Chapter 210 – New Furbaby

Lilyth

I was woken up by a weight on my chest, and when I opened my eyes, I saw that it was Fluffy, looking at me expectantly, with an "OwO" on his face.

Someone who wants nothing from me but my love, I pressed him to my body, feeling fresh tears flow to my eyes.

Nyx appeared next to me with a tray of breakfast, which she immediately set aside, seeing the state I was in.

‘Your friends really did a number on you didn't they?’ she sighed and sat down next to me.

‘They were right,’ I sobbed.

‘No… they were not. They just chose the most expedient solution, the same as Yachiro and Malika. I understand the reasoning behind both, but none of them factored in what you actually want.’

‘I did take the throne,’ I pointed out.

‘If memory serves you were seriously considering leaving even before Wilhum sold you out.’

‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘People died due to my panicking.’

‘While religious fanatics tried to lynch you.’

‘I doubt their loved ones and neighbours would be understanding, so I wanted to get out of their sight and let them heal.’

‘A valid choice. And then after the courtyard incident, you also just wanted to leave rather than seek retribution. Same after you realised that Malika and Yachiro wanted you to be their puppet. And now you finally left.’

‘Ye-,’ I began but was interrupted by a coughing fit.

Nyx just shook her head, and, caressing my fur said:

‘You know, I didn't expect the ball to finally push you over the edge. I guess I wanted it to be well… a fun reminder of how you started taking care of yourself.’

‘Y-yes,’ I bawled. With both the kibble and the ball, you just showed me you me to… y-you know… take care of my needs. That you just want me to be happy and healthy.’

‘Yes,’ she embraced me. ‘Because you deserve to be. It really hurts me to see what Dwynveia has done to you.’

I hugged her back and we just sat there.

‘Thank you,’ I finally said. ‘I really needed that.’

‘Anytime. You’ve earned that. And more. So much more.’

‘I don’t want to go back down there, you know,’ I said after another coughing fit. ‘I know I have to, but…’

‘You don’t,’ Nyx shook her head. ‘You can stay here for the rest of your life.’

‘But I promised…’

‘“Together till the end,” I know. And I admire you for wanting to keep it, but your friends betrayed that promise the moment they told you about their plans for Ror-Bhyk. Betrayed you. As Ere told you, you need to focus on recovering, something that at this point will take you years assuming it can ever be done, and your idiot friends decided to put extra weight on your shoulders nonetheless. Ireela can easily take control, but no. “Let's make Lilyth the figurehead.” Bah.’

‘So… I should just abandon them?’

‘I am not saying that, but you are allowed to take care of your needs and wants first and foremost. And what do you want, Lilyth of Terra?’

‘I… want the pain to stop,’ I admitted. ‘I just want to live a normal life. I don’t want to fight again. Not after… not after…’

Nyx embraced me more tightly.

‘Then don’t. Stay here with me, my daughter. We’ll find a way for you to contribute to your group without you having to risk your life and limb. You’ve suffered enough. So I welcome you into my house and home, Princess Lilyth Geist of the Realm of Air, daughter of my heart.’

‘Thank you… mom.’

‘Won’t Ere mind?’ I asked while eating breakfast, a pretty tasty bowl of chocolate cereal and toasts with jam.

I was still in bed, as I didn't feel much like getting up yet.

‘Mind what, sweetie?’ Nyxie, sitting on a cloud, asked and took a sip of coffee.

‘That you stole me from her.’

‘I didn't. You can still die, as unlikely as that is and after you saved Dwynveia from the Blood any obligation you had towards her is considered to be paid in full, meaning you would probably chill in her palace instead of here.’

‘Wait… really?’

‘Really,’ she smiled. ‘That was you going above and beyond. Any further expectations of you would be cruel of us.’

‘But there is so much else to do. Strickland, the Red Masks…’

‘There will always be some crisis or another going on. Can't fix them all on your own. If it is not you, then others will rise to the occasion. You are just one woman Lilyth. It will take you a while, but you will learn to… let go. And as far as the ones you want to be involved in… it will be out of your own volition, and like I said… There are ways in which you can contribute.’

She pulled out my quest-reward book from the inner pocket of her suit.

‘We’ll need to go for your other things at some point,’ she said and handed it over to me.

‘A spell book?’ I asked after paging through it.

‘Yup,’ mom smiled. ‘Check out some of the spells towards the end.’

[Scrying Mirror], [Whisper], [Remote Eye], [Mental Contact]...

‘Goddamn… Are you implying I should become mission control?’

‘If you want. No pressure and that’s the riskiest option too since you will need to be in the field for that. We also have plenty of books on Magitek engineering, enchanting and other forms of crafting.’

Seeing my expression she quickly added:

‘You don't have to decide now. I’d prefer it if you waited for a few weeks before even beginning to explore different options. You need rest. A lot of it. So have some fun. You are safe now.’

My initial response was drowned by my fucking cough.

‘Could you teach me the cloud thing?’ I finally asked.

‘Will be happy to, but if you are up to it, let’s go see the rest of the coloured-hair brigade and establish some ground rules, first .’

I was.

Aki

We sat in the council room in awkward silence as we watched Ireela process the news of Lilyth's probable retirement. She was absentmindedly looking outside the window.

