The Question.

Chapter twenty

Happenings during the SSS ranked bathtime with the adults + Gydion:

Tryamon left a task for Suzuka so that she could go and talk to Gydion and the older-looking beastkin without any distraction. The walk itself only took forty or so seconds. Gydion was sitting hunched over facing out to the boundary Cairnes of the training ground with his hands over his face. The sight elicited a chuckle from Tryamon as she walked behind the boy and poked him in the center of his back with her nail.

"What are you doing over here all embarrassed? It's not as if you've not seen my naked form before."

Gydion's body jolted forward from the poke into a standing position without much of his own input. He held his back defensively and looked at her in flustered confusion.

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Well, when I engraved those Mana absorbing patterns into your body I was pretty naked. You may have simply overlooked it due to the nature and toll of the interaction. I'll forgive you for that, but running away like that again would just hurt this beautiful soul." She said as she dramatically held her chest, turning and twisting about.

Gydion cocked his eyebrow up at her statement and wondered

~Could she perhaps be a real pervert? Please no. I don't want my image of the Grand Magus to be shattered any further!~

"Y-Yes ma'am."

"Great!"

The large beast-man simply stood in silence, watching the two. The lack of understanding was apparent.

Tryamon patted Gydion on the shoulder whilst looking at the large demi-human. In fluent Highland Beastkin, Tryamon spoke to the behemoth.

"You're a tall one aren't you? And apparently proud of yourself since you're just casually exposing your bare chest. Do you have something to prove?" She said as she slapped him in the nipple.

Tryamon watched the large beast-man as his face shifted through the various emotions of understanding, confusion, surprise, and anger. His face practically yelled 'did the woman really just slap me in the nipple?'.

"You do understand me, don't you? I'm pretty sure this is the spoken tongue and dialect of the beastfolk common in this region."

The Beastman shook away his unfettered emotions, regaining his composure. She was like the one that had saved his children from being killed and if they were related, he would respect her. Doubly so since he could actually communicate with her.

*ahem*

"You are correct. I was a bit taken aback by your actions and so It took me a moment to compose myself. Please pardon me for that."

Tryamon chuckled and pulled her hand back to herself, crossing her arms.

"So? Who are you all? Why have you dared to enter into the land of the fairies."

Her face had grown deadpan as the mood completely shifted. An uncharacteristic cold swept through the environment around them, causing the hair on the Bearman's skin to stand at attention. An audible *gulp* resounded as he cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Your companion saved us and so we-"

Tryamon shook her head and cut him off

"Subordinate."

"Your subordinate saved us and so we decided to follow him. We would have gone back to our village but it was destroyed in a massive assault launched by humans in the area who coveted our land. We do not intend to offend."

"Name?" Tryamon asked.

"Mirak. This woman lying down next to me is Angelica."

Tryamon looked down at Angelica, examining her various and plentiful wounds.

"She's suffering quite a bit. Did the Humans do this?"

Mirak nodded, leaning down next to Ange.

"They did. It was during the attack on our village that she was maimed. By the time I had arrived they had taken her and the children. I tracked them down to their hideout, but they used the children against me."

Angelica groaned out in pain, likely due to the wounds on her back opening back up. Tryamon reached into her cleavage and pulled out a glowing green emerald. She handed the emerald to Mirak and stood up, tapping him on the chest with her knuckles.

"You can use this to treat her wounds. It should stop any infection and promote cellular regeneration."

The emotionless mask that had taken shape on Tryamons face vanished as she handed off the emerald.

"I see you've been touched by this world's malice. As it happens, I've been interested in finding mortals for my granddaughter to mingle with. If you would like, you can come to my home and keep my darling company. Naturally this includes everyone present. The children and you will befriend my Granddaughter and Guard her on her ventures out into the world."

"That… is quite the offer. Would you please allow me some time to think about it?" He asked. He wanted to say yes but felt it more appropriate to ask his companion once she regained consciousness.

"Allow?" Tryamon said aloud as if tasting the word on her tongue. She ground the top of her tongue against her incisors before rolling her eyes at the man.

"I'm not in control of your life. We're leaving in the morning so that'll be the latest you have to give me an answer. I'd hope for your sake that you take my offer though. These mountains are a perilous place as I'm sure you know."

Mirak pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded. He reached down and took Ange's hands into his own, placing the gem in them.

"I'll be sure to have an answer by then."

Tryamon gave him a thumbs up and made to walk away.

"Good to know! Why don't you come and bathe yourselves? I'm sure you two would appreciate a good soak."

"Of course. I'll be right behind you."

"Don't leave me behind." Said Ange. The stone had already begun to mend her wounds. If she could see, she would have marveled at the rate at which her external wounds healed. She was now able to freely get up and move about as she pleased, with the exception of, particularly strenuous actions.

The expression on Mirak's face was one of gratitude as he saw his comrade able to stand on her own.

"You're already healed?"

Ange rubbed the back of her neck as she squeezed the emerald in her hand. Its radiance had diminished as a result of it imparting its healing effect on her.

"Not completely, but I can move about on my own now." She said as she began to test her range of motion.

"This emerald you gave me is something out of fairy tales. I've never heard of a curative like this before."

Mirak let out a burst of booming laughter.

"What's so funny?" She asked in confusion.

"Well, it's just that you are exactly right. I received that stone from one of the Radiant ones, though I think you would know them as Fairies. We followed the yellow-haired one back here and met another who could speak Beastkin. She invited us to come with her and her Granddaughter once they leave this area on the condition that we follow and take care of said Granddaughter."

Ange gripped her chin and began to think.

~That would solve our problem. They also have access to such mythic items as this emerald… Since we've no other options anyways… Might as well.~

"What did you say?" She asked as she held out her hand. She had only recently lost her eyes and so was not accustomed to moving on her own.

Mirak picked up on her messaging and took her hand in his own, pulling her towards Tryamon who was still waiting despite what they had said.

"I asked for time to think about it because I wanted to hear your thoughts."

"We'll do it. We don't have other options anyways."

"Good to hear! Now come on over already! The children seem just about done bathing so you two will have the pool entirely to yourselves!" Tryamon shouted, beckoning them over.

The two of them blushed at the thought, unconsciously hastening their pace.

With everyone else gone, Gydion, who had been forgotten in the earlier exchange, lingered in the distance, content with watching everyone.