Chapter 60: Journey To Aste; The Ring

"There haven't been any Alpha appearances have there?"

"Thank Qosus no," she sighs with relief.

"Qosus?" I can't help myself asking.

She gives me a sly smile and says, "The Synagogue and nearly everyone on this continent venerate Anera but some of us are keen enough to sense or even see that the Goddess is hindered. She has been since the war. Qosus is the God of Fire of the Hearth to be specific, not to be mistaken with Luxtis, God of Fire, Flames and all that burns. Qosus is the one I worship."

"Isn't that Heresy?"

…

With the silence and her stare, I immediately want to retract the statement but she speaks first and with mirth. "Only if you tell."

I shake my head fiercely and her smile only widens. Such a scary woman.

"Good. Now, if any of what you've told me has an iota of truth to it, then you're a very promising Mage. Self-taught yet you're peaking B-rank or perhaps I'm in the presence of a rare magical prodigy, you could be well on your way into the levels of the very best, the S-ranks."

A sheepish smile slaps itself on my face as her words just warm me up until she says.

"Well, I think we'll have to test your skill, words alone are not sufficient, now are they?"

"Test my skill?" I sputter, "You mean?"

"A friendly bout with the best this place has to offer."

"Audwin?"

"Goodness no, Audwin is simply the children's butler, I wouldn't throw him to a predator like you. I have someone else in mind." Her smile turns…sinister?

"Uh, no thank you, I think I'm just fine as I am. Besides, I have to get going to Aste, recruit as many Mages."

The smile falls off her face, "A shame then, I would've loved to see what you're capable of, you know, there is much more I can do for you than simply have your carriage fixed."

Now that is tempting. Unfortunately, I'm not quite ready to waste any more time here or out myself as a Necromancer to these people, however polite they might seem there is always an ulterior motive behind a helping hand.

"It really is a shame." The firmness of my words immediately discourages any further probing and she stands to her feet. I stand with her.

She speaks as she walks towards the door, her voice still calm and sweet, "It's been a pleasure then, Asher. Audwin must have your carriage and belongings ready at the gate for whenever you want to leave."

At the door she turns, her nose twitching about again, "Whilst you stay here, don't be afraid to use the bell, our staff is active all through the day and night."

"I'll be sure to do so."

Once she's out the door I turn around and size up the bell that sits at the bottom and first of the rails that guide the stairs. It's a small silver bell with a slim wooden handle.

Stepping closer to it I imagine just a few of the things I could request…

Mm. Not worth it. The Matron is obviously sinister.

***

The next day I woke up feeling fulfilled at resisting my temptations with the bell but also ravenously hungry. I find the house empty and everything as it was when I went to bed but of course it would be.

Spirit Summon would have timed out within an hour after I fell asleep, Anselm surely didn't get to talk his pants off with the Mevir boy and I'm pretty certain Mevir himself needed to head to bed at some point.

I wander about for a while before finally settling at the dining table. The sun has yet to rise but I'm up anyway, long days of travelling the road has set my internal clock back a bit. I don't mind, waking up early is a sign of a successful and productive life, isn't it?

I sigh to myself as I grip at my hair. The house is large and a bit imposing even. The entirety of it, the crickets singing, the quiet wind blowing against the windows and the deafening silence, all of it begins to be filled up by the deep emptiness that spills out from me. And it hurts. I don't understand it but it hurts, this silence, this emptiness.

I take a deep breath and try to calm myself as I'm pulling out the hair off of my head now. I blink, disappointed with myself. I can't believe this thing followed me all the way here, all the way into another world and even into a new body.

It doesn't take long for me to succumb and finally summon Anselm.

"Hey!" I yell, surprising the both of us but I continue with my voice elated nonetheless, "Want to get out of here? Aste is just a short ride away!"

"You're prattling." He blinks at me, unsure of what to think of my unsteady and oddly energetic state. "Are you alright, Asher?" his eyes land on the pile of hair I've let fall onto the dinner table. His voice is soft for once.

