Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Saffron’s Threat

Solanna turned to Aurella as the three of them touched down on the edges of the floating city of Domark with a puzzled look on her face.

“I’m a bit surprised, Aurella.  You look exactly the same as I remember you a hundred years ago.  I know that you were born like… like we are now–”

Aurella nodded in understanding of Solanna’s circumspection.  “Yeah, I prefer looking this way.  Do I have to change back?  I’d really like to not do so if I don’t have to.”  Aurella’s expression was dejected.

“Oh, not at all!  Be comfortable with however you want to look.  I mean, I still look like I’m thirty!  You’re not going to make me look like an old hag with white hair, wrinkles, hunched back all, when I go in to meet You Know Who?”

“Really?” Lysette asked.  “I know you two don’t like Saffron, but depicting her like she’s the most evil of monsters whose name can’t even be spoken in hushed whispers is a bit much.”  She paused.  “I mean, normally that sort of thing is reserved for me, if anyone.”

Solanna nodded.  “As you will, She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.”

Lysette glared at Solanna.

“Okay, Lyse.  Fine, but just note that I’ve just made Aurella giggle.”

Lysette glared at Solanna again.  “Okay, fine.  For Aurella’s sake, I suppose I have no choice but to yield.  But I expect you to take us both down to the Academy cafeteria for lemon custards afterwards.”

“Lemon custard?” Solanna asked.  “When there are pecan truffles?  At least those existed when I was at the Academy.  Did they get rid of them?  Damnit!”

“Pecan truffles?” Aurella asked.  “I don’t like truffles.  They’re bitter and oily and…”  She winced.

“Not the fungus.  I’m talking about chocolate confectionery with more chocolate and a pecan half in the center.  They are absolutely delicious.”

“They’re okay,” Lysette said.  “Tried them once.  Still not nearly as good as the lemon custards.  Not anywhere close.  Whoever made the custards was definitely a gift from the Celestials themselves.”

“Lyse, I have a feeling I’m going to regret saying this, but I think there must be something wrong with your tongue if you think the lemon custards are better than the pecan truffles.”

“Mirae seems to think my tongue is working just fine.”

Solanna erupted into a full-bellied laughter that attracted a stink-eye from a few of the other people going through the town center.  “Okay, that one is good!  And glad to hear that you two are so Passionate about one another!”

“Speaking of fun,” Aurella interjected, “How much longer until we see the Fun Vacuum so we can be done with her and actually have some again?  And why aren’t we flying?”

“Because we’d be stopped by more patrols,” Solanna said.  “And I would really hate to be addressed as Lady anything, any more times than necessary.  I mean, me, a Lady, dressed up in fancy attire, attending all the big social gatherings among the Domarian elite?  Absolutely disgusting, grotesque, no Passion whatsoever, all surrounded by double-talking nobles.

“And the worst part is?  The food always sucks so bad at those events!  It’s always like… overcooked prime rib, some inoffensive vegetable as a side, usually carrots, and like… maybe a salad and a roll.  And it’s all cooked so devoid of spices or seasonings so as to not offend sensitive palettes that can’t handle the slightest bit of taste or flavor.  Like, you’d make people think that you actually liked that kind of shit with how many of those gatherings there are!”

“Ugh, yeah, you’re totally right,” Aurella said.  “Never been to a formal occasion I didn’t hate.  But I’ll tell you, the only thing worse than eating crappy food is not getting to eat the crappy food because you’re not allowed to.  And sometimes the desserts are, well, not great, but passable, at least.”

“I hope my cooking last night was at least passable,” Lysette said.

“Well, yeah.  You actually know how to use such novel discoveries as salt and pepper.  And how to grill chicken instead of boiling it until it has the consistency of jerky with none of the flavor.”

Lysette nodded.  “Well, it seems that we’ve just about arrived.”

The three made their way up the final winding pathway up to the castle gates, and after a bit of discussion with the guards, were escorted into the compound.  Unlike the previous couple of times, the pace within the castle was far more measured this time around.  Staff were still moving deliberately and the cries of orders and directions still filled the grand foyer.  But these were the routine command of castle staff organizing for some special occasion that Lysette chose not to focus her attention on.

Instead, the air went eerily still as a familiar sensation crept up on the back of Lysette’s neck.  She turned around and nodded slightly as Saffron offered a handshake.

“You’ve certainly improved from last time,” Saffron said.  “You reacted even before I arrived, almost as though you knew I was approaching.”

“Maybe so.  A lot of battles and training.  I’m not sure I should feel so great about your compliment.”

“And I see you’ve brought a companion with you.”

Aurella looked to the side.

“Did I do something to her?” Saffron asked.

“The two of you really didn’t get along the last time you were together.”  Lysette shrugged.  “At least, that’s what she said.”

Saffron squinted at Aurella.  “Oh, yes, now I remember.  I told her that if she wants to be treated like an adult, that it might help to act and look like one.”

Aurella pouted.  “Or maybe adults should act a little less serious all the time and have some fun with one another.  That goes for Mom as much as for you, Stick Up Her Bum!”

“Fun with one another?” Solanna said.  “Not one of you three is my type, I’m afraid.”

“Same,” Lysette said.

“That’s not what I meant!”  Aurella sighed and erupted into a puff of pink smoke.  “Fine, be that way.  You wanted my adult form, here’s my adult form, now can we just say whatever we need to say so we can leave already and go get food?”

