Book Four – Chapter Seven – Part Two – Reunions and Reunions; The Birth of a Sanctuary

“Itarr, thanks against for drying us off,” said Servi. In a flash, she was dressed in an all-to-familiar outfit similar to what a farmer’s daughter would have worn. At this stage, she couldn’t think of wearing anything else.

“Yeah, thanks again,” positively spoke Momo. She dressed herself in front of Servi, who stared and watched as Momo slipped a cute bra over her delicious-looking breasts. Next came a sporty pair of panties that regrettably hid away the treasure Servi wanted to plunder.

Momo, I want to make you purr…

After Momo slipped on a cute shirt, a black skirt, and pink socks, Itarr brought forth breakfast. She attempted to remake the pan-seared nocturnal cod that Momo once had a few days prior. It was…a valiant effort, but the novice Goddess didn’t know the correct technique. Nor did she have all the ingredients.

She sensed their disapproval, but it wasn’t that. The meal was delicious because it was cooked with care only a divine being could impart. Both Servi and Momo made sure their plates were completely empty and thanked the Goddess for a delicious breakfast.

“Mosie?”

“Yeah?” She was in the middle of putting on her shoes.

“Tonight… I need to talk to you about something.”

“That’s kinda funny because I want to have a little chat with you as well. I’m sure it concerns the same thing I’m thinking about.”

“Really? Does it involve three little words?” Servi reached out to grab Momo’s hand after she leaned up. The adorable girl had her sword stowed safely within her bag, and she was ready to go.

“Yep! Though maybe it’s better to say it’s four words? But I’m sure the three I’m thinking about is the same three you’re thinking about.”

“Four, huh? I guess you could add a ‘really’ in there.”

“Maybe even four or five ‘reallys.’ Servy?”

“Yeah?” The two walked out of Momo’s room after Itarr handled the door. She shut it behind them.

“I just have a feeling that tonight is going to mark an important advancement in our relationship. And that’s a very good thing, isn’t it?” Momo turned her head and flashed a smile. Her eyes were closed, and soft giggles purred out.

She’s so beautiful… Stunning, really… At this point, it’s clear that we love each other. Tonight will only be a formality, I guess.

Servi returned the smile, and it was clear to anyone watching that the budding lily flower of romance was in full bloom. The delightful conversation was set in stone but wouldn’t happen for quite some time, and there were many things on the agenda. With no further hesitancy, the two friends walked downstairs to the lobby.

Since it was the last day of the festival, most adventurers were taking it easy. Those that wanted to work all day, every day, were putting in the hours, but they were in the minority. Luckily for a red-headed Elf, this day wouldn’t provide that many tasks for her to complete. She was behind the rightmost window out of eight. Her face seemed to be drained of energy, and the hand her chin rested on seemed shaky at best.

Momo mentioned to Servi that Claire had to work every day for the past week and a half. “She’s getting off early today, but I hope her boss lays off. She needs a day or two to rest. Hey, we got some time, so let’s head over there.”

Servi nodded. The two lovers approached the window, and Claire raised her weary head. “Servi? Momo? Good morning,” she yawned.

“Morning, Claire.”

“Eh? EH?!?!? Servi?!” exclaimed the Elf. Her drowsiness vanished like evaporating water. She slammed two hands down, attracting the ire of her fellow co-workers, but she brushed them off and ran out of the door behind her. Moments later, she came through a door to the left and skipped over to the friends. Her arms were as wide as a canyon, and she gave Servi a giant hug.

“Servi!!! You’re okay!!!”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

The three girls chatted amongst themselves, with Servi thanking Claire for taking excellent care of her. She replied that it wasn’t a problem, and she was happy to cook for her friends. A gruff growl came from behind, and an angry Dwarf tapped his foot against the ground.

“Yes, I know. It isn’t my break, but this is important. Can you give me a second?” Claire asked.

