Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 163

Chapter 163: A New Assignment

Lysette and Mirae took wing soon after the latter and their grandmother’s tearful reunion and subsequent departure.  Mirae still looked wistful, occasionally looking back at their family home as they flew off to the northwest where the guildhall lay.

“Do you want to stop on the way there to see your brother?” Lysette asked.  “I’m sure we can spare the brief detour.”

“Maybe some other time.  It was great to catch up with my grandmother, but I think one tearful reunion is enough for a day.  Besides, I–”

Mirae didn’t finish their sentence, and while Lysette didn’t ask further, she understood that Mirae was thinking about the same things she was earlier.  Though their grandmother might have had a few years left, they were elderly, their body deteriorating bit by bit.  And that time would, at some point, eventually deliver her unto her ultimate fate.

Lysette had seen and known sudden deaths.  Whether by war, by disease, by predator, or literal acts of gods, too many good people were taken before their time.  And that it was simply impossible to grant the boons of godhood and the associated agelessness among everyone.  Gods required the sustenance of mortal believers specifically to empower themselves, to gain the power to grant that boon to their Godslayers.

It did give Lysette an interesting idea— if everyone was a deity, then, by that logic, no one would be.  And that would serve her end goal of ensuring that the tyranny of the gods would finally come to an end.  Though, actually carrying out that idea to its logical conclusion seemed impossible.

She set the thought aside as the couple continued on their way.  As she looked around, she saw a pair of the infamously-packed carriages transporting people to and from the sky island.  She also saw a few smaller, private carriages transporting individuals with massive quantities of Essence burning within them.  But she saw relatively few— only three plus herself and her love— flying under their own power.

At first it made little sense, until the realization set in.  Most among the small fraction of people capable of flight were powerful and influential Cultivators among the nobility.  The same group who would have the wealth and influence to simply rent or buy a private carriage and travel that way.  Only a small slice of Cultivators— those with power but little wealth or prestige to their names— would choose to travel in the manner Lysette had grown fond of.

They touched down just outside the guild, and upon entering the guildhall, the crowd stopped and stared.  Some looked at Lysette with fear in their eyes, others had eyes resolute while their fingertips quivered almost imperceptibly.  It was a far cry from the way she’d been able to enter relatively unnoticed even a month ago.

“You’re not using that Aura of Intimidation, are you?”

“Not to my knowledge.  Besides, wouldn’t you be affected if I were?”

“I thought it might have been different since my ascension.”

“Maybe this is just people becoming afraid of me on my own.  Because they know what I did.  What I could do again, if I wished.” 

“Maybe so.  To some, you are a harbinger of great tumult, an agent of divine retribution.  You are, of course.  But you are so much more than that.  I have seen you on your best days.  I have seen your fears, your hopes, your dreams and your doubts.  I have seen your love, your kindness, your compassion.  And I hope that, in time, you can share that part of yourself with the world as well.”

“Thank you, Mirae.”

“Ah, Miss Barret!” Leonn said, looking up from behind the counter.  “And…  Mx. Trosst?  Is that you?”

Mirae nodded.  “It is.  We’ve all been through some changes lately; mine reflect more on my physical appearance than most.”

“So we have, as has Domark as a whole.  Are you two looking for an assignment?”

“Depending on what’s available,” Lysette said.  “We’re looking to get out of town for a few days, and if we can earn a little spending money in the process and help some people out, so much the better.”

“Very well.”  Leonn continued in telepathy.  “There is an assignment that recently came in.  As in, within the last couple of hours.  Special request from the capital.  Seems like something you might be interested in.”

Lysette turned to Mirae.  “Seems like Saffron has an assignment for us.  Might as well see what she wants.”

“We’re interested,” Mirae said.  “But we need to know more before we commit to the assignment.”

“Understandable.  Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of information to relay. What I can tell you is that recently, there have been reports of some disturbances along the Spire Mountains near the border with Terea.  Normally, the castle would spare some soldiers to investigate the situation.  However, considering the deteriorating relations with Elithria and the likelihood of the current conflict escalating into open warfare in a matter of months, the castle can ill-afford to send a detachment to scout the area.”

Lysette smiled.  Everything was falling into place, and Lysette planned to thank Saffron in person the next time she saw her.  She didn’t know exactly what Saffron knew, but considering the Godslayer of Domar’s capabilities, it seemed no stretch that she was aware of the connection Lysette and her friends had to Ciricu.  In fact, it almost seemed as though Saffron was trying to send her to her newly-established protectorate.

