CHAPTER 190(Magic? Monster? Mother?)

Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and appearance+ Monster Sources)

Discord: https://discord.gg/K7f8qGpvuk

pat.treon:/Keanu_Eugene

CHAPTER START---

"What's bothering you?" Freya asks.

While fixing her hair, already wearing a modest blue dress, she looks in the mirror to see Yang laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling with a blank expression. A calm facade if she's ever seen one.

"Nothing's bothering me," he says, not bothering to look at her.

"Mhm, you know just because your Chaos Mark allows you to lie to gods, it doesn't mean you're good enough to lie to your wife," she says.

"Girlfriend," he corrects her.

"Psh," she scoffs. "You're the only one that calls me that, you do realize that, right?"

"And it annoys me every time," he says. "Shouldn't you be like, in a rush, it's almost time for your...whatever it is you're going to."

"A wine tasting," she says. "I already told you I'm just heading to Demeter's vineyard to restock my wine room. Some brute broke my heart and my wine room was sacrificed in a failed attempt at mending it."

Looking in the mirror she sees Yang's head turn slightly to give her a bored look.

"You were a high functioning alcoholic before me, a bottle a night isn't normal," he shakes his head and turns back to stare at the ceiling.

"My enjoyment of wine isn't a problem, can we please focus on what's bothering you?" she gives herself one more look over in the mirror before turning to face him. "And how do I look?"

Without even glancing at her he responds, "beautiful, and nothing's bothering me."

"Is it because you actually failed an expedition?"

"No," he responds bitterly.

"Well that was a lie, so dealing with failure is eating at you?" she asks.

"No..." he takes a deep breath and sits up. "It's more like I don't like not having the tools for the job, I'm just stuck here waiting for Welf to figure this one out, it's hard to just sit and wait."

"Welcome to my world," she says. Hearing this he gives her a strange look, as if asking her to explain. "What do you think it's like for us gods when we send you into the dungeon, all we do is sit around waiting. I amuse myself with my job but it's not fun going back to an empty bed every night, for weeks at a time especially," she says.

"Hmm," he thinks it over for a moment. "Explains why gods drink and whore their time away, or work at a job that they still can't tell me about, in your case."

"Sorry, that's familia business," she says. "But sadly I'm only left with drinking seeing as I'm spoken for."

"Mhm."

She walks over to him and sits on the bed to put on her shoes, "I assume you've been lying there trying to figure out how to solve The Bug Jar and can't think of anything?"

"Pretty much, I don't think I've got anything specialized enough for it, I'm versatility, not specifics."

"Well," she finishes putting on her shoes and gets up. "Why not just add a new tool to your arsenal?" she asks while walking over to the bookshelf.

"Easier said than done, those floors are massive, staying in motion while fighting and navigating is...tough."

"Then do what you do best," she drops a blue book on his chest. "Read a book and maybe something will change, maybe a new perspective, maybe just the tool you need," she shrugs and begins making her way to the door. "Stay in bed and read so I don't find you on the floor," she says as she retreats down the hallway.

Holding the book over his head Yang takes a moment to recognize it. The blue cover with golden engravings of magic runes all over it.

"Almost forgot about these," he quietly admits as he inspects the Grimoire.

Sitting up against the backboard of his bed he holds the book in his hands and considers what he's about to do.

He had bought three Grimoires last year, two of these blue books would draw out a person's magic to add it to their Falna. The white and gold Grimoire is a single-use area-of-effect healing spell that takes a lot of magic to use.

These books were never meant to give him any new magic, he bought them for his allies. He always just assumes his third and final magic would appear whenever it was ready, but considering that this book could solve their problem, it did look mighty tempting.

"Fuck it, I can always just buy more of these for them to use," he says before opening the book.

Inventory

Elementalist

But what would his final Magic Slot have in store? He was very eager to find out...

---Thalie's Apartment...

"How much does something like this even cost?" Mikoto asks.

She was currently wearing Thalie's helmet while sitting on the couch, passing her hand across the front of it and admiring the way she could see through the metal because of the enchantments.

"Dunno," Thalie admits. The woman was currently putting on her shoes, gold, matching her sundress. "We try not to think about costs, not like it matters anyway since Welf makes our gear."

"His prices must be high," Mikoto says as she takes off the helmet.

"It's more like an exclusivity issue," Thalie says as she gets up. "Even if you had the money it's not like he'll just sell to anyone. Not to mention a level one like you with a weapon from Welf would hurt your progress in the long run, now let's go, it's almost lunchtime."

As Mikoto is following her outside she asks something that's been on her mind for a while, "why do you always wear gold?"

"It's my colour," Thalie says. "Yang is Blue, Welf is Red, I'm Gold. It reflects our magic, well, my magic, their flames."

"Oh, that makes sense I suppose..."

"It wasn't our idea, it was Freya's," Thalie says. "I honestly think she just did it so she can always match with Yang. Show off her claim you know."

