Notoriety, page 15
Just after the six guards recovered, the illusion and the invisible Queen Aila Lorafir split as it flew off in the opposite direction, while all the evidence would point to Prince Arnost Eudoxia having been the one to leak his sister’s location. Xeal was shaking his head as he received a message that Princess Syretia and her guards had escaped, while he felt himself being lifted by Queen Aila Lorafir as she took him away from his overwatch position and into the cave where the five illusionists were just escaping as well. Once they were through, Xeal turned to Saima and spoke.
“Remember to head to each country on the list in order, as if they decide to look into anyone leaving the country after this attack, we need to have them chasing a wild goose.”
“I know, you don’t need to worry, Xeal.”
“Yah, just making sure. Thanks for handling this for us. I am sure that it sucked.”
“It’s fine, but you should leave before they check this cave out.”
“Right.”
With that, Xeal and Queen Aila Lorafir left and Saima packed up the gate, before using a return scroll that took her all the way back to the capital of the Ivurith Empire. She had spent the last three weeks in ED simply traveling across the various areas of the Ivurith Empire to reach that area and be able to pull off her role and was happy to have it over with. At the same time, she felt accomplished for succeeding in carrying out the mission as it had been a great test of her skills. Meanwhile, Xeal was smiling at seeing everything go according to plan as he returned to the elven palace, as Princess Syretia spoke to Xeal.
“Alright, you have lived up to all but one of your parts of the deal. Now it is time that you fulfil that part as well.”
“Yes, but first, have you already chosen your new name?”
“Alyson. I am Alyson from this day forward.”
“Alright, if you would follow me and Lady Lorafir, I will take care of the last part of our deal.”
With that the three of them went into a side room and Xeal placed a pseudo mark on her and retrieved a drop of blood that would be placed at the revival point in his mansion. Once that was complete, she handed him her feather as she smiled at knowing that she was guaranteed to survive and escape almost any danger. How she would use her freedom wasn’t Xeal’s concern as like her four guards, he had each of their signatures on a contract that prevented them from ever telling anyone about his involvement in her escape. With that taken care of, the rest of the day turned into a relaxing one for Xeal and his group as they enjoyed the break.
Xeal had to laugh as Odelia actually managed to convince Alyson and her guards to sail the sea for at least one trip. Xeal smiled at seeing that Saima had started her trip to Vefreora successfully and would cross the border before returning to Nium, as she made sure to cover her tracks by being active in the area for a few weeks. If all went to plan, Xeal expected that the Ivurith Empire would track her path down in about a month and one of the teleportations she did in Abysses End’s backyard would be where the chain broke. This would cause the focus to stay there and hopefully die there, as they should have no proof that the target was even involved other than the fact that she only spent a few days in each capital before leaving.
With everything going well and most of his party having already returned to Nium, Xeal decided it was time to settle his bill. Having given Aalin and Gale forewarning and having their assurances that the other four were expecting it to happen sooner or later, Xeal made his way over to Queen Aila Lorafir. She had been looking out at her city in the darkness that was lit up with a mix of lanterns and magical lights as he took her hand and pulled her in to a tender kiss. As he broke away from her, Xeal spoke softly.
“Aila, the day will likely come where I let you in, but for now, that is all I dare give you as I am not willing to spark something more yet.”
For her part Queen Aila Lorafir just smiled as she looked at Xeal for a long moment before responding.
“It is fine. As a first kiss I wouldn’t have it any other way. Now you better calm down Eira before she rushes to conclusions.”
Xeal looked over to find Eira looking like she was stuck between surprise and fear as he walked up to her and spoke.
“Eira, are you okay?”
“Just tell me why.”
“That was what she asked for in payment for the help she rendered today and you can’t say that it comes as too much of a surprise.”
“So, if my mother asked for that same thing?”
“I would refuse her as I have you.”
“Does this mean that you aren’t going to let Alea have a chance and what about Rina?”
“They have been unlikely from the start. At this point the most likely path is for me to help them reach tier-8 as Alea assumes her mother’s throne and I take Lady Lorafir as a wife.”
“So, it will only happen after I have been able to call you husband for years?”
Xeal smiled as he stepped in close to Eira and pulled her body into his by placing his left arm behind her back and cupped her cheek with his right hand as he kissed her deeply. When he broke the kiss, he started speaking while looking her in her eyes which had softened at the show of affection.
“As things are currently, yes and make no mistake, you hold more of me at this moment than she does. Do you remember what Bula said when you were worried about Alea and Rina?”
“Something about only worrying that I hold a part of your heart and ignoring the others who wish to hold a part of it as well.”
“Good enough. Just remember I may be your prey, but your lips already belong to me and I have no intent to do anything but keep the chase going until I am ready for you to catch me completely.”
“I know. I just worry when I see others move closer while I feel like I am standing still with no way forward.”
