Chapter 173: Disorganised Coincidences

Chapter 173: Disorganised Coincidences

There was a brief lull in the conversation, then. People looking around, seeing who'd speak first. Gazes swiping across the room.

Eventually, they did all find the bishop. Mercury locked onto him first, willing to be patient in catching up with his friends. Then Zyl followed the mopaaw's gaze, locking onto the old man.

Avery spun around in his seat, draping an arm over the back of it, turning to look at the bishop. His smile grew a little wild. "Hey, bishop. Seems you got a little more trouble than you bargained for, eh?"

Nemo turned to face Lucia, but his dear voice's head was turned. She smiled, facing away from all the trouble, simply keeping her gaze toward Zyl. Slowly, his eyes drifted to Iris, pleading. She smiled warmly, with kindness, then drew a finger across her neck in a very clear gesture, never once changing her expression.

Foss sighed, Nira looked away, Esmeralda had a vindictive grin, and Akuhl simply seemed bored.

Marcel, on the other hand, was none of those. He walked up to the bishop, putting a hand on Nemo's shoulder. "Come, bishop, men of your age ought to sit rather than stand, eh? Plenty of chairs at the table," he said, already guiding the old man.

There was some resistance. "Now, please, young man, I was simply enjoying the view. I am quite fine. Sharing a table with such prominent figures would be uncouth of me, I would never-"

"Sit. Down." Marcel's tone was beyond pleading.

Less than a dozen seconds later, bishop Nemo sat at the table. Zyl also took his place, the legs of the chair scraping across the floor. He crossed his legs. "Ah, that's better."

With his hand still on the bishop's shoulder, Marcel leaned forward a bit. "Bishop Nemo. Perhaps I need to introduce you to the man in front of you. That, right there, is Guardian Friaminth. He has established the city of Unbar, and resisted the advances of the dragons on it for a decade now. One of the most powerful people in this part of the word. Are you familiar?"

"Y- Yes. Quite," the bishop ground out from in between clenched teeth.

"Let me just make sure, then. You know he's near the top of the fame leaderboards?"

"Yes," the bishop said curtly, teeth grinding against each other.

"Then surely, you know what the rumors say. Traitor to the dragons, capable of incinerating cities at a whim? I doubt any of those are true, of course," he said at Zyl, his smile a mix of apologetic and vindictive.

Zyl waved him off, holding back a chuckle, and Marcel continued, squeezing the bishop's shoulder a bit more.

"I am aware," the older man said.

Marcel then nodded sagely. "That is relieving. Old man, do you know just how much paperwork I had to file because of you?"

At that, the bishop even had the nerve to raise his eyebrows. "What? I hardly interfered with your guild!"

The receptionist's face grew another shade darker. "Really now? You and me, we might have real different definitions of "hardly", bud. Let me tell you something. Every single time you come and complain about the disrespect of one of our members? I gotta file for that. Every time someone of your posse complains, I gotta file that."

He took a breath. "Every time someone from your temple takes a mission, filed. Every time you contest us on a mission, filed. Every time your people illegally completed missions before us, filed thrice. I've had to fill out a couple hundred forms for the Church of Order since you came to the city. You know how much trouble Lucia gave me? Fifty. Over a span multiple times as long."

"... Perhaps I underestimated-"

"And that's just it, buddy," Marcel said, squeezing his shoulder. "You've no idea what you're doing. None at all. It pisses me off. So let me make myself clear. Learn how to not make trouble. I know you're afraid of Zyl right now, and I will use it, but let me promise you something. If you ever do something, I won't go cry to the boyfriend of my dear friend Mercury. I'll make your life hell myself, capiche?"

The bishop slowly nodded.

"Oh, just so it's clear, I absolutely will whine at my lovely boyfriend," Mercury added with a smile

This time, Nemo nodded a lot faster.

Zyl tilted his head in response. "Oh? What's he done?"

Bishop Nemo opened his mouth, but decided that maybe, he shouldn't be talking for a few seconds. A wise choice. Mercury spoke instead. "Well, he tried to shift the public to hate me while I was helping with reconstruction efforts, all because I showed up at Lucia's unannounced and then might have been a bit disrespectful."

Zyl's face darkened. "You tried to drive my partner out of a city for a little sleight against your honor? That's what this is all about?"

