Vol. 3 Chap. 99 Repositioning

Vol. 3 Chap. 99 Repositioning

Truth walked through Harban in a bit of a daze. Did I overachieve again? Not this time, right? Starbrite was doing this stuff back when I was in the well. I encouraged things a bit, sure. Pushed them harder in a direction they were already going. But I dont think you could say I was responsible for this.

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A stink bomb, dont be dramatic. And thats kind of my point. That demon wouldnt have been there if they could be sure of having high level mages on site all the time. They wouldnt have sent out mid-tier bankers to suppress it either.

Truth looked up. There was a furious thrumming noise as a flying cloud was driven far faster than it was really designed to go, headed towards the bank.

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Right. If the Senior Principal Director of Corporate Loans or whatever was doing his usual eight to six, nobody would have cut the demon loose without orders. And it sounds like there is a chronic lack of top level supervision, and you know that trickles down fast. I bet its an absolute nightmare in there right now.

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It wasnt a micromanager even when we worked for Starbrite, though. Remember whatshername, that horrible woman who got possessed by the Demon from HR? She was pure Hell for her employees, and that could only have happened if her managers didnt know or didnt care. Things slipped through all the time.

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The city slipped past, the highrises scattered between the truly tall skyscrapers that clustered in the working-rich parts of the city. You couldnt see very far, ironically. All the buildings got in the way of seeing the buildings. You saw the little chain stores, or the anonymous entries to what could be an office building, or apartments, or a hotel. So many were just the same bland patterns over and over again. Say what you like about Xandre, at least it was colorful.

Truth felt an odd melancholy settle around him. He hunted around for a subway stop and traveled over to a nice district. There was a building he had always liked but never been to. Just a few blocks from the subway. Not that the residents ever needed such common conveyance. The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.

The building was called the MacLauren. Who that was or what it meant, Truth had no idea. It was just beautiful. It started off as a round tower, slowly expanding as apartments seemed to jut out at random. As the floors got higher, the apartments jutted out further until they finally separated from the building entirely. Above a certain height, the apartments floated, very slowly orbiting the central tower. And in the midst of all those floating buildings? A tree.

Not a real tree, of course, but one made of thousands upon thousands of talismans. It was the core of the building, providing comfort and elegant living to the residents. One of those comforts being a convenient place to park your flying cloud or summoned travel beast. Merely press a gem by the door, and your cloud would be waiting for you by the time you stepped outside.

It was ostentatious as all Hell. And it was beautiful. The sunset gleamed on the glass and stone. The magic thrumming through the tree cast its own light, as did some of the clouds and summoned beasts. It was a riot of color, and elegance, and power. Anyone living there, Truth reckoned, had absolutely nothing to prove to anyone. They weren't even the most expensive residences in the city. Which should make him angry, he supposed, but it was beautiful. For all the suffering that created it and maintained it. Despite the cruelty of its coming death. It was beautiful.

Made in Jeon. Made in Harban. His city. The ghosts around him that werent actually ghosts but real living, thinking, feeling people who worked their asses off to make a genuine wonder. Was this part of what he was missing? Did The Prince create? He was certainly the source of creation in others. The Seniors in the hot springs said he should make art. He wouldnt even know where to begin.

He watched the apartments continue their stately procession. One of the jobs Merkovah wanted him to do was sabotage the tree. Blow up the whole damn thing, killing a lot of very important people and their families and anyone near the falling apartments in a truly dramatic fashion.

Tell me, Maid, how do you define love?

The Succubus eyes crinkled with amusement. My Prince, what sort of love do you speak of? I know of lust, obsession, and comfort, but love?

Succubae are incapable of love? Truth smiled.

I believe we can experience an emotion similar enough to it to pass for love. Certainly I have felt a deep affection for others. By that definition, I fall in love quite easily. But I dont think I have ever met a person whose happiness I would consider more important than my own. This is, of course, because serving others is my greatest joy. The happier I make them, the happier I become. Our interests perfectly align.

Truth settled into a comfortable armchair and motioned for Maid to massage his shoulders. Its an interesting question. According to the Praegerites, those in Hell are devoid of anything which is God, including all positive emotions like love.

I suppose one could argue that staff have privileges not granted to guests. Maid murmured. Or perhaps, my Prince, I cannot experience true love, whatever that may be. But then, how would I know the lack of something I have never known?

No endless cravings for something indefinable, constantly sought with master after master but never obtained?

Beyond the ordinary drives of my nature? No, your Highness. I am very content in your service, and only wish I could serve you more. The demons fingers were soft but very strong, probing the hard corded muscle of his neck and shoulders. Truth fell silent, content to let her work. After a contemplative half hour-

Any word from Butler and his Student?

They sent word that they expected to be home by Seven. A Ms. Susan Anaksdaughter had been waiting for them at the office. She laughed herself sick when she heard your instructions, apparently, and was delighted to help.

Oh good. A salt flat with a dehydrator on it at noon on the hottest day of the year would still be less dry than Truths voice. Although that did remind him that he was hungry.

See to dinner and my usual evening routine. Do not order additional food for Niles, but get me half again more side dishes than usual. What was that soap you stocked in the shower yesterday?

A pure oil soap, scented with hyssop and horehound, and wild thyme, My Prince.

I liked it. Keep it in stock. How is Niles being groomed?

A warm sponge and much affection when he does well, which is most days.

We shall see how he performed today. Prepare a small bar of ordinary soap and a simple shampoo, and see about access to staff showers here in the Hotel, if there is such a thing.

My Princes compassion knows no bounds, Maid murmured as she bowed. Hiding a tiny smile. Maid could feel the reality of the Prince becoming denser. More powerful. As they more truly became his Maid. Soon, she would simply become she, a being of fixed nature. No longer lost in the chaos of her own existence. If Maid wasnt falling in love, she didnt know what else to call this emotion. It would never be reciprocated, of course. He would hardly be The Prince if it was! No, this was to be a one sided obsession. And Maid wouldnt have it any other way.