Chapter 521: Changing of the Guard II

Chapter 521: Changing of the Guard II

Night was a gracious vampire, my mentor, my friend. Hed spent quite a lot of time with me, helping me settle in when I first came back.

But he was a busy, busy man.

During his vacation from leading the Sentinels, he still had a full social calendar. Not only did most of the Sentinels seek to bend his ear on occasion, but he was the vampire. He seemed to know everyone, have connections to all the movers and shakers, was mentoring at least three people in wildly different arts and pursuits, that I knew of, and entirely bucked the notion that Immortals were stuffy, boring, and didnt keep up with things.DiiScôver new stories on no/v/e()/lbin(.)com

The idea of an Immortal staying in a cave and not noticing thousands of years were passing was laughably absurd. Time passed for them like everyone else, if perhaps a hair faster than normal.

Stacking on top of that, Night was about to resume command of the Sentinels, giving Arachne a much-deserved break. Susan wouldnt be tied into every single thing that occurred in Sanguino. She wouldnt have feelers in every room, she wouldnt hear every whisper that occurred, nor feel every footstep, every movement, every skill. She didnt need to stay on top of every conspiracy, nor would she need to let most criminals go.

The months leading up to the transition of power were busy for both Susan and Night. In spite of being married, they managed to not bring work home with them too often, and Night had years of catching up to do.

In time, when the hourglass turned and the two traded off again, theyd need to do the same thing. Only much faster, given Arachnes heavy focus on all things knowledge and information.

When I brought my question to Night about what Aion had implied about fight against the encroaching darkness that threatens all life on Pallos, he hadnt immediately known. He needed to spend some time unlocking the proper, relevant memories, and with everything else going on?

Well, that had taken time. While I had a moment of his time, Id also included a list of other questions. Questions that, mere hours from taking over, he finally had an hour to answer.

No longer was I sneaking through a weird tannery and making my way down through tunnels. Instead, I walked right up to Castle Stormwatch, the Bloodsworn Order looking extra-spiffy today.

Hey, the Sentinels were about to go all-out, and we had a friendly rivalry going on of sorts. I didnt interact much with them - I barely knew the names of three members of the Bloodsworn Order - but that didnt mean there wasnt a professional rivalry going on.

A few members of each group took it way too seriously. It wasnt my problem.

A few guards, a lot of hallways and uncountable art displays later, and I was knocking at the appropriate door, having already confirmed with a pair of guards that I belong.

Enter. Nights familiar voice was brusque and promised no nonsense. I quickly slipped into the meeting hall.

Night had a pair of powerful Immortals by his side - an elf and a devil - a third one - a dwarf - slipping by behind me to deliver another stack of papers. I couldnt help but sneak a peek at the papers. It wasnt like they could be top-secret.

List of Sentinel Candidates was written at the top. Each candidate had exactly five sheets of paper dedicated to them, and it seemed like they cast a wide, wide net when vetting candidates. Maxlin, Wren, and Katerina from the Sixth all had their own files. To my surprise, the notes on Wrens implied he was the most likely of the three to make it - but even that wasnt super promising.

Nights aide carefully moved a few files around, clearing a little spot on the table and placing the list of candidates where they belonged.

Dawn. Welcome. Night looked up as he put down the paper he was reading. I would like to apologize for the nature and timing of this. The information was important enough that it warrants a direct conversation, but I find myself lacking in the time to have a full, proper discussion as usually marks our meetings. Come, sit, I will introduce you to my personal team along with everyone else at the ceremony later. Night said with a hint of amusement.

Sentinels were rarely recruited. I was still the newest recruit, and the only one obtained during Arachnes most recent tenure. I dont know why it came as a surprise to me that Night had his own personal team assisting him - and that only one of them was a vampire!

First, the encroaching darkness that threatens all life on Pallos. Addolorata, Daku the Five-Hundredth and Thirty Sixth, Talathil, you may leave the room if you do not wish to be cursed with knowledge.

To my great consternation, the room cleared out in moments. Just how badly had Night traumatized those three that their curiosity had been replaced by caution!?

How badly traumatized was I about to be!?

