82 – Catching Up

A part of Vivi thought, selfishly, that after saving two cities’ worth of people, the least she could be rewarded with was a nap.

But even in her current head-pounding misery, she knew it was an immature thought to have. With the grand, mystical powers she’d been granted, a mantle of responsibility had dropped onto her shoulders as well. The mother of all headaches and accompanying nausea didn’t somehow supersede those duties.

So when the door creaked open, and someone strode in, she wasn’t surprised. She knew who it would be before she groaned and removed the arm covering her eyes. Rafael, Guildmaster of the Human Kingdoms, Steward of Vanguard, stood next to her bed, no doubt here to talk business.

She made a whining noise in the back of her throat, not able to help herself.

Rafael cocked his head at the rather pathetic display, then glanced at Winston. “She’s worse off than I assumed,” he commented.

“My lady has seen better days; I cannot deny that,” her ever-loyal butler replied as gracefully as he could.

“This can’t wait until tomorrow?” Vivi asked.

Her steward considered her, neither pityingly nor disapprovingly. “It can, strictly speaking, if that’s what you decide, Lady Vivisari.”

It was the worst response he could have given. Because it put the impetus to be responsible on her. Did she really feel awful enough that even a conversation was too much?

No. Obviously not.

“It’s fine,” Vivi sighed. “I should catch you up. And you me. But after, I get to sleep until at least tomorrow morning.”

“Of course,” Rafael replied. “I will attempt brevity at all costs; this should not take long. I have lived for two centuries, my lady. I have learned, in that time, that only a fool stands between a woman and her sleep.”

Vivi side-eyed the demon for daring to attempt levity when she felt like dying, but she suspected the glare didn’t pass muster. Vivisari’s natural stoicism worked both ways; she had to put in effort to emote, and she couldn’t find the energy in her current state.

The demon seemed to understand her intent, but his lips only twitched in amusement. She didn’t think she’d intimidated him. He was obviously immune to her reputation, and her reputation did quite a lot of heavy-lifting when it came to intimidation. Her diminutive stature and ageless features certainly didn’t.

“I suspect you have more important information to deliver than I,” Rafael said. “Though I would not call the topics I’ve brought inconsequential. So, shall you begin, my lady?”

She considered. “There was a second dimensional breach above Prismarche. Also, I met the Shattered Oracle.”

She took satisfaction in how Rafael’s face went blank. It lasted a full second—an eternity for that keen demon’s mind to freeze up.

“Or a magical existence that mirrored him,” Vivi clarified before her steward started sprinting to too many wild assumptions. “Not the actual Oracle. Also, Prismarche is fine. I dealt with it. It’s why I’m like this.” She waved at herself. “I drank three mana potions, dumped the energy into the Codex, and sealed the breach. Then killed everything after it had healed. There were no casualties.” Besides her pounding skull, in any case. And the statue. But good riddance to that awful thing, honestly. “It was an overreaction. I didn’t want to take any risks. I’m sure the city is in a panic, but they’re safe. Maybe you should have someone scry the City Guard and tell them not to evacuate, or…whatever they might do.”

“I’ll make a note of it,” he said slowly. “But I find myself mildly concerned by the mention of the Shattered Oracle.”

“Just an echo of him,” she repeated. “He didn’t resurrect. And he can’t cross the boundary into reality. He probably doesn’t even exist in a literal manner.” She sighed. “I’m going out of order. Let me start from the beginning.”

She did so. Rafael didn’t once voice disbelief at the ridiculous tale she laid out. He digested her words and requested clarification where necessary. It took a surprisingly short length of time to relay. She supposed the trip through the void had only felt so eventful due to the constant magical research she’d been performing. The happenings of substance, those which Rafael needed to be informed of, numbered on one hand. She was done in a few minutes.

“Interesting,” Rafael murmured. “I suspect that my insight on the nature of that realm is worth less than dust. Also, it seems that time does not flow the same, if you haven’t deduced that yourself. It has been more than three days, my lady, not one since your disappearance.”

“That’s…unfortunate.” She’d rushed back because she hadn’t wanted Saffra to stew in worry for too long. So much for those good intentions. “I can’t say it’s wholly surprising.” The void hadn’t even been a physical place. She had no reason to believe that natural laws would function the same. If anything, she should be relieved that years or decades hadn’t passed, or something of that sort.

“Indeed. But the implications for how the mortal kingdoms will need to prepare and respond are substantial. I wish we knew more about these so-called voidgods. They are the true enemy, not the mindless beasts we’ve dealt with so far.” He paused. “No matter how world-ending those could be on their own, if we did not have the Sorceress defending us,” he said dryly.

Vivi nodded, lips twisting into a slight grimace. “I agree. I need to start rebuilding my warp anchor network as soon as possible, so I can respond if another breach happens. Since it might, anywhere in the world, at any time.” After a moment of consideration, she conceded, “I needed to do that anyway, to fetch Vanguard’s prior craftsmen, if they’re interested in rejoining.” That had been on her to-do list even before the invasion.

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Rafael raised an eyebrow. “I expect they will be, my lady. I had my doubts on a few, but that was with the understanding that we lived in an age of peace. With the world imperiled once more, I find it extremely unlikely that any will refuse the call of duty. Even if their motivations are viewed through an unfavorable lens, it is their world that will end if they do not. They have selfish reasons to prevent the total destruction of their homeland.”

Vivi internally frowned. She didn’t want to uproot anyone’s lives, especially since it sounded like a few of Vanguard’s craftsmen had settled down comfortably. But the problem had escalated beyond worrying about something as trivial as that. Having the strongest possible craftsmen supporting the guild might be a necessity, for the good of all living people.

“Well, that’s what happened with me,” she said. “What do you have?”

“Nothing that requires your immediate attention, but there are a few events that I suspect you’d like to be informed of, even in your current condition. To set your mind at ease.”

“Duke Caldimore.”

“The preeminent case, indeed. He has been detained with appropriate measures taken to prevent his escape; you need not worry in that regard.”