31 Albus side, part 3 (1/2)

Albus figured out why she was pulled along soon enough - Tiamat asked her various things about Ahea. About her family and how Fumus was doing, what sort of things some famous Aheals were doing, also - about some elder dragons. Even when Albus said she only knew rumors, Tiamat said those were plenty. In exchange, Albus learned how Tiamat had made friends with Aheals for all these years.

Aheals lost their immortality if they came to Urea even once and Tiamat herself was bound to Urea, so Albus had wondered how had they met. Turned out Big Purple had set up an odd thing called 'Boundary cafe' where it could invite the consciousness of beings from various dimensions. Accessing it turned out to be so easy Albus was dumbfounded how she had not heard of it. Although judging from Tiamat's questions it did not seem like Tiamat had met any unicorns there.

Big purple was one of the top odd items peddlers in both Ahea and Urea, you could always either find or summon a wisp (its familiar) to buy various goods or services. Even Albus had at times bought water and food in places with bad access or a teleportation service from them. Turned out you could buy 'a night at the cafe' for small magic crystal worth of aether either taken directly from your body or in the shape of the said crystal - not a cheap price, but not expensive enough to avoid trying.

The dubious part was that a wisp overtook your body while you were 'out' for protection purposes. Tiamat said that the only way purple uses the bodies of its clients, though, is to sleep, thus avoiding the need to sleep with its main body. In case of danger, the body teleports around unless the client has set up a different defense protocol in advance.

Tiamat was a regular there, saying she didn't have much to do in Urea now that all the dragons had left the nest. She did appear to be genuinely happy about having two eggs to take care of, saying it would get busy (in a cheerful sense) in a decade or less.

By the time more than an hour had passed, even Albus herself noticed that she no longer felt intimidated by Tiamat or her presence. At first, she guessed it was due to being a dryad's familiar, as nothing of the sort had happened with high standing Aheals regardless how long of a time she had spent around them.

Admiral was an exception to that rule, but, truth be told, it was hard to be intimidated by someone who sobbed about fictional characters when drunk and confused her with some character on top of it. Or perhaps the same applied to Tiamat. Albus hadn't expected Tiamat to laugh about the rumors regarding some friends or show a goofy face about her expected grandchildren.

When they got back to the hut, Marcus no longer seemed to be deep in thought, rather, he was waiting for them to come back with an expression of silent determination. August and Leum were still sleeping in the same position as before.

Veri silently got up on the terrace and tiptoed towards the two, but before she could kiss August awake, her lips were met by his hand.

”Stingy,” Veri mumbled, disappointed.

August half-opened his eyes, yawning. ”Good try,” he replied and poked Leum's cheek to wake him up, before straightening himself out.

”What did I miss?” August asked.

”Not much,” Veri replied. ”Marcus didn't know how to become the Emperor of Hades and when Tiamat told him he became unresponsive from shock, so we left for a walk and Albus told us rumors about Tiamat's friends.”

”Ok. How do you become emperor of Hades?” August asked.

”Eat your brother and father,” Veri replied.

”Yes, that would shock someone,” August replied as he yawned again. He didn't seem shocked one bit, though.

Leum yawned and looked towards Tiamat. ”So, location and time for a gate to Hades?”

Tiamat nodded.

Leum summoned the same water orb , starting to shift it in his hands. The only one looking towards it in wonder was Marcus.

”June 25th, cape of good hope, the best I can explain it on the Hade's side would be--” Leum used fae language to explain the location. A scenery of a white field passed their eyes, but rather than it being snow, the ground was covered in salt and the skies were green. A planet with atmosphere but no life.

It was only a little more than two weeks away.

”You can stay here till then,” Tiamat said to Marcus. ”I'll arrange your way there.”

Marcus startled, then nodded. ”You have my gratitude.” He hesitated, then asked. ”What will happen to this body when I pass over.”

Tiamat thought a bit looking his body over afew times. ”Well, if a helpful dark alignment god happens to see you off, then it might be possible to keep this body as a host.”

Albus peeped towards August to check if he knew what that was about. He looked confused so apparently not. But that said - the same applied to everyone in the room except Tiamat and Leum.

”That is?” Marcus asked.

