Reborn From the Cosmos

Arc 8-26

“Interesting. I’ve never seen a parasite that can affect the host’s movements without inflicting damage to the brain. Whatever its methods, they are incredibly delicate and precise.”

“Mm. It has been pitted against itself, used to slow its own advance. A twisted physique.”

The two older elves exchange a running commentary as they examine Rey, having pulled her away from the table to have enough room to stand on either side of her chair. They show no hint of discomfort as they poke and prod the unconscious woman, which can’t be said for the rest of the table. While the other pirates have smoothly transitioned from stuffing their mouths to sharing stories over drink, Maxine is watching the studious elders with concern. Kierra is also paying rapt attention despite not moving. Waiting for her parents’ conclusions? Or perhaps it’s a matter of too many heads for a single crown, the unfortunate reality that too many people trying to do the same thing means less helping and more sabotaging.

“Hm. The creature is weak but it’s difficult to examine it. A natural defense against mana intrusion, perhaps.”

Morgene purses her lips in the kind of annoyed little pout that would make men do stupid things to put a smile on her face. “I suppose there’s nothing for it. We’ll have to cut the thing out.”

“Separating them could damage both creatures.”

“Ah, then we’ll just get a look for tonight. You can keep her alive through a little cutting, hm?”

Once again, and not for the last time I’d bet, I question the common sense of these elves. Who decides to just cut somebody open out of curiosity? And why is it that the strange and dangerous catches their interest?

Ah, Maxine is giving me a look. She wants to jump to the defense of her pirate but has understandable reservations about confronting the mad and madly powerful couple. Her only recourse is to plead for an intervention. Not that she needs to ask.

“There will be no cutting into my unconscious guest,” I say with exasperation. If this was my first night with my in-laws, I would be a lot more nervous, concerned whether they would listen and more concerned about my ability to stop them if they didn’t. Needless concerns. I wouldn’t say they’ve been perfectly respectable, but they’ve never gone against me outright. Something I greatly appreciate.

I know it’s not in Morgene’s nature to capitulate but she steps away from the unconscious woman with a little huff. “Very well. Though you might want to have one of the servants keep an eye on this…being. If whatever is inside her does get excited enough to crawl of its current skin suit, it’s your bed it’ll crawl into.”

The thought makes me shudder. Talk about problems I never thought I’d have to deal with. “Where’d you even find that one?” I ask Maxine, waving toward Rey.

“Ah, it’s more that she found me? I was meeting one of my…business partners when she barged into the room.”

“And you made quite the impression.” By that, I mean she made a blazing one. I’m not a vain woman…eh. I’m not so vain that I expect everyone to be smitten with me but to claim that the merchant is a hundred times my better? Well. If I were to be kind, I’d call that an exaggeration. I’m incredibly curious about what Maxine did to earn such fervent devotion, especially as I pegged her as someone who neglected relationships in favor of business.

I lean toward her, resting my chin in a palm. “Not the type I expected of you.”

Again, she sputters at the implication. “L-like I said, it’s complicated. But, uh, eh-hem. We’re not involved in that way. We both had business in the city and decided to travel together.”

“That was a pretty impassioned confession for someone you’re just friends with. Don’t be shy. You could do a lot worse.” And I mean that. Slumped over and drooling, she’s not too bad. She’s certainly got a nice physique. Say what you will about their practices, but the imminent threat of violence on the shore means all the pirates are fit. An interesting change from the soft bodies of the capital, where they rely on skilled tailors to hide their forms more than accentuate.

Of course, they’re not paragons of beauty. Maxine said they just arrived in the city today and I believe her. There’s still a layer of dust on them, though their disheveled state has its own charm. They even have all their teeth, which goes against the rumors I’ve heard. Yeah, she could do a lot worse.

“Strong. Crass. A little crazy.” Alana, now seated on my right, chuckles around her cup. Of water. My poor knight is a bit of a lightweight when it comes to the shroom juice. I doubt she’s comfortable showing that kind of vulnerability in front of a bunch of strangers. “Surprised she didn’t go after you,” she says with a nod in my direction.

“Buh—wha? I’d never—"

“Do you think it’s the leather?” I ask over Maxine’s flustering. It’s not like it’s rare in the rest of the kingdom, but their jackets and caps are a brown dark enough to be mistaken for black in the right light and have a sheen to them. It’s a dangerous look, the kind reserved for people who talk more with their knives than their words.

