The days passed the same as before or at least mostly. I made Taylor her cake but along the way ended up baking five others for the rest of Axel. In return I had Taylor teach me her sign language. I helped out the town as I usually did though this time I could fix a few problems before they began. With the extra time, I spent it mostly in the apothecary with Margaret. There were a few extra things I'd need to bring with me to the Kerchest when Servius arrived.
Then as if no time had passed at all they arrived. I had the same conversation with Servius and agreed to head to Kerchest bringing Taylor and Ardent with me. We packed our things and again I was given a new sword from Tarhand. It was odd doing the same thing again but at the same time I was incredibly used to it now and everything happened as if on replay. The same words I had said last time I said again, my movements and actions a mimic of before. Perhaps I had gotten too used to doing it.
"Do you really need all this?" Taylor asked me as the back of the carriage was cramped even more so than before.
"Who knows what will happen," I replied easily.
We were off. The journey the same. The trees opened up to reveal the hidden paths and once more I took in the refreshing scenery of the border forest. No matter how many times I saw it, it always gave me a sense of ease. Like that we reached Kerchest and wearing our disguise of horns were welcomed into the village with open arms. I set up my things in Servius' home and was dragged across the village in their excitement.
The party began and fire lit up the forest in a bright orange glow shining warmth to the cold night. Initially I had intended to lay low and prevent Ardent from drinking but as the energy began to build I felt myself carried away. It would be fine, better even to do the same as before. Who knows what could change and I might just lose my chance to capture the Imperium. Especially if Ardent was awake tomorrow they might get spooked and leave. So I encouraged him to drink and like the last cycle he sent fireworks into the sky much to the delight of the villagers all the while proclaiming himself as a Master Wizard. We danced the night away and without much memory I went to rest.
I woke up first this time. Directly in front of me, her sleeping expression peaceful and reminding me all the more just how beautiful Taylor could be both inside and out. My heart thudded in an odd panic. Why were we so close together? I could barely remember anything from last night. We were really mere inches apart, our mattresses closer together than before, touching even and in the centre of the two we faced each other.
"Mhmm," Taylor shifted closer to me and suddenly we were touching.
The memory came back, both last night's and the last cycle's. The dying embers of the fire as the party began to wane. Taylor and I dancing with a few others drunk and smiling. Our bodies closer than they had ever been before. Then as we headed to bed she pulled my hand into the room. Her words, 'Don't leave me alone, at least not tonight.' And my reply a simple smile as we pushed the mattresses together and laid down beside each other. Then… then… my mind was a blur. What the hell happened after? Nope, I couldn't remember.
Slowly I edged away from Taylor as she murmured trying to reach for the warmth that had just left her. A part of me just then really wanted to go back. I shook it off. The relationship between Taylor and I was platonic at most and anything more would be too much. I pulled the mattress to the other side of the room as if nothing happened and headed out of the room quietly but not before preparing some water beside Taylor's bed. I was pretty sure she drank more this cycle and would definitely need it.
Down the corridor and into the kitchen Servius stood welcomingly, "Good morning."
"Morning," I replied.
"Sleep well?" he asked.
"Ah yeah…."
"I made some breakfast," he gestured to the pot before him. "There's also some bread from Axel. Help yourself. I need to talk with my father but once you're ready feel free to enjoy Kerchest."
"I will," I nodded to him with a smile. "See you later."
He laughed.
"What's wrong?" I asked confused.
"No it's just weird having you here inside my home. It's nice though. Hopefully in the future you can visit more."
He left and I sat down to eat. Tonight was going to be interesting. It wasn't just my vengeance but I needed to protect Kerchest. They were demons and until a few days ago complete strangers but they were important to me nonetheless. The door behind me slid open and Taylor yawned walking into the room. My heart rate increased more than it should have.
"Good morning," she looked at me. "Do I get any?"
I pointed to the pot, "Over there."
She soon had her own bowl and was sitting next to me. I couldn't look in the eye. I wasn't sure if it was embarrassment or shame. Most likely nothing happened but right now my imagination was a little bit off. I should really not drink so much.
"Hey is something wrong?" Taylor asked me.
"Nothing's wrong," I replied still not looking her way.
"Sure…." She ate her breakfast but her eyes were glued onto me suspiciously. "By the way where did you sleep last night?" To lie or not to lie, that is the question.
"In the same room as you," I told the truth innocently.
"Really? I'm surprised you didn't jump me in my sleep. Me drunk and vulnerable willing to do anything you said. My body bare with sweat as you watch-,"
I had to cut her off, "C-can you please not joke about that right now." She could tease me about it now but in reality I wasn't sure if that really didn't happen. I shoved down the rest of my breakfast and stood up, "I'll be leaving first."
"Ah, um sure?" she looked at me confused as I left.
