The trip back to Uclait's capital goes just fine. There's no huge commotion while we head there, and my now dysfunctional communication orb didn't pose any huge issues. My new relationship with Kiaran also didn't go anywhere for those whole 6 days though and overall the entire thing was honestly really boring.
We finally got back to the capital early in the morning, just as the sun started rising. We got off of the cart at the outskirts of the city, did all the necessary checks to get into the city walls, and finally entered as the sun was coming up. It's been nearly 20 days since I've been here. I'm so glad I'm finally back!
"I'm going to head over to the adventurer's guild to turn in the bounty." Aubrey said lifting those boxes none of us dared touch the whole way here. "Freware and Cesre, you come with me. As for you two… feel free to catch up with all your friends."
It wasn't long before it was just Kiaran and I walking through the streets of Heafdes. For now we were heading in the same direction, the Wisefang Manor. Now, I know I should really be speaking to Lucidna first, but I want to meet with my friends from Kari's cult first, and my congregation isn't for a few hours.
Kiaran also seemed to really want to introduce me to one of the noble ladies he worked for.
"So, Kiaran… I know we haven't really done anything yet but, we are girlfriend and boyfriend, right?"
"Huh? Of course, as long as you want to be."
"Well, it just seems like that isn't really the case. I mean, we haven't done any couple stuff, right? There was that one night, almost a week ago, but after that, nothing."
"I'll be sure to listen to whatever's on your mind, like back then. No matter when."
"Well, thank you, I really appreciate that, but that isn't what I mean. I mean, like, normal couple stuff. We haven't done anything with… just the two of us, right?"
"Well, that is certainly true…"
"I want to be closer to you Kiaran. What are some things we can do together?"
"Well, I have an idea."
"I do too. Can we say it at the same time?"
"Of course. On the count of three. One… two… three!"
"More sex."
"A date!"
Kiaran just stares at me, like he didn't understand the words that came out of my mouth. We just keep walking in silence, for what feels way longer than it actually is.
"Well, if that's what you want… I would really like a date though, Azariah…"
"H- h- hey! I would also really like to go on a date, but… sorry that that was the first thing on my mind…"
"Please don't worry about it. It's something that I should probably be expecting from you at this point. You haven't done anything wrong."
"Thank you… I wish that was the other way around though. Me, a girl wanting to have some good wholesome fun and my boyfriend wanting to jump straight into my body, whether I want to move that fast or not. Aha… how exciting…"
"That's… I mean, I don't mind playing that part for you, but I think we need to put some boundaries in place. You seem to really be into some things that could cause me to overstep those, so I'd rather know them ahead of time."
"Right, right… ah, a safeword, I've always wanted one of those…"
"Um… anyways, we'll talk about this later. So, about that person I wanted to introduce you to…"
"That noble lady, right? What about her?"
"It's just that I mentioned you to her once, as someone who could probably teach her magic. She's probably going to ask about that."
"Huh? Seriously?! I don't even know all that much magic…"
"Now come on, now that's definitely a lie. You invented four new spells since you were here in Heafdes. Not to mention your ability with lightning."
"Learning quickly doesn't always lend itself to knowing a lot. Even with Kari's and Ctothis' connections, the ones I use the most now, I doubt you could even consider that I know the basics."
"You can fly. There's also the whole world that Mana Location and Detection give you."
"Just some high level spells I happened to learn before truly mastering the basics."
"I'll… do my best to explain that to her? I really think that talking to her will help her immensely though."
"I'll keep that in mind, I'm not sure just what I can say without my communication orb, though. Please keep that in mind."
"I will."
"Um, Kiaran? Just what kind of relationship do you have with this woman? You seem to care about her a lot."
"Oh? Don't worry, we don't have any kind of relationship. I'm just her servant. We've gotten a bit close, but there's definitely no sort of romance between us."
"Come on, imagine how thrilling of a romance that would be, a servant boy smitten by love for someone with such a higher status than him, and his lady takes great interest in the boy. It's a romance that practically writes itself."
"Er… there's a five year age gap between us."
"20, then? You know, I'm also into women… aren't you at all interested in a threesome with two older ladies? Not that I'd try anything if you didn't want it, of course."