“I knew a girl that liked fur like that. All kinds of people in the world.” Next to her, Yulia giggles, fully engaged by the topic of romance.

“She wears it well.”

“Hey, don’t go stealing Maxine’s girlfriend.”

“No need to steal,” Kierra purrs from further down the table, pitching it just loud enough to be heard over the general chaos. “Friends share.”

I crane my head to look down the table at her. “Really? You’d want to get it on with her and the voices in her head?”

“Too much Twilight in her,” Morgene says with a shake of her head but a smile on her lips. Orum simply grunts, wearing the most obvious ‘parent discussing uncomfortable things about their children’ look, it almost convinces me there’s no difference between our two races.

“No one is sleeping with anyone!” Maxine says, her voice morphing into a squeal by the end.

“I wouldn’t bet on that,” Alana mutters, making me snicker.

“Why do you get along so well?” Yulia asks, giving the poor merchant a chance to explain things. Maxine doesn’t stoop to giving her a grateful look, but she jumps on the opportunity.

“I’m not sure. After the day we met, she’s become rather attached to me.”

“Cause ya entertain her shit,” Mr. Helpful says, leaning out of his conversation with the other pirates to throw in. “And yer pretty. Rey always had a weakness fer a pretty face.”

A girl after my own heart.

Maxine clears her throat. “I don’t know about her tastes, but she became…protective of me. I didn’t mind her being around, as she didn’t make herself a problem.”

I point at her. “See, that’s suspicious. Not to insult you, but an ambitious woman like yourself doesn’t keep around buff lady land sharks just because she’s ‘not a bother’. You’re interested in her. If not one way…”

“Then another,” Alana agrees with a nod.

“So either she’s, uh, slurping your shell—"

The pirates burst into laughter, having tuned into the discussion, as Maxine shrills out an indignant, “Lou!”

“—or she’s got something more valuable than…actually really nice hair under that cap. What does she use to get it like that? Seawater? Fish guts?”

“Close enough,” Mr. Helpful says with a shake of his hand. “Witches got crazy recipes for everything.”

“Witches?”

“Sea witches,” another of the pirates scoffs before drawing something in the air.

“To answer your question,” Maxine interrupts, “Rey is the daughter of the Aguari family. They are influential in the city. To my understanding, they are a cross between a religious order and alchemists with significant sway.”

“Nah,” Mr. Helpful says, looking uncomfortable. When he hesitates, one of his friends refills his cup of shroom juice and he downs it before continuing. “Alchemy is clean, orderly. Ain’t nothin’ orderly ‘bout what a sea witch gets up to. Those crazy women call on chaos and darkness. Can’t even control it right, just throw it basically where they want it and hope fer the best. That’s where the religion part comes in, but they don’t pray to nothin’ ya want in yer life. Some shit spawn got hold of Rey but that’s the best that could happen. That whole family is mad and that’s the last we should speak on it.”

“Yes, it’s common sense not to speak of the Aguari clan,” Maxine says, the look she gives me a request.

“Sounds very influential.” I’m getting an uncomfortable reminder of the Grimoires. People were afraid to talk about them too. “Business partners?”

“Hopefully. People think that Graywatch has little to offer outside of the known reagents, but the sea is large and full of mystery. I think there is plenty of value on the shore, but we can’t recognize it. I want to help the people there discover what valuables they have, but the Aguari clan has already made a strong start.”

“So, you’re wooing their princess to get the goods on their family recipes? Downright roguish.”

“You sound like my sister.”

“Eh, well, she’s doing well for herself.”

“Yes, I don’t imagine the battle shook her for even a moment.” Maxine sighs but shakes her head of whatever distressing thoughts tried to invade. “And what of you? What will you do now?”

“Well, I have some business to settle and then I plan to get out of here. The city, I mean. Best for everyone. Who knows, we might drop in on your little business venture. I’ve never seen the sea.”

Mr. Helpful snorts. “Nothing pretty ‘bout the Gray but yer more than welcome. Start a food shack with that grub and you’ll be the richest woman in the city in a week, maybe less.” The other pirates let out resounding agreement, toasting me. Given they’ve already toasted everything from the drink itself to the sturdy chairs that haven’t broken when the pirates tipped themselves over, I don’t feel too special.

“Good to have the vote of confidence.”