Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 178

Chapter 178: The Walking Upheaval

Lysette led the way into the Hunter’s Guild’s main headquarters just as dawn broke, with Mirae following hand-in-hand.  Despite it being so early in the morning, there were a fair number of individuals who were loitering about in the main lounge.  None of the conversations happening seemed particularly important: some general smalltalk about completed missions, some boasts about monsters slain, and a few rather base comments pertaining to guild members’ bedroom antics or lack thereof.

The two things that did catch Lysette’s attention were what she didn’t see and hear.  There were no discussions about the brewing international conflict, and the ever present Leonn was not at his usual place working behind the counter.  Instead there was what appeared to be an elderly gentleman, bald but with a thick, gray mustache and a beard stretching down nearly to his gut.  His body, though clearly aged, seemed in remarkably fine shape, muscular, with only a bit of a gut to go with it.

The man was no slouch as a Cultivator either.  Despite his appearance as a distinguished and elderly gentleman, he would defeat or hold his own against all but the most elite warriors on the continent.  Even Lysette didn’t feel enthused at the prospect of fighting him, at least not without merging into Mirette.

“It’s good to finally meet you,” he said as Lysette and Mirae approached the counter.  “Ah, pardon the lack of an introduction.  I’m Guildmaster Harrison, Miss Barret.  A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

He offered his hand to Lysette, who Reciprocated the handshake.

“Lyse Barret, and my partner and confidant, Mirae Trosst.  Forgive my rudeness, but how do you know who I am?”

The Guildmaster laughed.  “I don’t think there’s that many people who don’t know at least a little about you.  A Cultivator who appeared seemingly out of nowhere and is already making waves throughout Domaria.  A portent of great change, the Walking Upheaval, some are whispering.”

Lysette looked around at the other people in the room, but despite her worry, not a single one of them had turned toward her as they conversed.

“Ah, don’t worry about them.  When you get to be my age, you learn a few tricks.  And carry around an artifact for when you need to have some private conversations without any nosy individuals eavesdropping.”  Guildmaster Harrison smiled, revealing a small silver wire fitted just in front of his top row of teeth.  “When I activate it, sounds can come in, but they don’t go out.”

“Seems useful if telepathy isn’t an option.”

“Can’t say I had the talent for it.  Not everyone does, and I’ve found it’s better to focus on what you’re good at with your own Cultivation paths and rely on artifice to fill in the gaps or acquire useful abilities that are outside your elemental affinities.”

Lysette nodded and clutched Mirae’s hand a bit tighter.  “It sounds useful, but I am still curious how you knew I was Lyse.  And also where Leonn is; I’ve seen him behind the counter every other time I’ve been here, without exception.”

“Well, I didn’t know for sure until you confirmed it for me, but there aren’t that many young, blonde women with tremendous power waltzing into the guild hall on any given day.   And the list of those who are nearly always in the presence of a certain androgynous individual who boasts considerable power of their own is pretty much just you, Lyse.

“As for Leonn, he has been requested to assist with the war efforts.  Right now I would imagine he’s probably somewhere up on the island either in a strategy meeting or getting outfitted for battle.”

“Is that typical?  That your apprentice himself would be conscripted into the war efforts?” Mirae asked.  “I would have thought the guilds would be busier than ever handling domestic affairs while the Royal Army mobilized for war.”

“Normally, that would be the case, Mx. Trosst.  Unfortunately, the foreseen scale of this conflict is so all-encompassing that nearly every bit of the Royal Army and the guilds together have been mobilized in the war and home defense efforts.  All non-essential missions have been countermanded by the castle in order to ensure that we have as many people on standby in the event of another ambush on the home front.”

“Guilds, as in plural?” Lysette asked.  “Does that mean the Assassins’ Guild is involved in the mobilization as well?”

“I’m surprised you know about them, given how reclusive they are.”

“Someone hired them to try to kill me.  After their second attempt, I went to visit their headquarters in person and talk things out.”

“Hahaha!  Sounds like the sort of thing The Walking Upheaval would do!”

Lysette wasn’t sure how much she liked the epithet.  On the one hand, she was fighting for a complete upheaval of Aimarion’s politics, religions, and social order.  But on the other, she wasn’t yet ready to step into the spotlight on a global stage.  She knew she wasn’t yet powerful enough to win in physical altercations with the strongest warriors on Aimarion.  And there was still too much she didn’t know.  Things about the world as a whole, about the world she wanted to create, and about both sides of herself.

“I suppose so?” Lysette said.  “In any case, it sounds like they’ve been enlisted into the war efforts.”

“I couldn’t speak for certain given their reclusiveness, but I could see them serving as special operatives and spies.  Beyond them and us, there’s also the Artificers’s Guild helping to craft artifacts and other such effects for the war effort, as well as the Craftsmen's and Blacksmith’s Guild churning out arms and armor.”