"Sir, I assure you, I meant nothing by it, I-" The bishop tried to reply.

Everyone shook his heads at that. Avery even smacked his palm against his forehead, and laughed.

"You meant nothing by it?" Zyl growled.

Nemo had the sense to just look scared, and not answer this time.

"Bishop Nemo. I should inform you that I care deeply about my friends, their well being, and their comfort. Do your utmost to keep it in mind. You are dismissed," Zyl commanded, waving his hand again.

The bishop stood up, and left the room. He closed the door soundlessly.

Once again, the room was quiet, then Avery laughed his ass off. "Kahahaha!! Marcel, jeez, you really showed him, huh?"

"Say it again and I show you too, old man."

Avery went quiet, and Lucia giggled this time. Marcel made no further threats, instead slowly joining in the laughter, until everyone laughed. Except Akuhl. Maybe she was just incapable of anything but boredom.

"It's great to see you all again," Mercury said.

"And you," Yasashiku replied gruffly, leaning back in his chair. "Thought you were dead, for sure."

Mercury gave him a weak smile. "It's a bit of a long story. I'll explain it to you once the time comes, alright?"

The old man just nodded. "Fine by me, Rainfall-kun. Whenever you are ready."

With that settled, Mercury turned towards the table again. "Alright, then. It's official. Zyl and I are dating, and will be staying in Stormbraver for a little bit. Hopefully we won't cause you any trouble."

"I'm sure you will," Iris provided helpfully, and Lucia giggled more loudly at that.

Zyl rolled his eyes. "Come now, surely I'm not that bad?"

His response was met with silence.

"Surely?" The question came out meek.

Mercury poked his side. "You're fine, silly. Iris is teasing you."

Zyl looked at her, and simply received a smile in return. "Ah."

"Where will you be staying?" Avery asked. "And what'll you be doing the next couple days? Gonna be busy?"

"Learning to smith is what he'll be doing if I have any say in it," Yasashiku said.

Esmeralda crossed her eyes and pouted a bit. "Surely, there are more people he needs to meet again. Also, I would like to see Mercury learn a bit more magic at the tower."

"Esmy, don't be like that, he's not even registered for your guild!" Avery protested. "If anything, Mercury's gonna be doing some seeking."

"Hahaha," Mercury chuckled at their antics. "Alright you all, relax. I'll be sleeping at the Seeker's Guild, unless we can get a house, for now."

"Ground's cheap. I can get you a structure set up in a couple hours. You'll need to furnish it yourself, though," Yasashiku replied, stroking his beard in thought.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Foss interjected. "Ah, maybe I can be of service, then? We have multiple cloth and furniture suppliers locally, who may be able to finish any furniture request within a few days, if you have specific ones. They also have some stock already prepared."

Mercury paused, looking at Zyl. "Can… can we afford that?"

The dragon stared back at him incredulously, then threw his head back and laughed. "Sasasa! Yes, Mercury, yes we can afford that. We're uh, not exactly in trouble for money."

"Isn't there something about a dragon's hoard that stops you from spending it, though?"

"Is it no longer part of my hoard when it's a different shape?" Zyl fired back. "No, I don't mind. I would love a nice, soft bed. And many windows, so you can get some sunlight, little Flower you."

Mercury smiled, then turned to Foss. "Alright, then be assured we will be contacting your suppliers through your guild."

"I'll make sure everything is set up before sundown," Foss nodded, and Nira marked it on a small notepad she had drawn out from her sleeves. There were only a few more hours until sundown. If Foss had one thing it was work ethic. Or greed.

The mopaaw shook his head at that. "Alright, thanks Foss, thanks Nira. We appreciate it."

"Where's my thanks, huh?" Yasashiku protested immediately.

"Thank you as well, sensei. Be assured I will thank you again once the building is actually built."

The older man went quiet once more, seeming both satisfied and slightly flustered. He leaned back into his chair with a small sigh, muttering about a "brat disciple" he'd picked up.

Slowly, there was a ruckus building outside the door. Mercury heard it, probably only because of <Enhanced Hearing>, though. "About what we'll be doing. Zyl and I will be a bit busy just existing, mainly, but there are just more people I promised to meet. So that's on the agenda. Speaking of, I think someone is just about to get here."