Xeal smiled as he leaned forward and whispered his next words in her ear so that only she would hear it, even if those with enhanced senses tried to listen in.
“Eira, you already have a piece of my heart. All you need to do is stay by my side as you have long since caught me. I love you. I am just delaying things as I need you to be with me until the war has passed and can’t afford to allow you to become a mother just yet.”
Xeal felt Eira pull him tightly to her as she brought his lips back to hers, as she kissed him so hard that it almost took him to the ground. By the time Xeal and Eira had broken apart, they had become the center of the whole room’s attention as Eira blushed for a second before standing tall and smiling. Xeal just held in a chuckle at the looks he was getting from Aalin and Gale, before frowning slightly at the expression on Bula’s face. There was another land mine that he would have to step on one day, but the one that he would need to handle first took the form of two fox-girl teenagers who were looking at him with a determined look. Even so, now was not the time to leave Eira’s side to handle any of that as he knew that she needed to be his focus for a while, after admitting what he had just confessed. So, as the last hour that they were staying passed, Xeal stayed next to her and Aalin and Gale ignored her joining them in the bed when they returned to the capital before logging out.
When Xeal awoke on day 131, it was to Eira running her fingers through his hair as she hummed happily next to him. Before he was even fully aware of his surroundings, his lips had already been sealed by hers as she enjoyed a good morning kiss before speaking.
“I will still stay out of your bed in Hardt Burgh, but not here.”
“Looks like we officially have another sister,” interrupted Gale. “After all, to her tribe marriage is as simple as sleeping in the same bed for a while.”
“Yes, but I am not going to hold to my tribe’s traditions, or conform to yours,” responded Eira. “No, I want a ceremony so everyone knows that I have committed myself to Xeal completely, but that can wait until he is ready for Luna, Selene and I suppose Kate. Who knows, he might find two more before then and have another group of six brides to deal with all at once.”
“That is a situation to figure out once the time is closer,” commented Aalin. “That said, you are aware that it will need to wait for at least four or five years, right?”
“For a kitten sure, but I have no issue being his wife before the war is over and waiting to get pregnant.”
“Alright, as much as I enjoy the women I love planning my future, I have a meeting to get to before we can turn our focus on clearing out the forging area we found our last time in the mines,” interrupted Xeal as he gave them each a kiss as he left them behind.
A half hour later, Xeal was sitting with Luna and Selene next to him in a private room in a restaurant with Jessica’s character Nada as he spoke.
“Nada, what did you need? Is it about moving to Colorado? Nanami was vague on what was going on.”
“No, it is about-”
“Hold up. First, Nada. Really?” interrupted Selene.
“We get that you have self-worth issues but come on,” added Luna.
“Both of you back off. It’s Russian and it means hope, isn’t that right, Nada,” interjected Xeal while giving both twins a look.
“It’s both, actually. When I started this game I felt like I was nothing in reality and I had hope that it would be different here. So, when I was looking for names related to hope and found it I latched onto it, but that’s not why I asked you to meet me. Nantan capitulated completely so long as I sign away my right to even go public about anything.”
“Hold on, that would leave him with nothing,” responded Xeal in a slightly stunned tone. “Did Abysses End pay it for him?”
“I don’t know, but I am sending you the documents now so you can look them over on your end before I sign them.”
“Alright. Are you fine if I pass them to Kate to look into? She will likely be able to get more info from her father.”
“That’s fine,” responded Nada. “I-”
“Hold up. How much are we talking here?”
“Yeah, just how much did you go after him for?”
Xeal sighed as he looked at the twins before he responded.
“40,000,000 credits, 36,000,000 of which would go to Nada here if he really did throw in the towel like it sounds like he did. Abysses End must really just want this to go away if they paid that much out just to avoid litigation, as she should have only gotten a tenth of that at most.”
“Those lawyers must really be happy right now,” commented Selene.
“Yeah, unless she turns down the deal,” added Luna.
“I don’t want the credits. Xeal, please, I am really happy for the first time ever and I feel like having so many credits will ruin me. Can’t you take them and I will just work for FAE or something, so I can live comfortably but not extravagantly?”
“No and if Kate says to take the deal you should, but I can send a person to manage the credits your way. If you want, they can make it so that you can live off that for the rest of your life, while not being able to touch any of it beyond your monthly stipend, or you can simply give it to charity. Though if I were you, I would set it up to be a trust that can be directed to whatever charity after you die.”
“Alright, I will think about it,” responded Nada, looking unsure of herself as she continued. “Since you are here already, are you really okay with me moving into your house?”
“Okay, we will take this one,” interjected Selene as she narrowed her eyes.
“Yeah, do you see how the two of us are sitting with Xeal?” added Luna.
“This will be your reality.”
“Both in reality and in ED.”
“The two of us intend to keep any more women in reality from getting near our man!”