In a deep voice, he sighed. “You can walk and talk. We have a lot to get done today.” The suit-wearing Dwarf turned around and walked away through the door Claire had emerged from.

No, we don’t, you jackass. I'm thankful for the job, and I like doing what I do, but you're making it unbearable...

“Ugh… Servi, I wished we could talk more, but… Ugh!!! Hey, I’m still coming to the play tonight. I’m so excited, I can’t wait! Oh, can you escort me over to the door? I got something I want to ask you…”

“Sure,” said the girl. They started to walk. Momo stayed behind, but she certainly knew what was going to be discussed. Itarr brought forth her ID in a hidden manner. Momo saw it out of the corner of her eye and pressed it to her chest.

“So… Did… Hmm… How do I say this…?” Claire took a thinking posture and put a hand to her chin. The gears in her head churned to find the optimal way to approach the sensitive subject.

“Claire, it’s okay. I know Momo loves me.”

“Eh?”  Her eyes went wide with surprise.

“She didn’t say it outright… But I do remember what happened while I was…out. I told her I didn’t, and that’s the truth, but it started coming back to me last night. And guess what? I love her too. Last night, we even slept together… She gave me a friendship kiss, and I gave her one as well… I’m just so absolutely crazy about her… And I want to thank you for not being disgusted or repulsed by our love. I know Human and Demi-Human relationships are looked down on, but knowing we have your support? It just feels so good,” Servi confessed. She hugged Claire, and the happy Elf returned it. She took her slender hand and petted Servi’s head.

“You two were practically made for each other. But how are you… personally? You did have to kill… Do you need to talk?”

“That’s kind of you, but I’m doing fine. I have it all sorted out in my head. And Momo was there for me last night. But I know that if I need it, you’re there for me to talk to… And if I’m being honest… I might need your help in the future… I love Momo, and I don’t want to think I’ll do something dumb and stupid.”

“I understand. I’m not the most experienced, but I have been in love a few times. If you need any advice at all, your friendly and favorite red-haired Elf is available to talk to. Like I said before, I wish I could talk longer. My boss is being a jackass. Tonight, though… I’ll try to be seated right next to Momo.”

“Thanks, Claire… I’ll see you later, then.”

After exchanging one more hug, Claire regrettably retreated back behind the door and slogged her way over to her window. She sat down and fiddled with the filing cabinet nearby to seem busy.

Damn, I should have asked why Warden is set up the way it is… These stupid windows don’t make a lick of sense. It would be far more efficient to just have a half-door off to the side to go behind the desks. And removing the windows are a must. And instead of it being rather plain, why not spruce it up and have adventuring books able to rent out?

I’ll never get used to this ridiculous layout because it’s complicated for the sake of being an over-designed mess with aesthetics that clash. Hopefully, not all guild offices are like this.

Why does it bother me so much?

Her thoughts on Warden aside, Servi jogged back over to a waiting Momo, who was talking to the ID she held. The people walking around her gave her an odd look, but she didn’t care. They could stare and judge all they won’t, and Momo would ignore it like how dragons disregard a pesky flea.

“Hey, sorry about that,” Servi said. She held out a hand.

“It’s no problem. I feel like I can guess what you two talked about. Does it involve a certain three-word phrase that’s been bouncing around our minds?” Momo hugged the ID with one hand and grasped Servi’s hand. It was like hers and Servi’s fingers were meant to be interconnected.

“That it did. And she asked me if I was okay since I had to kill. I know I have to tell the truth, but…”

“Servy, whatever you want to do is what I will support. Since Itarr’s getting a body soon… Itarr? Would you mind if we introduce you as Servy’s instructor? That’s kinda what I already told Srassa… I’m sorry I didn’t discuss it with you beforehand.”

That’s fine with me. In a crude way, I did teach her how to fight through Soul Essence of Primal Combat. That wouldn’t be a lie at all.