A moment after he finished the sentence, the great wooden door opened from the outside, and Yvette walked in. Her wings were neatly folded against her back, her long, golden hair shimmered in the dim light. She had her sword in the scabbard by her side, the sheath decorated with golden vines.

Her eyes found Mercury immediately, and somehow, the permanent grumpy expression she wore washed away. She even teared up, actually, looking at him.

"You," she said, then paused, and sniffled.

"Me?" Mercury.

"Do you even know how long I've dealt with the eclipses?" It was a rhetorical question. "Too long, Mercury. I couldn't properly sleep, or stay anywhere, or drink anything. There was always a looming danger, I was always a looming danger for the people around me. And now I'm not."

She paused, catching her breath, and smiled. It was a radiant smile, bright and honest. "And it's over. All of it. Somehow, with no single insinuation you were ever planning on it, it's all done. You conquered the eclipse. I'm free. So I…" the words stuck in her throat a moment. "I wanted to thank you for that, Mercury."

"It's no problem, really, I was just-"

"It's a problem!" she interrupted, paused then laughed. "Of course it's a problem! Please, Mercury. Let me buy you a drink?"

"Don't think you can leave me behind when you're talking about drinks," Avery said, seriously leaning over the table.

"If master Beckham can invite himself, surely such privileges extend to me, as well?" Esmeralda asked, smiling deviously. Akuhl eyed her, considering whether to reproach her guild master or not, but eventually just shrugged.

"Well, as someone who also survived a blood eclipse, surely I am worthy of this drink?" Yasashiku said.

"It's my day off. I can join you all for a bit," Marcel shrugged.

"We're coming," Lucia stated. Iris nodded in agreement.

And they did, all of them, go out and drink together.

- - - - - -

Zagan and Midas took their time while travelling. Well, they both took their time, their sweet time, and many, many detours. To the south, through deserts and desolate fields. To the north, across frozen mountainpeaks. To the east, where the sea lapped against the shores.

Craggy, windswept cliffs, with the waves yawning beyond a stark drop, as well as quaint beaches. Some with rocks, some with sand, the ocean having ground away at them for too long or not long enough yet.

Seeing the colour in the sand was so fascinating to Zagan. Wherever Midas stepped, it would all turn gold, of course - whenever he took his boots off, at least - but it was still different from other beaches they had been to.

One of the beaches had white sand. "Lots of quartz in the rock," or so Midas explained. Another had yellow sand. "Sediments," according to Midas. What sediments were, she did not rightly know, but Zagan found the colour delightful, that much was clear.

Grey sand in the ocean before rocky beaches. Droplets of seafoam raining through the air on windy days. Bits of algae dancing on the waves.

"Why have I not seen any of this before?" Zagan asked.

Midas stood, his hands clasped behind his back, standing on a beach. He wore no shoes, his golden pants rolled up halfway over his legs. He smiled, his hair waving wildly in the wind, golden strands occasionally detaching from his head and glittering in the evening sun.

"Because you refused to look," Midas replied sagely, looking out over the ocean.

"You should have told me."

He huffed in amusement, his train of thought interrupted. "Should I, though? Would you have appreciated it? Seen it as wonderful the way it is? Or would you have wished to conquer it all?"

This time, Zagan went quiet.

"That's what I thought," Midas said, taking his eyes off the demoness and looking out over the seas.

Zagan, for her part, was stuck thinking again. Her form wasn't quite the same as she usually took. Being a hulking giant was quite welcome, and quite practical a lot of the time, but whenever they were in places where meeting other people was anything even close to feasible, she would shift.

Right now, she took the shape of a much simpler demoness. No extra arms or mouth, simply four, beady black eyes across a woman's face. She stood tall, taller than most humans at just over two metres, with skin the colour of lavender, and appendages too slender for her frame.

Humanoid, certainly, with some alien beauty, even, but certainly not human. Still strange enough to make someone scream, occasionally, but not nearly as much as her usual form would. That one also changed her perspective.

Some of the wonders were so incredible because people were so small.

Strangely, being able to shapeshift didn't detract from the beauty, if you just viewed it right.

"Perhaps my perspective back then would have been too rigid," she supplied to Midas.