"Um, Azariah… there's a seven year age gap between the two of you."
"What? No, 20, there would only be a three year-" I nearly freeze.
"Azariah, Lady Noelle is 10."
"Eeeeeeeeeeehhhh?!"
><><><><
"Kiaran! You're finally back!" A small girl with orange hair done up in a fancy way runs up to Kiaran.
We're walking through the hallways of what Kiaran said was the Wisefang Manor. All the servants seemed to recognize him and liked him a lot, so I guess this is it. That girl runs up to Kiaran in a fancy dress and a bright smile on her face.
"How did it go?! How many monsters did you fight?! What did the mages from here do?! Did you bring me back anything?!" The girl starts yelling question after question at Kiaran, with the brightest smile on her face.
Kiaran starts to head pat the girl, which gets her to stop for a bit. "Now Noelle, calm down a bit will you? I wound up fighting a bunch of monsters, unfortunately I didn't get to see what all those mages did. As for a souvenir, sorry, if I had known you wanted anything I would have made sure to grab you something before we left."
The girl looks sad at first, but readjusts quickly to an expression and posture that says she doesn't care. "Well, is that so? Then Kiaran, will you be coming back to work today? I'd love to hear your stories about your little trip."
"Sorry, but I only come back for real tomorrow. I borrowed a scythe from Ruse, but it wound up breaking. I have to pay that off later. As soon as I'm done though, I'll come straight back here and keep my promise."
As soon as Kiaran says that next line, Noelle's eyes absolutely light up. "Seriously!? You mean it?!"
"Yes, now behave yourself until I get back. I should be back by noon."
"Ah, yes… Now, one thing's been bothering me, Kiaran. Just who is this woman?" She finally appears to notice that I'm here.
"Right, Noelle, this is Azariah. Azariah, this is Noelle Wisefang, daughter of Baron Wisefang." So… this is Noelle. The 10 year old I thought was 20. I really want to forget that.
As I'm thinking that though, Noelle kneels down slightly and pulls her dress up in an elegant manner. The face she makes is one of appreciation. "I am Noelle Wisefang, and am pleased to meet you, Azariah. I'm sorry I don't know who you are, but so long as you're a friend of Kiaran, you are a friend of mine."
Wow, just wow… It's like she's the very picture of grace and elegance. Yeah, that makes sense, she is a noble, albeit a very minor one. Of course she'd be trained in skills like this from a young age.
"I've actually mentioned her to you before, Noelle, just not by name. She's that friend I said liked magic, and could possibly teach you."
Noelle's face lights up, but she quickly composes herself again. "Aha, I see. So then, Azariah, have you accepted Kiaran's offer to help teach me magic?"
She asked so nicely, and she seems so legitimately hopeful… ahh I almost don't want to turn her down, but I don't even know what I'd begin teaching her. Alright, I think I know what to say… I just need to carefully gather the words and string them together.
"I'm sorry, but… I'm only a novice, I wouldn't make a good teacher."
Noelle seems a bit surprised, but she readjusts quickly. "Only a novice? Azariah, you've been introduced to me the day that Kiaran came back from the monster congregation. Where were you… about a week ago?"
Damn little girl, too smart for her own good.
"Azariah came to the congregation with us…" Kiaran goes on to explain how I wound up getting stuck in a cave and heroically fighting my way out of it. Turing the whole thing just looking at Noelle's face confirms that her opinion is shooting through the roof the longer that Kiaran talks. I can feel the weight of her expectations.
"Ah, I see. So you seem to be very powerful, yet humble. I can appreciate that."
"No, seriously, I'm just a beginner." I string together as quickly as I can talk.
"Nonsense, I doubt any ordinary beginner could do the things that Kiaran said you could. Unless Kiaran lied, then in which case would you like to say so?"
I remain silent. Kiaran never exactly lied per se, he just left a lot out that would make me look worse.
"See? You're perfect to be my instructor. I promise that my father can pay well, and it won't interrupt your schedule at all. Unless your schedule is completely full, that is."
"Um… well, I just got money…"
"Oh? Just how much money?"
"40 gold coins."