Saffron led the three into the same conference room where Lysette, Serrena, and Mirae had had their meeting with her months earlier.  The flurry of soldiers and heated conversations between generals, magistrates, and other advisors present last time was now all but absent from the castle corridors.  And yet tension still filled the air, its source undetectable even to Lysette’s left eye, yet still ever-present.

Saffron took her seat at the head of the table, while Solanna sat to her left, Lysette to her right, and Aurella sat on the opposite end of the table.  The latter shifted back to her kid form, and the three took turns telling Domaria’s ruler about Aurella’s arrival and what they knew about the goings on in the Celestial realm.  All in all, it took nearly an hour to finish, in part because of Aurella’s many, many tangents.

“So, in summary,” Saffron started.  “Luminia sent you to Ciricu to assassinate ‘the demon lord’, but when you encountered Lyse, you two decided to become fast friends instead?  And then you asked her to come visit Solanna?  And so here you three are?”

“What?  Do I need some grand reason for wanting to see Auntie Solanna?  She was the only one who treated me just fine without making me deal with a body I don’t like walking around in!  Well, other than my new friends.”

Saffron sighed.  “Well, at least the explanation was a simple one.  Unfortunately, it appears that Luminia isn’t the only person that’s taken an interest in Lyse’s recent antics.  I recently received a missive from my own Patron regarding the recent revelation.”

“So what, who cares?”  Aurella aimed an obscene gesture skyward.  “I’ve been informed that I don’t have to just listen to what my parents tell me.  So why not do the same?”

“Because, unlike you, I have responsibilities to maintain the stewardship of these lands in my Lord’s stead.  And if I screw off and futz around with whimsical shenaniganry, people could die.  People who ultimately depend on my maintaining a Stable and consistent government and internal and foreign policy.

“Aurella, I mean no disrespect when I say this, but as a demigoddess and the daughter of Luminia, you will outlive your mortal father.  His life, extended by his Cultivation and his wife’s blessing, may continue for another century or so, but rest assured, it will end.  And when that day comes, you will be expected to serve as the ruler of Laquella.  I hope, for the sake of the Laquellan people, that you will be a wise and responsible ruler when that day arrives.”

“That may be the people’s expectation, but I don’t see why I have to be the ruler?  I’m tired of all these expectations that my life has to be decided by everyone else just because my mother happens to be a goddess!  Let someone else be the ruler of Laquella so I can live my life as I want it.”

“That’s not possible,” Saffron said.

“Bullshit!” Solanna said.  “Don’t give her the ‘it’s not possible’ crap!  It’s not possible only because our creators continue to rule over their creations with an iron fist.  Their so-called ‘guiding influence’ aside, what they’re doing is using us as mere enforcers, giving us power and wealth and the divine right to rule in exchange for servitude to their allegedly-benevolent designs.

“And it makes me sick.  I’m sure your Stability relishes all the freedom of a caged life, but Passion demands true freedom for all of us to live our lives in accordance with our own wills, not those of our creators.”

“So you’re not willing to help us after all, Solanna.  I had hoped that with your return from seclusion, that you would see the wisdom in my decisions and how much prosperity Domaria has seen over the last hundred years.”

“Prosperity for whom?”  Solanna stood up and started talking in a raised voice.  “Domark itself is doing great, and the nobility is living even larger than ever.  But have you seen all the communities on the outskirts?  Like Osstia?  Oh wait, the only survivor of that village is sitting right across the table from me.”

Lysette lowered her head slightly.

“Anyway,” Saffron said.  “Domar is less than pleased to hear about this demon menace as well.  Were it him here instead of me, I have little doubt that he would smite Lyse where she sat.  However, as the situation stands now, there are three things that preclude me from taking action.”

“And those are?” Lysette asked.

“First, I have no doubt from your actions to this point that, your motives against Asterion aside, you are a true daughter of Domaria.  You have, time and time again, fought and rallied soldiers, students, and others together to defend our homeland from enemies both foreign and domestic.

“Second, although Elithria’s military force has diminished following the death of Asterion’s Godslayer and capture of their strike force, the war is far from over.  Solisian forces still have inroads into Domaria’s southern borders, and from what I understand from your intelligence, Terea will be attacking in force within the next few days.  And that doesn’t even account for whatever Valdora might try, or Elithria trying for a second strike, anticipating that we’ll have diverted our forces elsewhere.

“And third, and most importantly, Solanna and Aurella are both here.  As a result, I am no longer confident in my ability to actually carry out such a threat.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re still stronger than I am,” Lysette said.  “By a considerable margin.”

“But not an insurmountable one,” Saffron responded.  “I am perhaps thirty to fifty percent stronger than you are.  But were I to attack you right now, I have little doubt that both Serrena and Aurella wouldn’t hesitate to interfere.  I do not believe that I am capable of fighting all three of you at once.  At least, I am not confident enough in my capabilities to consider such an option.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because, Lyse, you should be aware of exactly how scared the gods are, now that knowledge of your existence is openly acknowledged in the Celestial realm and that you’ve reached the level of strength you have.  I am pleased to have you as an ally through these difficult and trying times.  Without you, Domark would have fallen thrice over, at least.  However, I cannot guarantee that we will remain allies if the political situation in either realm changes.  I hope the day when we must cross swords never comes, Lyse.  But I fear that day will happen sooner than either of us hope.”

Chapter 252: https://www.patreon.com/posts/114837634

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101896170

Chapter 254: https://www.patreon.com/posts/114956947