“Ah, regarding that. Let’s go tomorrow and scratch that off the list. It needs 1,000 Potential, and I have a little bit above that.” Servi and Momo walked out of the guild and started on a trek towards the headquarters. The sun was shining bright without a single cloud. The sweet little yellow birds were chirping to their heart’s desire—a melodiously comforting song touched the hearts of all who heard it, bringing a soothing calmness that could thrust tranquility upon the angriest monster.

“Woah, that’s sooner than I thought! Itarr, are you excited?”

I am! Momo, I cannot wait to hug you! And you, Servi… I want to hug the both of you… And I want to drink an aviation, and eat Claire’s cooking… Itarr kept listing off more things she wanted to experience. The giddiness in her voice sent a warm sensation down Servi’s spine. Hearing her lovely Goddess sound so excited was another indication of the mountain the three girls had climbed. And upon reaching the other side, friendships and relationships were reforged into something that truly wouldn’t shatter.

The epigram ‘there is always light at the end of the tunnel’ briefly knocked on Servi’s mind and barged its way into her current thoughts. Perhaps it damaged her to summarize the Arcton incident and Lando’s Scar as a ‘tunnel.’ Dwelling on her current inability to illuminate that planetary gash that reeked of death would do nothing for her right now. Conversely, imagining it didn’t happen would only exacerbate and force the turmoils to return with a vengeance.

It was going to be a delicate situation, and at this point, Servi needed to rely on her allies to help her. In that regard, she was certainly blessed.

“And we’re going to do all of that. Servy, Claire did say something about having another get-together once you were well. And well? You’re well.” The absurdity of using the word thrice over was enough to make Momo laugh.

“That’s awesome. Ah, but what about Srassa? If she’s going to be with us, I don’t want there to be any secrets.”

“Hmm… I can understand that. What if we ease into it? If she comes with us when Itarr gets her body, explaining her divinity much easier, right? Then based on how she reacts, we can go from there.”

“That sounds fine enough. The problem comes from Srassa thinking we purposely kept this from her…” Momo absolutely, positively knew that Servi’s words weren’t a jest as to what led to Arcton’s destruction, and she didn’t take it that way at all. She still couldn’t be certain that Srassa would understand Momo’s hesitancy in spilling the beans. The subject matter was dicey and unstable—in the figurative, not literal sense. Finding out that one of the Goddesses who created the world was near her all along? Much less in the body—sharing the very soul of one of her better friends? And that they were responsible for the worst attack Canary had ever faced AND were the ones who destroyed a town AND left a scar on the planet’s very surface?

Would history repeat itself so soon?

“I know what you’re feeling, Servy. I can feel it through your hand.” Servi didn’t know that she was shaking with an unsteady shiver. Momo’s words calmed her down. “I know we have to talk about it, but for today, let’s focus on the big picture.”

“You’re right. Thanks, Mosie. We got a long day, so let’s get to it!”

As they walked, Momo randomly brought up the subject of holidays. As expected, Servi didn’t know anything at all. Momo pushed up a pair of invisible glasses and happily bragged it was her turn to do the teaching.

The closest holiday coming up happened near the end of October, and it was called Hallow’s Eve. Momo described it as a day where children and adults dressed up in scary costumes and went from door to door to get treats. According to her, pranks and tricks were allowed and even encouraged. As for the information behind it, Momo said her grandfather told her that spirits of the dead were said to walk amongst the living. The bonfires were used to ward them off, and somewhere along the years, costumes and candy were added.

The next closest holiday happened near the end of December, about six days before the eve of the new year. As her grandfather explained this to her when she was a spunky kitten, every good boy and girl received a present from a Superior Spirit of Water that held dominion over ice. He was said to be a jolly ole bloke who wore a red cloak with a white fur collar and cuffs. With matching crimson trousers and a ruby-colored hat with a white ball, he was also said to be quite portly. He sailed across the starry skies with a sled powered by reindeers made from his mastery over ice. Momo noted that her grandfather told her this spirit visited every single child in the world in only one night but said even as a kitten she knew that was impossible. Still, she added there was a present or two underneath the Yuletide tree every year.