The situation seems even more dire with every moment.  Though she didn’t like everything about Domarian society or culture, it still was her homeland, and she felt some attachment to it.  Still, Lysette knew she and her allies would have their own role to play, keeping one of Domaria’s borders secure so the Royal Army and conscripted soldiers could focus on the other three.

“I see,” Lysette said.  “In any case, thank you for letting us know.  Changing the subject, I came to report back about a certain off-the-record assignment.”

“Of course, of course.  I apologize for taking too much of your time.  Leonn already informed me of the details.  Give me just a moment to check in with the castle and once I do, I should be able to get you your payment and let you get on with it.”

Lysette nodded, and she and Mirae made their way to one of the tables near the back of the room.  But before the two could even sit down and make themselves comfortable, the silence was interrupted by a familiar, boisterous voice.

“Well, well, well.  Seems my favorite blonde and her lovebird have finally returned!”

Lysette looked up at Serrena’s grinning face as she strutted into the room, a hand on her hip as she marched toward the back.  Her presence attracted the attention of a few men, who turned their heads toward the fiery demigoddess and received nothing but scorn for their trouble.

She was a fair bit stronger than she had been before.  The air around her shimmered ever so slightly, though whether that was because of some new Fire technique, her own divine aura, or otherwise, Lysette wasn’t certain.  Whatever it was, Serrena dispelled it as she arrived, sitting down at the table across from Mirae and Lysette.

“Good to see you too, Serrena,” Lysette said.  “I hope you’re well.  Or at least as well as possible given the circumstances.”

“‘Given the circumstances’ is right.  I got back from my mission late last night and I was told to come back at dawn to receive a new assignment.  So, I did.  Only other option was to go back to the academy, but that’s an even shittier idea.”

“What’s happened?”  Lysette’s voice was a mixture of concern with a hint of panic for her friends.

“All regular classes have been canceled.  In their place, some of the Royal Army’s sergeants are providing intensive training to ready the entire student body for combat.”

“Oh,” Mirae said.  “Seems like a lot has happened since we left yesterday morning.”

“Shortly after you two left for Ciricu, the castle announced the findings of their investigation into the attacks on Domark and discovered conclusive proof that the late Chancellor has been working to undermine Domark’s security from within.  Suffice it to say, the faculty and students are absolutely livid at finding this out.”

“Do they believe the reports?”

“I couldn’t tell you.  Apparently some of the faculty were in disbelief, but there was enough evidence lying about to convince all but the most ardent of the once-Chancellor’s treachery.  What I can say is that nearly every student on campus either got injured in one of the two attacks, lost a friend, knows someone who lost a friend, or some combination thereof.  In short, the student body is absolutely livid and morale for vengeance is sky-high.”

“Anything else?”

“Not that I know of.  I left shortly after the announcement to head down here.  I figured spending my time training was a poor use of my talents, so I headed here, completed a short assignment yesterday, and arrived back this morning, ready for whatever awaits.”

Lysette nodded.  Before she could say anything further, Guildmaster Harrison beckoned for her.

“Alright, you two,” he said.  “Looks like everything checks out.  I’ve been authorized to give the two of you two hundred and fifty platinum total for your efforts.  I’ve also been informed that the two of you are requested to report to the castle immediately.”

Lysette took the cloth pouch, which was quite heavy given its small size.

“If it’s all the same, can you inform the castle that Serrena is going to accompany the two of us?  I have a feeling I know what this meeting is going to be about, and if I’m right, Serrena is just as involved as we are.”

Guildmaster Harrison nodded.  “I will inform them of Miss Raesh’s attendance.  May the gods smile upon you, and may they smile upon Domaria as well.”

Serrena turned to Lysette with a barely-restrained snicker as the three departed the guildhall and flew up toward the castle.  “The gods, huh?”

“Well, we haven’t announced ourselves yet, Serrena,” Lysette said.  “At least, not outside of Ciricu.  Besides, it’s not like he means anything bad by it.”

“I guess, but I still don’t like it.”

As the two continued their flight toward the castle, Lysette sent a quick message to Mirae.

“Love, I’m going to tell her about me.  I think she has a right to know.  I think there are a few others in our inner circle who need to know about me as well, but I’d rather start with her.”

“I don’t mind.  If you think it’s for the best, I trust your judgement.  Remember, I am fully Devoted to you, always.”

“I appreciate it, Mirae.  I will be depending on you even more in the months and years to come.”

Chapter 177: https://www.patreon.com/posts/109914091

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/table-of-101896170

Chapter 179: https://www.patreon.com/posts/110306766