The soft light of the sun filtered through the trees revealing the village before me. I didn't have time to contemplate what happened last night. The first thing I needed to do was find Ardent. After asking around I was led to a small house belonging to Miss Ula a scaleskin demon not much older than myself, she was sitting beside Ardent as he moaned in his sleep. He was obviously not enjoying his current condition even in his dreams. Miss Ula however was watching him with suspiciously warm eyes and promised me to take good care of him. It wasn't time to wake him up. If the Imperium saw him it would throw what I knew out of whack and the more unpredictable things became, the harder it was for me to not die again.
I met with Gola outside and he invited me to join him, unfortunately I had to refuse his offer but not before offering some articles of clothing and designs from Axel. The four armed man was more than happy with the gifts and hugged me. It was an odd experience. Instead I walked throughout the village mapping it out in my mind and waited for the Imperium to arrive.
The first one to see them wasn't me but one of the children. It was the same child that they had almost sacrificed. His innocent excitement at visitors while bright only bore a hole in my chest. Such an easy target. I kept my distance as Servius' father greeted them. A seething anger pooled inside me. They were the people who had murdered my family, who had committed that atrocity. Even if it hadn't come to pass in this life, it had in my memory and they would pay for it. It took more than I would care to admit to keep myself calm.
Servius found me already watching them and as they shared their 'gift' of wine I approached. A cup was filled for me and right in front of them I drank it in one fluid motion.
"This is quite good," I said to them with a false smile.
The women leading them grinned, "Why thankyou sir. We put much effort into its creation."
"I'm sure you did," I held out my cup again. "May I have some more?"
"There is plenty to go around and then some," she poured the amber liquid and is it swirled in the cup she looked me in the eye. "I've heard the atmosphere here is quite nice in the dark. I'm looking forward to tonight."
"As am I," I bowed to her in a gesture that could be considered mocking. Cup in hand I left the village centre and headed back towards Servius' home.
"What was that about?" Servius asked me alarmed. "Why did you go and talk to them? Isn't that dangerous?"
"It's fine," I said to him calmly. "They're just as bad as I am when it comes to the horned tribe." He tilted his head. "Don't mind it. Anyway I was going to make something special for the villagers, I'll be using your home."
"Oh? Go ahead. I'll tell everyone to look forward to it."
"Don't worry about the visitors. I'll make sure to act appropriately."
"Okay then," Servius nodded a little doubtfully. "I'll be helping my father. Call me if you need something."
I returned to Servius' home and in the back room set up like a laboratory was my extended apothecary set. One of the reasons the carriage had been so full was because of this thing. Ordinarily without a carriage like Lara's I could never take it with me but right now it was imperative. I placed the cup of wine on the table and began to unpack the reagents I needed.
"Oh what's this?" Taylor's voice caused a spike to drive into my heart and not because she surprised me.
"Don't drink that," I said to her as she reached for the cup.
"Why not?" she asked. "Don't want to share?"
"You saw the horned tribe visitors?"
"I did."
"Did you drink anything from them?"
"Not yet but I was going to. It looked pretty nice."
"Don't," I said bluntly.
Her eyes widened and then narrowed seriously, "Why?"
"It's drugged. What I'm doing now is finding out exactly with what and how to counter it." I lit up the apothecary set.
"Shouldn't we tell the villagers?" Taylor's focused on me. "No… you're planning to lead them into a false sense of security and strike when they least expect it."
"Exactly," I smiled. Taylor was always quick on the uptake.
"But how did you know it was drugged?"
"Call it an apothecary's sense," I lied. "Right now I don't know who they are but whatever they're planning we'll stop."
Taylor smirked, "Need any help?"
I knew that they wouldn't do anything suspicious until tonight but there wasn't much Taylor could do in here. "Watch them. If they do anything alarming tell me. And Taylor, keep out of sight."
"It's what I do," she winked and suddenly although she was standing in plain sight I felt as though she had vanished. My eyes were playing tricks on me, telling me she was there but my brain was rationalising that she was not. No wonder whenever I did the same thing it confused people.
The work in front of me took over as I analysed the amber wine, testing it one by one against the indicators I had. Hours passed and for a while I thought I may have screwed up but finally before the sun set I managed to find what it was. It wasn't a poison I was familiar with but from the reaction of mana I knew what it did. It was a slow acting agent that affected the mind, lowering a person's natural immunity to tampering. While awake it would make you a little drowsy and as soon as you fell asleep the full brunt would play. For that nasty women leading them it would be easy pickings to manipulate the villagers.
I took out the boxes of fruit juice I had taken from Axel. Juice like this was rare in these parts and the townsfolk wouldn't say no to an offering. Better still if the Imperium magicians took part as well. I laced the sweet liquid with my own mix and headed out to share it with the villagers. This was step one. The real game started when the night set in.