After that came the new year, and Servi said she was familiar with that.

“The only other thing is… I don’t really know? Grampy and I only celebrated Hallow’s Eve and Yuletide. Maybe there’s something in November or the other months? If there is, then he didn’t tell me. But those are just the major holidays. I'm sure there are ten or twenty little festivals or celebrations that take place in Lando but not Westera or Keywater.”

“That Hallow’s Eve and Yuletide sound familiar…” Servi wracked her brain, but nothing came back from her internal queries.

“That’s good. Maybe something will return after we celebrate them?” Momo remained hopeful and gave her lover’s hand a loving squeeze. She giggled inside when it was returned.

“I’m sorry, but Captain Fisher isn’t receiving any visitors right now,” said a sharp-tongued Elf. Her eyes were fierce and bright like a lavender sun. Her pearl-colored hair was fashioned into a tight ponytail. Her boyish chest was guarded by a metal breastplate, and she stood guard outside of the headquarter's entrance. There was a group of people all wanting to get in because they had some business to attend to, so Servi and Momo weren’t alone. They had to barge, push, and lightly shove to make it to the front of the mob.

“Why not? He knows us. Isn’t there any way we can talk to him?” asked Servi. She felt something was amiss. Not once had this place been closed off. And the Elf preventing them from entering was stalwart in her resolve.

“I’m not at liberty to say anything. The headquarters will be closed for the day. If you have business, I suggest you come back tomorrow or the day after,” said Mire. A second later, she repeated those same words in a shout since it was hard to even hear herself think.

“But he knows us!” Momo said.

“Please, back away and go somewhere else. Captain Fisher isn’t receiving any visitors.” From behind, the door opened. Out came a grey Koena covered from head to toe in iron armor. He held a polishing cloth between his fingers as he scrubbed his cheek scales.

“You heard Mire. Our captain isn’t seeing anyone right now. The headquarters is closed until further notice.”

“But why? What happened to him?” Servi pressed for an answer, but the grey Koena refused to speak. With no other choice, Servi and Momo reversed directions and shoved their way through the crowd until emerging from the other side. The mob was starting to angsty, and neither of the girls had any idea what was going on. If anything, fear and a nasty worry started to creep into their hearts.

“If they won’t let us in…then I think it’s time for a trip into the world of non-existence.” The Shadow’s Embrace was something that had started to become a staple choice. A ‘go-to’ ability that Servi could use in a flash that solved nearly every one of her problems. The literal void of a world that did not exist consumed Servi and Momo, covering them in black, writhing, shadowy tendrils. When combined with Air Step, there was no place they couldn’t reach. Doors and walls were mere suggestions, not physical objects that had to be overcome. Even the pressure of the very air and the concept of gravity was more of a recommendation rather than a sternly written rule of physics.

The girls strolled right through Mire and her Koena guardsman and into the lobby. The lights were on, and Roland, the bald receptionist, was hard at work analyzing papers and documents. The nearby chairs, as Servi and Momo saw from the outside, were stocked full guards of various races wearing metal armor. A fair few had leather, but all had a particularly dreadful expression.

It didn’t do anything to ease Servi’s and Momo’s worries.

Servi and Momo walked right past them and into the hallway.

“It feels so weird…” complained Momo. Her eyes scanned all around.

“It took me a while to get used to it, but this isn’t your first time, is it?” replied Servi. They turned a corner and walked up some stairs. Oh, I don’t know where his office is. I’ve never been to it.”

“I have, but it’s just an odd feeling that. It’s like being soaking wet while being completely dry. Or freezing while getting burnt by the sun.”

“Does it hurt? If it does, I can stop it.”

Momo shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt at all. I guess I’m just not used to it. Walking through walls and people is something that doesn’t quite happen every day. But I’m fine. I’m right as rain.”