"Oh… well, even if that is a lot of money for someone of your standing, even if you live frugally, that should only last you half a year. This job should give you quite a bit of income, for very little of your time."
I keep trying to argue with her, but she has a counter argument ready for everything I throw at her. How am I losing to a 10 year old?
"Fine… I'll take it." I say. I'm honestly done with this.
With a bit of Kiaran's help, I managed to talk Noelle into giving me a somewhat good schedule and adequate pay. I doubt I would have been able to, given that language barrier now present.
The schedule I worked out with her was I came twice or thrice a week, just before I left for my congregation at Kari's cult. That meant I had to get up early, but I should only have to for a few days a week.
As for pay… 1 gold coin per day. I know that Kiaran's earning over 9 silver coins a day here, which comes out to a bit less than 1 and a half gold coins a day, but he's working for 10 hours a day. I only have to teach Noelle for half an hour every other day and I get a gold coin for it.
"Alright, I think that turns out all right, are you sure you're going to be able to get Baron Wisefang's permission with that, Noelle?"
"Of course. I might need a bit of your help, Kiaran, but I'm sure it will work out."
"That's good then. Now, have you been keeping your end of our little deal?"
"Of course! I know you can't see it, but underneath this dress I have gotten a fair bit of muscle. Oh! And there's one more thing I want to show you two before you leave!"
"Of course, what is it?"
"Well, I did a bit of reading, and I managed to pull something off. It isn't much, but it's a first step. This is all I can do right now, but I'm sure it will get better with Azariah's training."
Before I can respond to that, Noelle closes her eyes and hold out her hand. I switch Mana Detection on, a bit because of habit, mostly because of curiosity. Noelle has a connection with Beira, definitely. She flows a bit of mana into her hand. A spell to create ice. After just a bit, a small chunk of ice appears in her hand.
"See? This is my start! Azariah, I'd like to start learning spells from Beira first."
"A- alright…" I can hardly do anything with that connection. Guess that's the thing I'm learning next.
><><><><
"Kiaran, I'm not very happy with you." I say, as the two of us walk down the streets of Heafdes.
"Huh? Why?" Kiaran asks me, seeming legitimately upset.
"I didn't want to teach Lady Noelle, but all the things you told her just made her more determined to give me that job. Why didn't you talk her out of it? I know you could have."
"Oh, well… I'm sorry but you know… I've gotten to see you every day for the past week or so and now that we're getting back into the schedules of our jobs, I'd have to wake you up really early, or you'd have to wake me up in the middle of the night for us to be together.
It's just that since I'd gone a week worrying so much about your safety, and you're supposed to be my girlfriend now, so… well I just wanted a way to spend more time with you. I care about Noelle a lot too, so I wanted a way to spend time with both of you."
Uhhh… damn it, how am I supposed to be angry if he looks that sweet and cute… and he has such an adorable reason too… damn it I can't lose this easily!
"Is that alright? I mean, if you really don't want to do it, I could talk to Noelle, but I doubt she would be happy about that."
"No, no, it's fine. Besides… shouldn't you go speak to who you need to speak to about your scythe? You mentioned having to pay that off. Since I was the one who broke it, I won't mind paying for it. I am about to gain 40 gold coins after all…"
"Ah, no, please don't worry about it. I'll speak to Ruse myself about it. Even if that doesn't go well, I should be able to pay for it in full…"
"Um… just how much did that cost?"
"5 gold coins."
"Eh? That is kind of a lot… are you sure you don't want me to pay for it?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I can't have my girlfriend paying for my things."
"The thing that your girlfriend broke. Aah… I just called myself your girlfriend… so nice…"
"Um… yeah, anyway, where are you going now? I was kind of just following you."
"My congregation at Kari's cult. You met my friends there when we were here last, but you didn't do much more than that. Would you be interested in seeing what I get up to every day before work?"
"Of course."
><><><><
"Ah! Guys! Azariah's back! How have you been? Did anything happen while you were away?"
April notices me and Kiaran walking into Kari's temple. Kiaran's been in here once before, but the glass ceiling, fanciness of the chairs, all the white (a pretty rare color in Heafdes) still leaves him looking all over the place. It's quite adorable.
"Oh! Azariah, have you been? It's been a while, huh?"