She did ponder what reasoning Saffron might have had for doing so.  Quashing any movement she’d built on the Academy was certainly something that would serve the interests of the Demigoddess of Stability.  However, if that were truly the case, trying to stop her from doing so by force was a proposition that would end with her own death.

There was, however, a much more charitable explanation for her request.  Terea was likely to get involved in any conflict about to break out among the major nations on Kraciell, especially given that the gods themselves were likely calling the shots.  Having Lysette and the people of Ciricu serving as a buffer on at least one of Domaria’s flanks would serve to Saffron’s benefit.  And being stationed in a town filled with her own followers would serve her own benefit as well.

“You’re thinking it too, aren’t you, Lyse?” Mirae messaged.  “She wants you in Ciricu.”

“We should still consider the request at face value, but Ciricu can be our base of operations while we investigate.”

“That sounds like a good idea.  I take it we’re okay with accepting this assignment?”

Lysette nodded toward Mirae, then re-established her telepathic link with Leonn.  “We’ve talked it over and agreed that the assignment will serve our ends and the capital’s at the same time.”

“Wonderful news!  I will inform the guildmaster at once and get to work negotiating a suitable reward for your successful mission completion.”  

Leonn almost seemed relieved at hearing of their acceptance.  Lysette wasn’t sure why— maybe Saffron had been more pointed in her ‘request’ than Lysette had anticipated previously?  Or perhaps there really was some sort of fell beast or Aestori ruin somewhere within the Spire Mountains that demanded an immediate response.  

Whatever the reason, Lysette looked forward to going back to Ciricu and spending more time with all the villagers.  She knew she owed them no small amount of apologies and began practicing appropriate words of contrition and offers of recompense for reneging on her promises to come back soon.  Every delay had been met with good reason— all related to the former Academy Chancellor’s involvement with two attacks on Domark in as many months.  But good reasons didn’t make up for the fact that she left no small number of children disappointed and elders worried about her prolonged absence.

“Before we leave, Leonn, a quick question, if I may?”

“Yes, Miss Barret?”

“Did I do something to earn the ire of so many of the members?  They were all glaring at me pretty hard when I came in.”

“Ah, that?  Probably a mixture of awe and envy at your meteoric rise through the guild ranks in less than two months.  The truth is, a great number of our members never make it out of even D-rank.  It can be years before even a talented member gets their promotion to C-rank, during which time the worst can and often does happen.  And even if a member survives, becoming disabled, compromised, or otherwise being unfit for future missions is an all too frequent occurrence.

“So, when you come in out of nowhere, immediately start in C-Rank, then smash through your promotion to B-Rank in less than two weeks, people are going to take notice.  And, well, with human nature being what it is, envy and similar emotions are going to bubble up inside many.

“In fact, you’re almost certainly one of the top Cultivators in the entire guild.  You fought me to a draw a month ago and I have no illusions I’d pose any sort of challenge to you now”

Lysette lowered her head and looked away toward nothing in particular.  “You’ve obviously got some ability of your own to sense Essence if you can tell that much.”

“Well, I do hear about the rumors and gossip up in the capital.  Even if I didn’t, I can tell just by the way you walked in here.  Completely calm, completely at ease.  Most people tense up, at least a bit.  Take a look around, survey their surroundings for any potential threats.  I know you have some sort of second-sight, but the way you two entered was completely calm, as though you knew you had nothing to fear.”

Lysette broke into a soft smile.  “We’ll be off now.  I don’t know how soon we’ll be back, but we’ll try to stay in contact with the palace at least from time to time.”

“Thank you.  May fortune favor the two of you in your pursuits.  I look forward to hearing of your future successes.”

Mirae smiled and waved as they took Lysette’s hand and led her out the door.  Once they’d stepped outside, they planted a quick kiss on her cheek before sprouting their wings and beckoning them onward.  Lysette smiled as she followed just behind, enjoying the nice view she was being given as the two took to the sky and began flying toward the north.  

They continued in silence for a while.  Mirae seemed deep in thought, likely about their own family, while Lysette was ruminating on Leonn’s words and the stares and whispers about her from before.  Mission aside, Lysette was looking forward to her return to Ciricu at long last.  It would be great to see everyone again after far too long.  And she promised to take the kids flying, something which sounded like a wonderful and joyous occasion after far too long spent among death, grief, and hardship.

Chapter 162: https://www.patreon.com/posts/108863679

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

Chapter 164: https://www.patreon.com/posts/108863698