As they walk down the hallways they fall into a comfortable silence. Since Thalie visited her familia home, Mikoto has been close to her teacher for lessons, but today was different. Today wasn't about training, Thalie had accepted a task that normally wasn't her skill set, the complete opposite in fact. Luckily Mikoto would be used to it.

Mikoto wouldn't admit it, but she sometimes preferred to spend time in Thalie's apartment than with her own familia. Being the responsible one is exhausting, sometimes she enjoys not having people depending on her so she can just relax.

Before long they make their way to the elevator on floor fifty, everyone parts to avoid their path as they walk through the hallways, something Mikoto didn't exactly enjoy seeing as it was out of both fear and respect. But from the looks they gave her teacher, it was mostly fear.

Arriving at the elevators they see Freya and Hedin, the man was completely healed up and escorting his goddess. As usual, she'd never walk the street unguarded even if her charm was more than enough. Her charm was somewhat of an open secret in very exclusive circles.

Quickening their pace slightly Thalie and Mikoto manage to enter the elevator with Freya and Hedin, much to his annoyance. Most people knew better, but he also knew better than interfering with his goddess's relationship with Hephaestus's executives.

"Thalie," Freya looks over to Mikoto and gives the girl a gently pat on the head, causing her to blush a bright red. She'd never met the goddess before and was completely unprepared for her beauty and charm. "And mini-Thalie, Thalie junior? What should I call you?"

"Her name is Mikoto," Thalie says, pulling the girl away and moving her to stare at the wall of the elevator.

"So protective of the little one, it's cute," Freya teases. "Are you training her to join the team?"

"No, I just...I'm doing this for me, and because she has talent that was wasted in that familia," Thalie says.

"Mhm," Freya gives her an amused smirk before turning away from the woman. "Are you going to see the children?"

"Yeah," Thalie says. "You too?"

"Oh no, I have a date with Demeter, I need to restock my wine room and have a chat with her about something."

"Right, gonna buy some wine and threaten her not to try and seduce Yang?"

"Why would I ever threaten Demeter for something like that?"

"Yang told me you think that he thinks that she's hot, seems like enough reason for a woman like you to give her a warning at least," Thalie says.

"So, it's not her?" Freya asks. "Then who is it?"

"Not gonna say," Thalie says. "I rather watch you squirm," she gives Freya a glance then shrugs her shoulders.

"Wow... you really can be a cold bitch sometimes, but at least now I can skip the chat and focus on my wine," Freya says with some honest admiration as they arrive at the base of Babel.

"That's what I bring to the team, the others are...soft," Thalie says before they part ways.

Minutes later Thalie and Mikoto find themselves standing in front of a set of large, black, iron gates. At each end of the gate is a twenty-foot-tall brick wall painted a soft blue.

In the middle of the gate is a familiar insignia, a circle containing a smithing hammer, crossed with a spear, and a flame in the middle. The Trifecta symbol.

"Wow," Mikoto says in blatant amazement, "the orphanage I grew up in was nothing like this..." she mutters.

Signaling the guard, a member of Ganesha familia, he opens the gate for both women to walk in, he asks no questions as he recognizes one of the three benefactors of this home, Thalie.

Down the stone walkway through the grassy front lawn are a set of double doors leading inside a massive mansion. Three stories tall and two hundred feet wide. The soft blue of the building matches the outer walls, very well-reinforced windows to stop any unfortunate accidents, and a middle-aged woman standing atop the steps waiting to greet them.

"Greetings," the woman gives them a gentle bow which only Mikoto returns.

Instead, Thalie gets right to the point, "hi, are you Maria Martel, the head matron here?"

"I am," the woman says. "I assume you're Thalie, and you are?" she gestures to Mikoto.

"I'm Mikoto Yamato, I'll be helping out when I can around here," the girls say eagerly.

"More help is always welcomed," Maria says before she opens the doors to direct them inside. "Please follow me."

As they walk through the halls Mikoto is admiring the obvious wealth that was poured into making this building, Thalie however, was more focused on the lack of children running about.

As if sensing her question coming Maria says, "the children are in the dining hall for lunch."

"That's good," Thalie says. "Did you manage to get everyone from all the orphanages moved?"

"Yes, all the children and matrons were moved here, and the citizens have been notified of this new home should anyone else need help. I must say I'm very grateful to your team," Maria says. "I never thought adventurers would do something like this, the orphanages have been in such miserable states for years..."

"Don't thank me, thank Yang, although I doubt you'll ever see him down here."

"Oh, well please extend all our thanks to him, it's nice not to be stressed about stretching what little donations we would get for once," she admits as they arrive at two massive open doors, leading into the dining hall.

"This really is an orphanage? Is this a dream?" Mikoto mutters quietly.

Before her were six massive tables stretching from one end of the hall to the next, there were a few dozen kids, only occupying two tables. Leaving room for many more. At the side was a kitchen where the matrons made food and a long counter for serving, a few kids were still getting their plates made at the counter, a simple mean of rice, chicken, and vegetables.