I shake my head as I bury it into my hands, my legs tapping uncontrollably. "I'm fine, I just…I want to move."

"Move? You mean to Aste."

Another deep breath. "I'm not sure. Anywhere. I'm also hungry, and tired, very tired."

"Right, right. I can see that." He eyes me warily and I burst out laughing making him narrow his look even more.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine." I insist.

"I know, I can see that." He isn't laughing. He's taking things too seriously. "Let's go to Aste then."

Again, I laugh, chuckling at a joke Anselm hasn't heard or hasn't gotten yet. But really, what am I laughing at?

***

Only a few of the maids we saw milling about earlier were up. It was one of the few that met us at the gate and begged us not to leave before she notified either Audwin or the Matron herself.

Anselm convinced me that the request is pretty reasonable, although, in hindsight I didn't need him to tell me that telling your host you're leaving is only polite, I just wasn't in a good mood or state to think much about decorum.

I've much calmed down now. A lot of that unease has dissipated and I can finally stop laughing at the slightest thing and have my legs stop tapping restlessly. The maid we met offered us a seat and some biscuits before she left for the call too so some of my hunger has been sated.

It takes but a few minutes before I see any sign of Audwin or the Matron. Turns out both came up to bid us farewell.

"Leaving so soon?" I hear the sarcasm drip from Audwins voice so clearly. I'm not sure what the man has against me or Anselm, he could just be some sort of xenophobe perhaps.

"Yes, we do have people back at Carbina we need to aid."

He scoffs and mutters under his voice, "That place is better left for dead."

I ignore the comment and turn my focus to the Matron who brought along with her several other maids, particularly maids carrying several bags containing what I can only believe to be farewell gifts.

As if reading my thoughts, she says, "Well it is only proper you leave our company with a richer bounty than when you came."

The maids load up the back of the carriage with the bags while she personally hands me a box. It's small and black like the box of a traditional wedding ring. I am filled with apprehension as I peel the lid back, relating with the women of my old world for a moment.

"It's a crystal." I gasp out at the sight of a glowing crystal sitting at the top of an smooth steel ring.

"Gem." Is the chorus I hear from Anselm, Audwin and the Matron.

She clears her throat and continues, "I'm sure Audwin has given you a brief demonstration of how these gems work. After all, he is the one who noticed you 'drooling over it'" she smiles.

It's hard to hide my embarrassment as my blatant greed for a gem is revealed as a poorly kept secret.

"Well, he showed me how useful it is to him, but on how to use it? No."

With her smile in place, she goes into a brief explanation on how the gems work, "There are a range of gems employed here in this lodge, our maids have theirs according to their station and jobs in the lodge, giving them access to rooms and items to use in their day to day. For Audwin, a Mage, it is set differently."

"His and hence yours, stores up a bit of mana for emergencies and difficult situations, situations I can clearly see you getting into with this quest of yours. All you need to do is introduce the gem to your mana and it will begin to suck it up until glows a bright red to let you know it is at full capacity."

Perfect! "Does it have communications?" I ask excitedly. I'm not sure who I'd talk to but when I do meet someone it'd be nice to know I can do so.

Unfortunately. "Mm, no. Yours isn't fitted for that. You can rectify this at the artificers in Aste if you want to, you can also upgrade the gem so it can contain more of your mana."

"Thank you. I appreciate this." I do. It's a surprise truly. With how much the two are opposed to fighting the Cult, I'm surprised they'd help me out this way.

We linger around for a bit as Audwin mentioned that Mevir wanted to see Anselm off. I'm still quite lost on the depth of the friendship the two made. But alas, the boy went to bed late that night and was refusing to wake up.

In the end, Audwin hands Anselm the boy's gift to him. A very large and old brown book. By the look on Anselm's face, I'd say it's the perfect farewell gift.

We say our final goodbyes and ride off just as the sun begins to come up, heading for Aste once more.