”If your astral link is tied off on both sides before severing, then rather than this body dying, you can partially descend upon it later on just how some Terreans and Soleans do with their hosts,” Tiamat said. ”But due to dimensional phase shift between Hades and Urea - you ought to be at least an emperor class to do so,” Tiamat said with an amused smile.”This body will stay in a coma like state otherwise and will gradually deteriorate and perish. In Ureal time that would be - about three years.”

Marcus pursed his lips and nodded, turning to look at August. ”Could I ask you to?”

Tiamat's smile took a crescent shape and she looked to be close to laughing.

Albus was confused about what was going on, but then it hit her. Marcus had just casually implied that August was a 'helpful dark alignment god'. Looked like Veri and Leum had realized it right away - Leum didn't seem too bothered about it, but Veri was crunching her knuckles.

August squinted at Marcus in disbelief. ”No.”

”Why not?” Marcus asked seeming shocked by the plain refusal. Apparently he didn't even look towards Veri and her gesture and seemed to either not realize or not care about revealing August's identity.

August cast an incredulous look at Marcus, then sighed, rubbing his temple. ”What can you give me in exchange?” August asked.

Marcus pursed his lips, thinking. ”I can't offer anything right now, but when I succeed I will give you trade rights with Hades.”

”As if I want something so troublesome,” August replied.

”Then what do you want?” Marcus asked.

August squinted, then sighed. ”Whatever, if you properly stay here and don't run off when someone takes your local family or girlfriend hostage, then I'll do it.”

Marcus choked. ”...Stephanie.” August's words seemed to have hit a sore spot.

Albus felt like what August had said had been completely out of nowhere, but just like how he had been right on the mark about battle for succession, he seemed to have some uncanny ability to either deduce or guess at potential trouble. Again, she was impressed.

Tiamat cast a curious look towards August and turned towards Marcus. ”How does Stephanie Burton look?”

Albus guessed that Tiamat could read Stephanie's surname in Marcus record. The sister of this body, huh? Not her looks, however.

”Similar to this body, but more attractive by Ureal standards,” Marcus said. ”Long hair, usually in ponytail.”

”Follow me,” Tiamat said to Marcus and got up from her seat. Marcus nodded and followed, leaving the room.

”How did you know his Ureal family might be taken hostage?” Albus asked.

”Because that's a basic novel plot,” August replied. ”It's obvious he is attached to someone in Urea, otherwise he wouldn't care about the body and Hadeans can eat memories. It's only a matter of time before they figure it out and play that card.”

Albus nodded. It made sense if put that way, not the 'basic novel plot' part but everything following afterward.

”Alright, let's slip away now,” August said, starting to get up, but before he could get anywhere Tiamat appeared right behind him.

”Can you hide my presence?” She asked, startling Albus in the process with her sudden appearance. Fae paths.

August clicked his tongue. Escape plan failed. He sighed and reached out his hand to Tiamat.As Tiamat put her hand into his, he entwined their fingers and her presence disappeared just like that.

”You mean to bring them here?” August asked.

”Yes, that would be safer, wouldn't it?” Tiamat asked. ”I'd rather he doesn't rampage around Urea. I'll ask Willow or Sunshine to make them a cover story and, hmm, who could take out those Hadeans?” But as she asked she started smiling looking at August.

”No,” August said.

”But you would be perfect for the job,” Tiamat said.

”No.” August repeated.

Tiamat sighed, then a realization passed over her eyes. ”If you tag along I can take them out myself. Leum and Veri can protect the nest, Albus can help Marcus in fooling his family and I'll make you rich in exchange.”

August tilted his head slightly. ”... I only need to tag along?”

Tiamat nodded.

”How rich are we talking about?” August asked.

”How about a dungeon core your height in diameter?”

”Deal.” August agreed so quickly like his previous reluctance had been a lie. ”With an added bonus that you don't leak what I am.”

Tiamat nodded and they both disappeared as Tiamat pulled August into a fae path, leaving Veri, Leum and Albus behind.

”Let's go loot mom's nest,” Leum said getting up.

Loot? Leum did not misspoke, did he? Albus looked towards him - nope, he was serious.

Veri got up as well, equally serious.

And they both disappeared as well, leaving Albus behind. Albus let out a breath, coming to a silent decision that she would pretend she heard nothing. If Tiamat's nest got looted, then-- Tiamat was at fault for leaving it to those two.