"I ask myself the same thing every day," Maria says. "But I'm scared, it's terrifying to think that one day I'll have to wake up from this."

"Not a dream," Thalie says. "This is just what happens when someone with a soft spot for kids has all the money in the world, and an account has already been set up for this place, not to mention suppliers for food and whatever else you need are contracted and will make deliveries. Plus some special things Yang threw in here and there."

"I'm gonna go say hi," Mikoto says before walking into the room, leaving Thalie and Maria in the doorway observing.

"I was hoping to ask you, now that you're here," Maria looks to Thalie, not sure what to expect. "When we would run our own places eventually if children couldn't find a home they'd get recruited and become adventurers, or find work somewhere, do you have specific rules for that? Perhaps everyone here will be called to the Hephaestus familia as repayment of some kind?"

"No," Thalie says. "Part of the reason I'm the one handling this is so that doesn't happen."

"Pardon me?"

"Any adventurers or gods trying to recruit kids from here has to deal with me, that's why, as much as he dislikes taking credit, we put our team sigil on the gate and publicized this place. So nobody would mess with it. We can figure out getting decent, safe, and honest work for the kids as they get older, but while they're here let them enjoy life. Kids should get to be kids."

Maria considers what she just heard for a moment before allowing a wide smile to appear on her lips, "I'm sorry I suspected some ulterior motive... it just seems like adventurers rarely do good things for no reason in Orario," she says.

"Yeah well, Yang isn't really an adventurer, he's just a kid trying to get home..."

"That would explain him wanting to help so badly, how about you go say hi as well," Maria gestures to Mikoto already chatting with the kids at a table. "They seem to really like your daughter."

"Yeah, she grew up at a shrine with some other kids so I guess she understands them," Thalie says before walking over as well.

Walking over to the table Thalie draws all eyes to herself, "hi everyone," she gives a gentle wave.

Complete silence befalls the conversation as all the kids stare at her. The same look in their eyes that she normally enjoys, concern and fear.

Before Mikoto can even speak she turns on her heel and rushes out of the room, past Maria and down the hallway.

"Wait!" she hears Mikoto call out from behind her. "Stop!" the girl shouts.

Thalie's feet stay in place as she turns around to see Mikoto standing close by. "You should go back," Thalie says.

"You should come with me," Mikoto says, walking up to her teacher. "Atleast introduce yourself before leaving."

"That's unnecessary, they were scared of me."

"They're kids and you've got a metal face, they need some time to adjust," Mikoto argues.

"It's fine. I can't do anything here anyway, this isn't exactly where my skills were made to be used," Thalie says.

"You can't deal with kids? Oh..." Mikoto suddenly remembers what Thalie told her, all about her being made by Adrestria to be a weapon. "Well, I can teach you," she suggests.

"It's a waste of time Mikoto."

"Just trust me, you'll be great. And besides what about when you have kids?"

"I'll never have kids, I'll make sure this bloodline dies with me, no more of Adrestria's weapons," Thalie says with genuine hate in her voice, hate for her own blood.

Mikoto is visibly disturbed by this, with a shaky voice she pleads one more time as she extends a hand, "then at least do it for them, let them see who cared enough to build this place for them."

Hearing her plea Thalie remembers why Yang assigned Mikoto to her, 'to help teach you to be a real person instead of a weapon', were his exact words.

Taking a deep breath she takes the girl's hand and allows her to drag her back to the dining hall.

"See, you'll be great don't worry," Mikoto says.

"I doubt that, 'Champion Of War' and 'Motherly' doesn't really cross paths."

"You've been very motherly to me," Mikoto says. "Atleast when you aren't pinning me to trees with your spear."

"Ugh," Thalie rolls her eyes, "you're already like fifteen, get over it. It was only a few times."

"Still no way to treat your daughter," Mikoto teases.

"Daughter?"

"Mhm, Maria called me that and you didn't even flinch or deny it," she says with a wide, toothy smile. "Is that why you came to me? It's a bit late to adopt me but it could be nice."

"No, I came to you because you've got actual talent...and Yang said I could learn to be a person by watching you," she quietly mutters the last part.

"Ohhh," Mikoto realizes what this means," so you're my student too?"

Thalie shakes her head, knowing the girl was never gonna let her forget this, "you know, just for being an annoying little shit, I'm doubling your training this week."

Hearing this Mikoto does her best puppy dog eyes and pouts, "I didn't mean it..."

"Nope, too bad," Thalie looks away from the girl, completely ignoring her apology, "if you were my student like a minute ago it would have been fine but if you really want to be 'Thalie junior', we need to up your training a lot," she looks at Mikoto and stares right into her eyes, a silent promise of pain and anguish while patting her head, "isn't that right, daughter..."

Mikoto suddenly realizes that maybe she should have stuck with the title and expectations of being a student rather than a relative...

END CHAPTER---

Yang reading a Grimoire, hope nobody thought I forgot about those :)

Trifecta Children's Home is finally set up.