Pneuma 18: Remilia Dawngale
I couldn’t finish my thought because an elder approached me. It wasn’t one of the mango stealers. “You have a guest.”
A guest? Who besides the normal visitors would meet up with me and why does it need an announcement?
“You will see.”
I got lead back into the big tree to an area I have never been. We entered the room and I saw a familiar face.
Ugh, whatever you think I did I didn’t do it!
“I am not here to accuse you of anything. I’m just here to talk.”
You came here all the way from Witchaven to talk?
I sat down across from the headmaster. “I came to talk and to warn you. As you know I’m the headmaster of the Misha academy but I’m also a member of the Misha Council.”
Council? You guys had a council?
“Yes, I am Remilia Dawngale, the 37th member of the Witchaven council.”
Huh wait so the council just did nothing while I terrori…visited Witchaven?
“They normally would but… Due to circumstances we had a falling out and it escalated to the point where I had to seal them away.”
So, you defeated the whole council by yourself?
“I had to be smart about it but I eventually managed to seal away all of the 22 council members away.”
Huh you said you’re the 37th, I thought that meant there are at least 37 members.
A sad smile appeared on the face of the headmaster.
“There were 37 members once but they got in there way of a powerful witch. I would say they deserved it. They made the life of that witch a living hell. I don’t blame Ayaru for killing them, it was in self-defense after all.”
Oh, so you took revenge on the rest and sealed them away?
“Sort of, they were halting the progress of our race, something Aya also didn’t like so I combined this with my personal grudge and sealed them away two centuries ago. Now here is the problem.” She leaned forward.
“The Misha capital has realized that there is something amiss with the council and they will send a group of Misha to investigate in about a year. Agnis, Witchaven will change completely after that event. I won’t be able to have you safely do whatever you normally do. Please, don’t come back to Witchaven.”
I didn’t sense any deception, rather I sensed fear. She was keeping her composure but I could sense that she was afraid.
Sure. I have one question though. What will happen to you?
“That’s none of your concern. Now about the progress of [Hattrick]…”
I folded my arms.
I am not going to listen to a word you say unless you tell me what’s going to happen to you.
“Why do you care?”
You are the only one who has asked about Azu several times. I don’t know what your relationship is with Azu but it seems you were close.
“… they might remove me permanently or seal me away…”
What if you run?
“You want me to abandon my responsibility as a headmaster?”
Look I don’t know how Misha do things but I am going to be honest here. I don’t have a good impression of them. My personal experience with you was quite neutral. There was some good there was some bad. But my experience most likely doesn’t adhere to the reality. They have treated Azu poorly and now the same is about to happen to you. So, in this case, yes, screw being a headmaster. If you and Azu were the only ones interested in progressing your race. What is going to happen when also you are gone?
“I don’t know but surely others will pick up after me.”
My piece of advice. You are talking from a perspective of abundance. Where you will fall others will rise. I don’t necessarily disagree with that but… I don’t have that luxury and won’t it feel better if you’ve done everything you can? You can’t do that while sealed away.
The headmaster became silent.
Azu hated being sealed away, what would she think if she heard that you didn’t fight back against getting sealed away?
“That… I see…”
In the end I’m just an outsider. Just know that if I learn that they sealed you away, I will make sure to greet them with several [Meteors] and I’m sure Azu would do the same.
“You are quite similar to her you know? You have bigger problems than me but you don’t complain about it.”
Oh, I do complain about them, there’s nothing much I can do about it. Now you were about to mention something about [Hattrick].
“Your tips were very helpful. I might be able to use [Hattrick] at the start of next year or the year after. We were… impressed. I wished Ayaru could be here to see this. Although slowly, but the fruits of her labor are getting slowly accepted.”
That is good news. Thank you for the warning headmaster and get the fuck out of Witchaven!
“The name is Remilia, and I will consider your advice.”
Oh, so you had a name!
“Of course, I have a name! You just never asked it when you were terrorizing us!” The headmaster started to get worked up.
I was too busy running away because your temper is so shit!
“My temper isn’t shit!” She stood up and slammed the table.
See!
“Fine, you might be right, dealing with students and council members might have influenced the length of my fuse.” She said as she controlled herself and calmed down.
Well besides that you did your best to make sure I didn’t get kicked out unfairly even though I was a thorn in your side, thank you Remi.