And so Albus played along with Marcus story about their family being potentially infected by some mysterious tropical bacteria that would die on it's own if they just stayed in this house and drank medicine (actually tea) for the following two weeks. Albus added that there was a low chance of falling into a temporary coma even if the treatment was successful and that the medicine had the side-effect of causing vivid life-like dreams and hallucinations, but that all would be well in the end.

Seemed like Stephanie figured out what was up quickly and played along as well. If they ignored the few explosions happening in the background (probably side-effect of looting), then all went as well as complete bullshit trickery could go.

Albus healed the father of the family from a limp to bluff how amazing the 'medicine' was and Marcus was lying with a clear vision about the brownie being a high-tech robotic hologram and much to Albus surprise - the prince had some high level scamming skills. Pressing when needed, pulling when needed, almost like he could sense their emotions. She was impressed.

***

Meanwhile, away from Albus sight.

***

August held Tiamat's hand as she led him through the forest and straight ahead towards the city. She seemed to be in a great mood.

”Won't those two try to loot your treasure?” August asked.

”They sure will,” Tiamat replied, her mood not dropping at all. ”Been a while since anyone broke in, so I have to test the traps.”

August made a wry smile. Seemed like a part of him had been expecting that. ”And what if they steal something?” He asked looking sideways.

”Then its my fault for not protecting my treasure properly,” Tiamat smiled, peering over at August, till she met his eyes. ”I'm not like Veri, I won't chase after thieves to murder them in a blazing hell, if that's what you are worried about.”

”Then it's fine,” August said with some relief.

”Can I ask you a personal question?” Tiamat looked ahead.

”You can try, but I won't guarantee an answer,” August said.

”How come you have a physical body?” Tiamat asked.

Looked like August had been expecting a question of this sort. ”I can trade you that story for information on how to dissolve a dead zone without killing the dark dryad making it,” August replied.

Tiamat made an amused smile. ”Are you asking how to negotiate with another dryad or…”

”I made some by accident,” August said.

”Accident huh,” Tiamat tried not to laugh.

August squinted at her, some embarrassment present.

”That's simple,” she said. ”Dryad domains are not too different from dragon domains. To make one, you pour your aether into a space till it becomes a part of you, to dissolve one you absorb the aether back into your body,”

August frowned a bit. His expression said 'impossible'.

Tiamat noticed that much. ”Another method is to groom a nature spirit that can consume your aether pattern, then have them eat it all up and set up your domain elsewhere.”

”And how do you do that?” August asked.

Tiamat pondered for a bit. ”From what I've seen - Gaius took some of his hair and filled it with a matching aether pattern to his own, then went to nature spirits and said--” Tiamat spoke the rest in fae.

'Will you become mine?' would be the short translation, a longer one would be a glorified housekeeper, almost wife, half-slave, but a master of a huge forest.

”How often did it work?” August asked, seeming uncertain. It didn't sound likea good deal to him.

”Every time,” Tiamat said. ”I can't tell how well it would work since you are hiding your presence, but you know--”

”Yeah,” August agreed, getting the drift. Nature spirits had a thing for dryads.

”You can have that brownie if you want,” Tiamat said.

August paused, then asked. ”The elves won't mind?”

Tiamat made a feline smile. ”You've never met elves, have you?”

August sighed. ”How long would it take them to figure me out?”

”That's a good point,” Tiamat agreed, then her expression turned more neutral. ”No. They won't mind. They will take it as a compliment.”

August squinted at the word 'compliment', then sighed. ”... ok.”

”Now, your turn,” Tiamat said as they reached the town.

”I have a physical form because my sister kept it alive by possessing it after my astral link disappeared and the body didn't reject repossession when my mother brought me back. It's likely because only a few days had passed, so my astral form hadn't changed much shape wise. I still lack an astral link, but it seems fine even if I leave my body now.”

She listened with an expression of surprise hinted curiosity. ”What is your mother?” Tiamat asked as they walked through an alley.

”A muse.”

”Now that's interesting,” Tiamat noted. ”They aren't usually family oriented, unless your father...”

”She was a ghost, she became a muse when something I wrote in childhood got published in an anthology,” August said. ”Dad doesn't, no, correction, he didn't make art back then.”

Tiamat nodded at that, like noting to herself, then noticed a high rise nearby. ”Can we enter that building?”

”Yes,” August replied. While it was a hotel, the top floor was a restaurant/bar, so there wouldn't be a problem to go in.