“So, the real question is, can you handle dealing with that, knowing that if you try, we will not hold back in shutting you down!”
“Actually, I think that will help,” replied Nada. “If I know the result beforehand, it will keep me from hoping, even if part of me doesn’t like it.”
“Good.”
“Then we will be just fine.”
“Just don’t look to make friends with us.”
“Yeah, sorry, but you are on our list of never befriend.”
“You two already have a list like that?” asked Xeal, slightly intrigued.
“Of course, besides Nada here.”
“There is Saki, Natalina and the other models.”
“Lina Chun, Rose, Elizabeth and Lauren just in case.”
“We have to be sure about these things.”
“Yeah, the last thing we want is to fall like Aalin and Gale did for us.”
“After all, we are your little hypocrites.”
“So that’s why they came instead of Aalin and Gale,” commented Nada almost unconsciously.
“Yep,” replied Selene chipperly.
“So, don’t hate us for not liking you,” added Luna in the same tone.
“I only hate that I tried to trap him. Had I done things like you did I might be sitting next to him instead of you.”
“No,” retorted Selene.
“You wouldn’t be able to deal with being here,” stated Luna matter-of-factly.
“You can’t stand on your own.”
“And until you can, you can’t stand against others effectively.”
“You would be far too aggressive and erratic.”
“Causing Xeal to have to spent his energy keeping you in check.”
“That’s enough, you two,” interjected Xeal. “Nada, as I told you, you need someone who can focus on you. Perhaps you and Casmir will be a fit, but if not, it will still be a good learning experience for both of you. Just don’t move too fast and try to just enjoy getting to know each other if Nanami succeeds in setting you two up.”
“I will,” stated Nada slightly dejectedly. “Oh, and Xeal, thank you for taking the time to care about me, even if you pushed me away and will always continue to do so. I will never forget what you have done for me, or take it for granted.”
With that, the meeting came to an end as he sent the files to Kate to look over and made his way back to Nium before meeting up with his party. Once they were together and Xeal had shared the gist of what had happened with Aalin, Gale and Kate, they all made their way back to the lower area of the kobold mines as they prepped to assault the forge on the 120th floor. Unlike the forges on the upper levels that were used to create large projects and mass production goods, these were more of private forges. In particular, it was where those who had reached platinum rank in smithing would work from mainly as they tried to join the ranks of the true masters. It was also the second to last major forging area in the whole mine and would definitely yield excellent loot. However, the kobolds had not left it alone as they had moved in just like they had everywhere below and like the dwarves, the better craftsmen of the kobolds occupied the area. As it was in every society, regardless of how advanced or primitive, the desire for the best stuff created the need to protect said stuff. This had led to what Xeal called kobold gangs to be everywhere on this floor, as each of the smiths either maintained his own gang for protection, or was provided one by their benefactor.
So it was when Eira returned with a report showing an estimated 5,000 kobolds guarding the 100 main forges in this floor for an easy 50 per forge, everyone but Xeal frowned. While they had expected some resistance, none of them had realized just how steep the jump in difficulty of an area meant for tier-6 players was, over one meant for tier-5. Xeal knew, however, that this dividing line was known as the difference between the casual player and the semipros. While many casual players would reach tier-6, few of them would ever fight in a tier-6 area before reaching tier-6 as it was not an enjoyable experience for any involved. It was with this thought that Xeal spoke to the group who were deep in debate about how to tackle clearing the area, with more than a few suggesting that they grind for more levels first.
“Everyone, we are not taking a step back. Anyone here who doesn’t think that they can handle this fight needs to ask themselves if they really want to be here at all. Welcome to a preview of what life after tier-5 will be like. It will be a long hard struggle as you kill one monster after another. Gone are the days of being able to kill around the same number of monsters of the same level to reach the next. While it will be a slow climb, by the time we are reaching the peak of tier-7, I expect it to take around four times as many monsters to reach each level and the fights won’t get easier either. Just be happy that this dungeon ends before tier-7. Now we can either try a lure technique, or we can go for shock and awe.”
“Hold up, you want to charge in and take on 5,000 kobolds that are all between levels 120 and 130?” questioned Nanami. “Are you insane? Tell me one way that doesn’t end with us all dying.”
“Xeal, do you want to bankrupt FAE in ED?” interjected Kate as she realized just how they would pull something like that off. “Spell mines are meant to be used on enemies that are difficult to deal with and yield acceptable profits. Not piled up and set off by you to create enough electricity to flood a whole floor in here with it.”
“Nanami, I am not insane, just a little unhinged and Kate, my plan wouldn’t require a single spell mine as the shock and awe method would be similar to the lure method in the result of how we would fight most of them.”
“You’re talking about rushing in while letting loose our strongest attacks before taking up a defensible position,” commented Arnhylde with a smile. “I like it. My vote is for that.”
