idiot." She huffed, taking the staff from my, giving it a once over and stuffing it in her bag.
Kind of comical how things were put inside.
"Artoria." I glanced at her, swiping my ring and letting the True Longinus fall out.
She didn't argue with me, taking the spear and stuffing it in her own bag. "I shall use it if an emergency occurs."
While I don't think it would do much in case that her Sword fails, it was still something. I couldn't wield it at the moment without potentially killing myself, I'd rather she hold onto it for now as a peace of mind.
Besides, there was a piece of Big G inside, that had to count for something. She also had Caliburn, which weaker than both the spear and her sword, still possessed some nifty abilities.
"Oi." Rin grabbed my attention, holding a familiar device in her hand. "I finally finished this, it works only about 90% of the time, but I figured it was better than nothing for now." She shoved one of her 'Kaleidophones' into my hand.
I laughed, hugging her.
"Idiot!" She squeaked at my sudden contact, but she didn't push me away, returning the gesture with a little embarrassment.
I finally let up, stepping out of her personal space. "Anything we're forgetting? You got your Noble Phantasm, Rin?"
"Of course." She said plainly.
"Rin has gotten proficient in its use." Artoria added. "Mayhaps there will be some people to practice against there, she needs sparring experience now."
"Plenty of people who survive with a sword in hand there, just a matter of finding them and paying the coin."
Zelretch, who had been quiet thus far, finally spoke. "I believe we have every base covered. Rin has been preparing for quite a bit now and she knows the dangers she faces in this strange land."
"Dragons." Rin muttered.
"Yeah, I had to fight one when I was much weaker." I sighed, remembering that particular memory. "But the College is well protected, many powerful mages there and the defenses are top notch."
Not to mention Artoria would be by her side.
"There are also a plethora of strange and magical creatures, so never let your guard down." I added.
"I get it, can we get going already?" Rin was starting to become impatient, but I couldn't blame her.
"Alright, but one last question."
"Fine, what?"
"You got Ruby, right?" I gave her a smirk.
Rin scowled, crossing her arms. "Unfortunately."
"Alright, just wanted to make sure." I held out my hand, opening a portal to the familiar cold lands of Skyrim.
They didn't need to change, Rin was already wearing clothing made for cold weather, Artoria also wearing something similar.
"Well, lets go." I gestured as Rin practically skipped through the portal.
Artoria gave me a smile as she followed behind.
Jinn who had just been watching idly at the side opened her mouth. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"While I will always enjoy your company, if you wish to stay here, you can." Her happiness was something I would prioritize in situations like these.
She paused for a moment before walking up and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, stuffing her lamp into my hands. "I want to follow you." She smiled brightly, turning into smoke and returning to her abode.
"She's ridiculously cute." Makes me almost not want to spank her anymore.
I gave one last look at Zelretch who nodded at me.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure they come back in one piece."
We shared a similar look as I finally stepped through the portal.
Skyrim, here we come.
***
Oh boy, sorry for how late I'm getting this one out, but I was delayed due to having my care towed, yay! Power steering pump went poof. Luckily it happened when I was driving back to work from my lunch break and not on my 45 minute commute to or from work.
Anyways, Skyrim round two here we come.
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