While Tiamat played it cool for the most part, it wasn't hard to tell her eyes were glimmering at the surroundings and she was rather excited about the elevator.

”Do you still write?” Tiamat asked, as they watched the numbers in the elevator change.

”Yes.” August replied.

A mysterious smile settled on Tiamat's face, like she was looking forward to something, but she didn't say a thing and as the elevator stopped, she went out and right towards the window with a look over the city.

When a waiter noticed them, August had faint regrets of not masking their presence at a higher level. It would be awkward to wiggle out of this, so he ordered an espresso and Tiamat asked for the same thing another girl was having at a table further away. Rather than being disappointed, Tiamat seemed happy about the turn of events, as she looked over the city, her slit pupils narrowing at a certain spot at a distance a human wouldn't be able to see even with binoculars.

”Found them?” August asked.

”Yes. They are making it easy for me by gathering up,” Tiamat said, she didn't seem to be in a rush to go after them and enjoyed her drink when it was brought over.

When Tiamat was partway through her drink, she sighed with a sad smile. ”I'm envious of those kids. They will get to see the amusing things humans do up close like this.”

August cast a longer look towards Tiamat, seeming to be in thought, but he didn't say anything.

Tiamat's complexion cleared up then. ”Wait, there's no reason for me not to see it either with someone like you around.”

August pursed his lips as he finished up his coffee.

”I'm pretty sure you'll need a lot of help from now on,” Tiamat said with a smile. ”How about I help you get Purple to take that reward off of you?”

That had August listening. ”What are your terms?”

Tiamat finished up her drink as well. ”Depends on how much you are willing to reveal to Purple. If you tell him the truth, then you'd probably get the reward and we'll need to see what he wants for silence. Knowing him - that will be cheap. He loves being 'in the know' while others are not.”

August paid for their drinks as he considered this option and as they left, Tiamat continued.

”If you want him to back off without him knowing a thing, now that will be expensive and you won't be able to keep the secret for too long either way, so the price won't be worth it,” Tiamat said.

August sighed, even he knew that eventually it will all come out, but that didn't make it a comforting thought.

”So I guess you will cover whatever is the price and in exchange I'll be taking you on dates?” August asked.

”Yes, regardless which option. With a bonus of Leum and Veri guarding my nest while we are out,” Tiamat said, then added seeing August's wry smile at the word 'guarding'. ”I'm most concerned about the eggs. Other dragons might eat them if they break in somehow.”

”Do only dragons break in?” August asked.

Tiamat tilted her head slightly. ”Only dragons have managed to break in, I don't even know who or how many die in the first trap line before the entrance.”

A brief silence.

”Tiamat, mind telling me what is your plan for dealing with the Hadeans?” August switched the topic.

”Walk where they are and eat them,” Tiamat started saying then became thoughtful. ”No, there's a better way. I couldn't use it before due to my presence, so I don't know how to enter, though.”

”Sea of consciousness?” August asked.

Tiamat nodded.

”We need a crowd for that,” August said, turning to head in a direction where there would be one. ”What kind of human emotional states can you get into easily?”

A look of realization passed Tiamat's eyes. That question was enough of a hint for her to understand the way to enter.

They spent around half an hour staring at the crowd till Tiamat managed to enter, after that it took Tiamat five minutes to chase all the Hadeans down, pull them into the space one after another, eat their astral bodies and push out the coma state human body out.

August was, meanwhile holding Tiamat's hand looking at the sight with a blank expression. It did look quite peculiar as Tiamat seemingly 'kissed' the people only to bite onto the astral body and tear it out before the Hadean even managed to let out a scream. Each hadean was in an increasingly worse emotional state than the previous one. Made sense given how it must look from the outside. People seemingly disappear only to return as empty husks. Tiamat would make a good horror flick monster without doubt.

Both August and Tiamat could tell that the scene was approached by some silver rank guild members, but they didn't manage to 'save' even a single Hadean and Tiamat went out in another crowd.

”I need meat,” was the first thing Tiamat said when she came out.

August didn't argue and took her to a nearby steakhouse.

While it wasn't quite sufficient, after twelve steaks she had regained enough energy to go back to her own domain. Since they were holding hands, they ended up looking like a very lovey dovey couple with Tiamat cutting the meat and August feeding her with a fork.