The old king chuckled. "Oh, definitely. You were a bit of a stuck up bitch, if you will."

Her eyes narrowed. "You're lucky I even tolerate you."

"Baby, you know you love me," he teased.

Zagan looked at him entirely deadpan and unimpressed.

Midas rolled his eyes at her, raising his hands to a shrug. "Come on now, you know it's true! I'm art. Everything I do is art. My footprints in the sand, my hair in the setting sun. My touch of gold is simply magical." He grinned at her.

"You are a curiosity, yes."

"A curiosity?!" He gasped, holding a hand to his heart in mock pain. "You injure me, Zagan!"

Now the demoness rolled her eyes. Well, given that all four of them were simply pitch black, it didn't come across, though. In the end, she simply stared at the eccentric king wordlessly for a few minutes, then smiled. "Babe, maybe you shouldn't be so easily injured," she deadpanned, mocking him.

"I- you-" he spluttered, not knowing quite how to reply.

Zagan smiled. Besting the cheeky monarch at his own game was fun.

"Come on then, Goldenboy. Show me some more of the world, would you?" she smiled. The time for her to be unable to see art was trickling by. Midas was really helping her.

The king, though, was still frozen from her prior words, needing a few moments to shake off the surprise, then quickly jogging after the demoness, struggling to put his boots on and leaving uneven golden footsteps in the dirt. "Wait for me!"

For a moment, she looked back. "Sorry, demon ruler and all, means I don't got as much compassion as you humans!" She giggled into her fist, skipping along the beach a little faster. The moment was a bit magical.

Midas frowned. "Fine, alright. Our next spot takes us through Stormbraver, though, Zagan. It's a nice city. Hopefully nothing crazy happens there."

His travel companion turned around, and smiled. It would have been a bright, kind smile, but her eyes had no lids, so it was simply her staring at him while exposing rows of razor sharp teeth, tilting her head too far to the side. Really, it felt more like she was gonna try and eat him rather than keep travelling.

"Surely, nothing could go wrong!"

- - -

"You jinxed it!" Midas hissed at the city gates.

"What do you mean, jinxed it?!" Zagan protested, sweat running down her back. "I did nothing of the sort! How was I supposed to know that lord Friaminth, the guy whose life I almost ruined, would be in this damn city on the same day as us?!"

Midas looked at her, eyes wide. "What now?"

"What do you mean "what now?"???" Zagan hissed back.

"What are we going to do about it?" Midas asked, gesturing worriedly.

"I don't know, Midas! Aren't you the wise king?"

"Wise!?" he whisper-yelled. "My powers are a literal consequence of my incredible greed, Zagan. I am a figure renowned across history for how vain and idiotic I am. You will find no wisdom with me!"

"I know you Skill layout, you jerk," Zagan weakly protested.

"Fuck. Doesn't solve the problem at hand, though."

"Well…" Zagan said, drawing out the word.

"Well?" Midas asked back.

Zagan, the ruler of a demon city, one of the most prideful creatures in existence, let out a long sigh. "I should apologize."

"Apologize?"

"Come on, Midas, don't give me that look. We agreed on this before we even left," she said, fidgeting.

The king looked at her, blinked twice, then gave a short chuckle. "Yeah, we talked about it alright," he said, amused, "I just didn't expect you to go through with it at all. Worst case, I was ready to skip over visiting Unbar in general."

Zagan grit her teeth. "I would prefer not to. But I do owe it."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes. I have done damage. I should own up to it, that is what a ruler does." Her face was resolute.

Midas gave a soft smile. "That's good, then. I would prefer to leave this place with my head still on my shoulders, ya know?"

"You were supposed to say something encouraging, rascal!" Zagan rebutted, smacking Midas over the head.

"Papers, please," the city guard told them, when they were up, and the two showed them, quickly gaining access to the city.

Guard captain Rondo stood on the walls above the city, having heard the exchange. He seemed conflicted.

"What's up, cap?" Doyle, an older guard, asked him from the side.

Rondo grimaced at him. "Trouble in my city."

The other's grip on his spear tightened. "Trouble?" His lips were pressed tightly, forming a line.

"Yes, trouble. But also the kind I might be able to dump on Avery. His face's gonna be real funny, you know?"

Doyle relaxed slightly. "You're impossible, cap."