"Oh… Azariah, have you… been well?"
Not long after April notices me, Sierra and Aliya show up as well. I notice that Aliya's dressed in a fancy white and light blue dress that exposes her shoulders. Ah, Aliya normally never reveals any skin- wait, no! I'm in a relationship already! I'm a loyal woman!
I do my best to get around the conversation without talking all that much, and since I already have kind of a reputation for not saying much it's relatively easy. Kiaran winds up being the focus of the conversation, since everyone was wondering why he was here and if he was joining the cult.
After a while that died down and we all took our seats. I sat next to Kiaran and April. Sierra sat next to April and Aliya sat next to Kiaran.
"So… uh, Azariah? We're obviously waiting for something, but what?"
"Jody. Just wait." I say in the language that my friends are expecting.
Kiaran just accepts that, since he knows Jody's a priest. It doesn't take long before Jody and Ulfoa finally show up and walk up to the altar. They're both dressed in the usual plain white dress when they show up here.
Jody does a quick scan through of the crowd and when he sees me he makes eye contact for a second and smiles gently. It sends me head over heels. Ahh! No! Kiaran's my boyfriend! He might possibly find me lusting after a woman a bit hot, he is a boy after all, but I definitely can't be looking at another boy like this!
"Alright, alright. I definitely see a few new faces, and one I haven't seen in a while. That puts me in quite a good mood, you know?"
Aahh… to single me out like that… It's been far too long since I've heard his beautiful and feminine voice…
"So, luckily I have a bit of a happier song in mind this time, so that really ought to help! Anyway, Ulfoa, my harp if you will~ Now, this one's a little one I made on my own just now. And when I say just now, I mean just now. I only have a basic theme and structure in mind, even. Let's just see how this will go, bear with me if it isn't very good, alright?"
Huh? He's doing freestyle now? He can do that? No, this is Jody, of course he can. What possessed him to do that though? Ulfoa hands him his harp and he strums it a bit to make sure it's in tune.
"Alright, let's see what I can do~"
Jody proceeds to sing about a princess in love with the Archon of Wind, and went on to become one of his many wives. It was quite touching, seeing as it was Jody' who sung it, I legitimately don't think anyone else could have delivered the same effect. And he did that freestyle too. Amazing.
"Wow… how is his voice so beautiful?" Even Kiaran's entranced! Aha, perhaps you're into boys too? Oh, imagine all the things I could do with- no, stop it!
"Yeah, you get used to it…" Sierra says.
"He's the son of a bishop of the cult, of course his voice is beautiful." April says.
Aliya stays silent as we move on to the next part of our activities. Everyone gives their gifts to Kari as I reassure Kiaran that it's okay we didn't bring anything. Then the food and art materials come out. Kiaran quite enjoys the food as he watches me draw.
"Woah! I didn't know you were so talented, Azariah…"
I kind of cringe. "Please do not call me that."
Kiaran looks confused. "Huh? Well alright then. But seriously though, you're amazing."
"First time seeing Azariah draw, huh? That's surprising. I think you've known her longer than any of us." April says.
"Yeah, it's obvious that there's still a lot about Azariah that I still need to learn about. As her boyfriend, I really need to do better…"
"Kiaran!" I yell out. Why would you say that?!
"Huh? You've actually gotten a boyfriend?" April says.
"Seriously? You?" Sierra says.
"Congratulations… I'm happy… for you…" Aliya says.
"H- h- hey, wait…" I barely string together before this situation can get worse.
"Oh? It appears that you've made your first step, Azariah. So… how has your relationship been so far?" Jody says, coming out of nowhere. Aaaaaahhh! It got worse!
"Uh… uh… hi, Jody…" I say, nervous out of my wits.
"No need to be so nervous around me, Azariah. I consider you my friend, and I would like for you to be happy. Of course, if you invited me anywhere with your boyfriend I of course wouldn't say no. Although, since he's a newcomer to our cult I doubt he would really be into that. He doesn't seem to be all that into boys either, unfortunately."
"Just what are you talking about?" Kiaran asks.
"Don't think about it." Sierra says.
Yes, I agree with Sierra! Please don't think about it!