“Remi?” Her hands shook. “I haven’t had someone call me that in forever.” Tears dropped down her face.
Oh sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you!
She wiped her tears. “No, it’s fine, you can call me Remi. I will prepare Witchaven for my departure. I should have done this a long time ago. I can freely move around and look for Aya now. Thank you Agnis.”
Uhh, I don’t think I did anything here…
“I know but you said things I needed to hear to move forward. If you ever need any help, contact me with this.” She handed me a blue teardrop.
What is this? Looks like junk.
“It’s a magic crystal that allows for you to telepathically connect with me. Please don’t forget to use it if the need arises.”
I will add it to the hundreds of other things I have to remember. Don’t get mad please when I inevitably forget.
“So, let’s move away from the sob stories.” Remi got a serious look on her face.
Uh oh, I told you I didn’t do what you think I did!
“Multiple [Meteors] raining down on the east of Igrini Kingdom, the mysterious disappearance of the capital city of the Igrini kingdom, fighting gods and now I hear you have a new problem?”
Ok so the capital that was Raishin but fair enough the rest that was me…
“You do know that you are currently on the same path as Aya right? If the gods can’t kill you, they will seal you away.”
Uhh, not sure if this is good news but they won’t seal me.
“And why are you so sure?”
They… they are interested in my fur…
Remi got a hard to describe look on her face.
“I see, they won’t have access to your fur if they seal you away indeed… I’m not sure this is good news.”
Anyways, if you ever see a bitch goddess with silver fur, make sure to give her a good ass whooping. I know you Misha can give the gods a run for their money.
“I’m nowhere as strong as Aya but I can’t say that I don’t have an axe to grind with them. Just make sure you don’t end up as someone’s coat.”
Working on it.
Remi got up. “I will contact you via that teardrop I gave you when I have managed to successfully pass on my responsibilities as headmaster and have found a good hiding place.”
“Why don’t you come and reside here? Judging from your conversation with Agnis, it seems you have some important ties to him. He keeps reminding us to have us solve our own racial problems but that doesn’t stop him from continuing to do so. We want to give back a bit and extend our help to you if needed.” The elder who was silent all the time spoke up.
“You would accept a non elf in your village?”
The elder looked at me. Remi seemed to understand what the elder was getting at. “Oh, right, housing a spirit fox must not be easy, I know that for sure. I will take you up on your offer then.”
She also gave a teardrop to the elder. “I got more from this conversation that I had ever hoped. Thank you Agnis and thank you Uryn.”
Uryn?
Remi pointed at the elder.
Oh, right haha! Sup Uryn!
“No need to pretend Agnis, we all know you’re terrible with names, however we do enjoy poking fun at those you have named the ‘Mango-stealers’. You have introduced some humor in our age-old council.”
Uhh, you’re welcome.
Remi got up and shook hands with Uryn and he escorted her away. She waved. “Take care!”
I waved back and was alone in the room. Witchaven will be unsafe in a year, eh? What will they do if Azu returns after that? Will her lab and house be safe? I don’t know but I don’t want to find out. I will be making another stop at Witchaven before I will investigate the power spots. If there is a possibility that they can turn Azu’s research null and void, I will make sure that this will be averted.
I went back home. I thought for a bit and got an idea. I can’t make any preparations here but I could use Azu’s lab to create what I need. I will create a variation of [Dimensional Anchor] and something akin to a [Spatial Lock]. I will make her lab and house a set location anchored to the Mainfloor and I will spatially lock it so it can’t be destroyed from the outside. They can nuke the academy or the whole of Witchaven for all I care but Azu’s lab and house will be the only locations that will remain.
I think that is the best I could do for Azu at this point.
I went over all the materials I needed. Spirit bones were problematic but easy to get. All the ingredients for Ichor Pneuma could be found in that dungeon next to Rignef’s old residence. All the things I needed for the magic system were things I could do at home. The only problem was the alchemical process but Greg was still allowed outside.
I have to do this right. I will have to deal with Witchaven before I forget, I will have to visit the power spot and get all the information I need because that’s the only time I can freely move, and the same with the dungeon.
My 9th tail reminded me that I’m an idiot.
Wow so do you have a better idea 9th?
It told me that my race specializes in deception and that it’s perfectly possible to do this without anyone noticing, preserving my freedom.
Ok you have a point I’m an idiot. How do you suppose I do this?
Hmm interesting.