"Cough, cough," Evelyn cleared her throat, drawing the attention of everyone present, then looked at Strax. "So... about an alchemist... well..." She twiddled her fingers, appearing shy.
"Maybe... I might be the alchemist you need... just maybe," she said, fidgeting with her fingers, still avoiding direct eye contact with Strax.
Strax's eyes widened slightly at Evelyn's words. "You... you're an alchemist?" he asked, surprised.
Evelyn, still avoiding eye contact, nodded slowly. "Yes... I was trained in alchemy, but I stopped because of my duties as the Protector of the Spirit Dwelling. Still, if it's to help you all... maybe I can create the soul vessels you need. At least, I can try."
Tiamat was the first to react, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Ah, this is perfect! Look, we already have our alchemist! A blessing from the heavens—or perhaps from the spirits." She winked at Strax.
'Tsk, she's only acting excited because she wants to sleep with me as soon as possible. Should I send her back to the sword?... No, it's better to have her here. Even when she's in heat, she's still pretty sharp,' Strax thought, watching how Tiamat was behaving, clearly in a more... excitable state.
"Yes, this news changes a lot," he said, trying to steer the attention back to the main topic, away from Tiamat's provocative intentions. He then focused on Evelyn, who still seemed a bit shy and out of place in the situation.
"Evelyn, this is really important. If you can help us with the soul vessels, I'll assist you with whatever you need, even restructuring the Spirit Dwelling," Strax said gently, his voice carrying a sincere tone that made Evelyn relax a little.
"Y-Yes... I just need to understand what I have to do, and I'll do anything... But first... I need to be healed." She scratched her arm nervously, watching Strax's reaction.
"Oh, that's right... Here, take this," Strax said, pulling out a Mythical Ingredient, a Two-Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng, from his [Inventory] and tossing it into her hands. She almost dropped it in shock.
"N-Never do that again!" she cried, both nervous and embarrassed.
Strax chuckled softly at her reaction, his expression amused by her flustered state. "Sorry, I forgot that not every day someone holds something so valuable." He watched as Evelyn clutched the Two-Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng as if it were a sacred artifact about to crumble.
With trembling hands, Evelyn looked down at the Ginseng, realizing the significance of the item now in her grasp. "A Ginseng like this... it's so rare that I'm not sure I should even be holding it. And you just threw it so carelessly?!" she protested, still nervous, but Strax only laughed at the sight of her expressions, which now resembled those of a young girl more than anything else.
Strax nodded, a light smile on his face. "Yes, I did. You said you needed to be healed, didn't you? So, take it. It'll help restore your vitality and energy. Besides, you'll need to be at your best to help us with the soul vessels."
"It's not just something you take! I have to prepare it properly!" she responded, still in shock at how casually he treated something so precious.
"Of course, of course, don't stress," Strax said, raising his hands in surrender. "You know what to do, right?" he questioned.
Still surprised, Evelyn finally took a deep breath and nodded, recognizing Strax's gesture of trust. "Yes, thank you... I'll do my best." She held the Ginseng carefully.
"Well... that's half the problem solved," Strax mused, thinking about what else was needed. "Okay, now we need a blacksmith," he concluded. "Do you know any dwarves?"
Evelyn, still holding the Ginseng with a bit of reverence, furrowed her brow at Strax's question. "A... dwarf?" she repeated, thoughtful. "Well, I don't have many contacts with dwarves. The Spirit Dwelling is more... isolated.
Albert took a deep breath, rubbing his chin, where streaks of gray were beginning to show. He knew Xenovia wasn't easily manipulated, and perhaps that was exactly what made her so valuable. Still, the situation was delicate.
"I'm not asking you to submit, Xenovia," he said, leaning slightly forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "I'm asking you to see the bigger picture. This marriage would give us time. Time to react, to strengthen our alliances, and when the right moment comes, you can dissolve the commitment. But in the meantime, we'll be protected."
Xenovia shook her head, her eyes gleaming with restrained anger. "I'm not a chess piece to be moved at your whim, Father. I understand what you're trying to do, but this puts everything I am at stake. Everything I've fought to build."
Enjoy tales on m-vle-mp _yr.
Albert sighed heavily, rising from his chair and walking over to the window of the grand hall. The view from there was breathtaking, but his thoughts were far away. He knew he was asking a lot. But he also knew time was against them.
"Xenovia, I take no pleasure in asking this. You're strong, stronger than anyone I know, but we are in dark times. And Strax... well, I wouldn't be surprised if he fled to another kingdom in the meantime. I failed as a father when I left him at the mercy of fate, all because that woman asked me to."
The mention of Strax sparked a flicker of emotion in Xenovia's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
"What did you say? What do you mean, 'because that woman asked'?" Xenovia questioned, her violet eyes gleaming fiercely, and Albert couldn't help but let out a muffled chuckle.
"Strax's mother, the strongest woman I've ever known. She asked me to let him endure everything he had to, until he awakened," Albert said. "But this isn't about him. At least, not right now."
"What are you referring to?" she pressed, trying to understand.
"The boy is already close to reaching your level. Or rather, he may even surpass you in a few more months," Albert said. "That's why I'm telling you, ally with the prince temporarily, until the boy comes for you. Or do you think I'm unaware of your relationship with him?"
Xenovia listened, and her body trembled slightly.
"Nyx, stop pretending you're not here. Show yourself," Albert ordered, using the power of the Tiger. Immediately, the familiar, Xyn, appeared.
"I've told you not to call me that," Nyx responded, as intimidating as ever.
"So, you've gone back to using your human form. You haven't changed at all," Albert remarked.
"It's about the boy, isn't it? Tsk, I can't speak on it. I made an oath with Ifrit," she replied.
"Yeah, I figured," he answered.
"Wait, what are you talking about?! And what do you mean, Nyx?!" Xenovia, already agitated, demanded.
"You'll understand soon enough. For now, just know that your brother... fought General Kryssia to a draw," Albert commented, and Xenovia's face shattered like a mirror.