Chapter 1065 (1/2)

Randidly stayed very still as the voices passed back and forth above him. His Grim Intuition quickly wafted outward, immediately reporting the strong presence of Iellaya’s image.

So strong that the other figure looming over him could only be her.

Yggdrasil’s trunk creaked as he twisted his branches. “...I believe so. Although there is significant exterior damage, those portions of the image can be very easily repaired. And it appears the core of the image is still sound.”

“Uh huh…” Iellaya’s rather unconvinced drawl set Randidly’s teeth on edge. “So this is primarily exterior damage? That is good to know. And what about the other two? Is their damage similarly concentrated on their exterior? They hardly have bodies any longer.”

This time, Yggdrasil hesitated. “...we shall see.”

“Heh, so even you have some things that you can be honest about.” Iellaya chuckled. “Just remember our deal; as long as you protect these two, nothing else will be required of your particular skills. As your superior officer, I suppose the least I can do is drag these blobs back from the staging area. We don’t what them gumming up the works do we? And based on the Nether massing above us…”

She trailed off. Randidly felt Yggdrasil’s warm branches reach down and wrap around his body. Immediately, warm streams of energy began running through Randidly’s body with such familiarity that Randidly had to suppress the urge to groan in pleasure. But Yggdrasil’s worried question brought him right back to focus.

“You think another attack will come. Here, this time?”

Randidly’s eyes were still closed, but he could sense the subtle motions of a nod from Iellaya. “With the forces of Nether waiting at the gates, I have to assume they will send another Nether Well to make trouble for us at our core. Their attack on Commander Thrall’s camp was similarly arranged. Which is why I am here personally at the staging area. Ah, feel free to tell the Ghosthound that the reason I was here was out of concern for his safety. He is my star recruit, after all.”

Chuckling, Yggdrasil shook his canopy and set his leaves rustling. “He will not believe such a thing, Lady Iellaya.”

“He is smarter than is healthy for a foot soldier. He also-” But then Iellaya’s whole bearing changed. The violence in her voice rapidly escalated. “What the hell…?”

Randidly was shocked when suddenly Iellaya’s hand was suddenly on his face. Her fingers were so strong and sure that Randidly felt more like there was a bear trip sitting docility in front of his nose than an individual’s hand. At any moment, Randidly sensed that hand could tense up and shred the bones of his skull. Yet she moved with surprising gentleness; Iellaya turned Randidly’s face from side to side as if searching for something.

Thankfully, Yggdrasil spoke. “Is something wrong?”

“He has already condensed his first star, and is now more than halfway on his way to forming a second star,” Iellaya hissed. “How is such a quick improvement possible? Based on all the Nether damage to his body… it is almost assured that he will reach the two-star level if he is given time to recover.”

“Must have been a very violent encounter in the Great Rift,” Yggdrasil said mildly. “We are the type of images that grow quickly when challenged.”

Iellaya released Randidly’s face. It seemed her attention turned to Yggdrasil. “The two of you are profoundly peculiar images, that’s for sure. The things you do shouldn’t be possible. The things you do… should only be possible if your body is a Ritualist with a steady supply of Aether.”

From the way Iellaya said the word Ritualist, she expected a strong reaction. Yet Randidly was quite clear that Yggdrasil was only puzzled. In addition, focusing on that word meant they didn’t need to address the last part of her sentence. “I’m not familiar with the term Ritualist.”

That gave Iellaya pause. “...really? Who is your sponsor?”

Randidly’s mouth was dry. Why were all these strange labels coming up? If they answered incorrectly-

Yggdrasil made no pretense of their knowledge, and Randidly respected him a lot for it. “I’m also not sure what a sponsor is.”

Iellaya was clearly gritting her teeth. “Have you spent no time at all in the Nexus? Who is the individual who has citizenship in the Nexus associated with you? On whose planet did you live? I can help you here, but only if you give me the information I need. We need to apply external pressure if Lord Miln is to give up your body. Otherwise… Well.”

Seeing Yggdarsil’s continued confusion, Iellaya shook her head. “Your loyalty would be even more useful.”

“Of course we are loyal,” Yggdrasil said shortly. “You are our commanding officer.”

“Pah, you know that is not the loyalty I am talking about. I cannot help but notice both of you have isolated yourself from my influence.” Lady Iellaya took a few steps away so her voice was less imminently present. “Not that I mind. Certainly, be surrounded by individuals bound to my will carries with it certain risks. But I have to wonder what such capable images intend, refusing to be bound or explain themselves to me.”

“We have no… sponsor.” Yggdrasil said slowly. “Our world was only recently brought into the System; we have not yet even faced the first Calamity. That is why we are so desperate to get back and so careful. We cannot afford to fail here. There is… so much we don’t know.”