After about five minutes of searching, they finally came across Fisher’s office. After confirming there wasn’t anyone inside or patrolling the hallways, Servi canceled her skill and knocked on the door.

“Fisher, it’s Servi. Momo and Itarr are here with me. Can we come in?”

From inside the office, it sounded like something a horde of horses were running wild in a glassware shop. The door suddenly yanked open to reveal a tired Fisher Jin in clothing suitable for a lazy morning.

Only something was amiss…

The man just had a single arm. Bandages ran from around his neck to where his right arm would be. They weren’t bloody at all, so whatever wound must’ve stopped bleeding. The armor he was known to wear was sitting nearby, absent from its master. The scratched-out words of ‘justice’ forever etched a stained memory into the mind of its wearer.

“What the fuck?!” exclaimed Servi. Fisher walked backwards, and Servi charged in. “Your arm?! Fisher, what the hell happened? Who did this?! Who hurt you?!”

“Fisher?!” Momo covered her mouth and forced herself to stay calm, cool, and collected. Making a scene, crying, or shouting would just cause her to regress into the weaker Momo she used to be.

The brown-haired captain remained silent and sat back down behind his desk. Servi and Momo took a seat in the two chairs in front, the latter placing an ID down. That red stone tablet began to float in place.

“Fisher, is this why the headquarter’s shut down?”

“It’s merely an overreaction. I couldn’t get them to stop… Suppose I should be grateful that they care about me that much. Especially Mire and Tim… I really couldn’t ask for better subordinates. But since you’re here, I take it you’re doing better?” Fisher sighed at first and began to talk. It took a few sentences for the ‘life’ to flow back into his voice.

“Yeah, I am. Let me apologize for my behavior when Momo and I returned. I had no right to attack you right that. Shit, don’t tell me I did this?!?!” Servi stood up, but a hand from Fisher erased that fear from her mind.

“No, you didn’t do this. And you don’t need to apologize. But I’ll tell you what happened…”

And so, Fisher recanted his harrowing experience over the past month and some few days. The truth—nothing but the purest truth flowed out from his mouth. He kept nothing hidden except for some details about the governor and his secretary.

Sea and Jeri? He spoke of their fate. Nicholas? He was a dastardly bishop who had a plan involving a necromancer. He was behind the odd behavior that Servi and Momo must have surely faced. His arm? That was just the cost of protecting this city, his family, and the ones he cared about. Myil, the good-natured Kobold priest, and the little church on Buncombe Street? Fisher explained his history with them, his adventure to the crater to speak his final words, and how that Kobold has helped him beyond belief. He also explained that his church was the one salvation Fisher had left. Without even asking any questions, Father Melk dressed his wound with ointment and herbs and wrapped it up nice and tight.  The kind Kobold refused to take any money for his services.

The first question Servi had was obvious. “Why didn’t you come to us?”

“Can’t you see? I’ve caused nothing but trouble and despair for the both of you. This problem was mine and mine alone… Canary is my responsibility. If I can’t protect it, then I’m a failure of a man…”

“But your wife? Your daughters… Fisher…”

“Momo… My daughters… To keep the perfect image of their infallible father in their minds, they think I’m dead. They don’t recognize me as their daddy anymore. But they’re alive and well… They’re safe… I saved them… I protected them from Nicholas’s evil plot. An arm is very much worth it. But it does hurt knowing I’m out of their life. It hurts so much… But I just know that my appearance will cause nothing but pain. Nicholas’s last ploy to ruin me worked better than he ever thought possible.”

“But your arm, man. Itarr and I can bring it back. With our total combined stacks of Deus Lux, we—”

Another hand was held up, stopping Servi’s mouth like a cat running into a solid brick wall.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore, and I can fight just as well like this. Let this be my cost for my sins… All of my sins… A man like me is too stained to have a loving family, but I’m not so much at the edge where I can’t protect them. I’m sure Sakdu is laughing down on me… As well, he should. If I may, I have a question for you. Servi, can you truly bring back the dead?”