Eh couldnt be worse than what I learned as a [Loremaster]... could it? Well, if it was, itd be great fuel for class rarity!

I sat down next to Night, deciding to suppress my curiosity on all the reams of paperwork and not potentially traumatize myself with more knowledge, or distract myself from Nights information.

It is fortunate that I was able to regale you with my tale of finding myself trapped on Aetherion. Night started.

I nodded. I remembered that! It was the story of when Night got yoinked by a portal mage onto another planet. That idiot hunting Auri had crashed the party, but Artemis had fixed things.

For narrative purposes, I cut a number of aspects to my tale, parts that wouldnt add to the story yet were part of my adventure. Nobody needs to hear the mundane details of how I fed on blood for the sixty-fourth time, nor did every trip between a city require a ballad on how an axle broke and we helped a farmer along the way. Mundane details. There are other parts that I passed over, such as the complexities of the magic available there, and the intricate details and research into spells that we needed to do. Fascinating to a [Researcher] who would like to know how other schools of magic work, but boring from a narrative perspective.

If you ever need to send someone my way, my doors always wide open for anyone with a letter from you.

Night smiled at me, a twinkle in his eye.

Ah my dear, how youve grown! Its such a joy to see. Now, I believe that covers everything. I apologize once again Elaine, but the timing of your query is most unfortunate.

I nodded and stood up.

No, thank you Night, youve given me a lot to think about. I wont disrupt you anymore. Thank you for your time.

Night smiled, letting his fangs show.

Then I will see you at the ceremony later. He picked up another stack of papers, and I recognized a dismissal when I saw one.

Success!

I got up, saluted, spun on my heels, and left. Nights team was just outside the door, and they efficiently piled in behind me the moment Id left.

Today was shaping up to be an odd day. I figured since I was working on the various questions that had been brought up when I last classed up, the day was all off-kilter. As it wasnt quite time for me to start getting ready, I hunted through the city until I found a temple dedicated to Ciriel, Goddess of Healing.

She was relatively popular, as far as goddesses went, although less popular in a major city like Sanguino. Gods could grant miracles to their faithful, and out in small villages and other places where there werent well-trained [Healers], begging Ciriel for a miracle of healing was one of the only options. The closer a miracle was to a goddesss portfolio, the more likely it was to be answered.

Of course, out in little villages, there were good arguments to be made about praying to harvest gods, wood, sheep, wheat, stone, clay

I took a seat in one of the benches, bowed my head and clasped my hands. I dont know why Id put this off so long.

Hi Ciriel.

Its me, Elaine. Im not too good at this prayer thing, but-

My prayer was interrupted by a voice in my head.

Elaine!!! Im so happy you finally reached out! You have no idea how anxious I was when I didnt hear from you. I thought Id done something wrong. Alright, I hope Im not being too excited and forward, but I am so impressed!

Ill be honest, I thought for sure that you were another elf when I read the Medical Manuscripts. With Lumornor being the famous spreader and all that. Imagine my surprise when you werent!

Huh, Ciriel I guess that was a pretty elvish-sounding name.

Im so curious! Howd you write them? Howd you know?

Trade you a question for a question! I teased back. I dont know a lot of gods and goddesses. Do elves lose their arrogance when they ascend? What got you into medicine and healing in the first place?

An embarrassed laugh came back to me over the connection.

By my books, ascending was the greatest dose of humiliation and embarrassment ever.Ciriel said. An Immortals lifetime worth of memories of being far too arrogant and condescending hit all at once. I almost died from sheer mortification when I realized what Id said and done. It was the WORST. Ill freely admit I took a few decades to stew over it and try to make some amends, but in some ways, making amends just amplified the problem and - yeah, lets not talk about that anymore.

My ears perked up at Ciriels swear. By her books? Another bookworm? Another part of me told me not to laugh at the goddess. Not because she was a goddess, but laughing at someone whod just revealed a private embarrassment was the wrong thing to do. It just wasnt kind.

Well, my turn! Youre probably familiar with Papilion

I leaned back as I started to give Ciriel the basics of my story, a smile playing over my face as we chatted. I felt like Id met a kindred spirit, another healer, one whod gone the whole distance.

Another friend.