‘You sure there is nothing we can do to get her help?’ she finally asked.

‘No,’ I stressed again.

‘Godddammit,’ she swore.

We all sorely felt Lilyth's absence, but we had to make the best out of it.

Better retired than dead.

‘That’s the spirit,’ Irmen said venomously.

It seemed that she was still mad at me for the way we handled offering Lilyth her position as the queen. Caei, Ren and Sav also apparently received their own dream dressing downs.

Apparently, offering a very stressful position to someone who just woke up from a coma is “not something we do to friends.”

‘Ya think?!’

Still, that didn't prevent me from getting my hopes up when Lilyth reappeared in the room with Nyx, though those quickly got quashed when I saw how haggard and small my furry cutie still looked. That wasn't Lilyth the Godslayer, but rather Lilyth the Very Sick Woman.

Even her attempt to greet us was interrupted by what looked to be a very painful coughing fit.

‘Fuuuuck,’ she whimpered.

‘Give it time, sweetie,’ Nyx said, and, looking at it, added:

‘You don't recover from usually lethal curses in a week.’

I winced at the jab.

Some wife I am.

‘Anyway,’ the goddess continued, ‘I have come to discuss custody rights over my new furbaby over here.’

Furbaby?

The explanation to that particular question was very welcome, as was hearing that Lilyth did indeed find a safe haven for herself.

‘But what about Ror-Bhyk?’ Ireela asked. ‘Sorry to say that, Lady Nyx, but Lilyth would be a great asset in maintaining peace. News that she abdicated and left would cause chaos.’

The intense guilt I saw on my foxy cutie's face told me everything.

Holy shit. We really did fuck-up yesterday.

‘And I am not sorry to say that, Duchess Ireela, but you will have to find another way,’ Nyx said. ‘What exactly are your expectations here? I took Lilyth along on this caper to show you she is in no shape to even be a public figurehead. Or do you expect her to attend public functions in the state she is in?’

Ireela examined Lilyth and finally shook her head.

‘I guess not.’

‘That being said…’ Nyx turned towards our Jelly: ‘What do you want, sweetie? Do you want to rule Ror-Bhyk?’

Lilyth's shoulders sagged.

‘I don’t know how,’ she shook her head. ‘At the same time, I don’t want people to die because I ran away, but… I don’t feel up to it.’

‘There you have it,’ Nyx said. ‘Straight from the fox’s mouth.’

‘Would an… advisory role be more okay?’ Ren suggested. ‘And by advisory, I mean… show up whenever a show of force is necessary and be a presence, but otherwise leave the rule to my mom.’

‘Me?’ Ireela asked.

‘You,’ Nyx smiled. ‘Okay, Ren, you are out of the doghouse. Would you be okay with that, Lilyth?’

‘So… I would just have to stand around there and look “fierce” from time to time?’ my Jelly confirmed.

‘Yes,’ Ren confirmed. ‘Of course, we would come ask you for advice from time to time, since you do have brains, but otherwise you can just chill with Nyx.’

‘That works,’ Lilyth nodded.

‘I guess it will be better than nothing,’ Ireela said with a sour expression. ‘And I am sorry to immediately ask for your help, but His Holiness Bishop Warnyq has been demanding an audience with you specifically since the battle.’

‘What’s his problem?’ my Jelly asked with a raised eyebrow. ‘Is he pissy about us fighting in the cemetery or something?’

‘No. It is about the fae soldiers and their help in the evacuation.’

‘What?!’ Nyx shouted, thunder in his voice.

‘I am short on details, I am afraid, my Lady.’

Lilyth covered her eyes with her hand and shook her head.

‘Why didn't you lead with that one, Duchess Ireela? Putting holier-than-thou old men in their place is the kind of pick-me-up I need. So… Here is how I want to handle this.’

Bishop Warnyq

‘All rise for Lilyth of House Geist, Queen of Ror-Bhyk and Princess of the Realm of Air,’ the Viscount's majordomo announced.

Princess of the Realm of Air? What the fuck?

The Kitsune, now sporting a pair of horns for some reason, entered the throne room in her white suit accompanied by her companions and “Duchess” Ireela, and sat down on one of the two thrones, immediately leaning to the side and crossed her legs, giving an appearance of lying down.

Disrespectful whelp.

‘Bishop Warnyq!’ she exclaimed in a faux pleasant tone. To what do I owe your pr-’

The “Queen” got interrupted by a series of nasty coughs.

‘I apologise,’ she said. ‘Those curses can be a real bitch. Anyway, what brings you to my keep, your Holiness?’

‘The fae brutes closed our Cathedral and forced us out of our home!’

The Kitsune looked at the Harpy.

‘It is located in a heavily contaminated area, my Queen,’ Ireela supplied.

‘I see no issue with their actions then,’ “Queen” Lilyth said. ‘You can hold your sermons, or whatever is that you do, elsewhere. People need to be alive to attend them, though. Duchess Ireela, find some permanent lodgings for the clergy of Light and a large building in the habitable parts of the city to serve as a new house of worship.’

‘Yes, my Queen.’

Wait… what?

‘You look surprised, your Holiness.’

‘I didn't expect you to be so… reasonable, your Highness,’ he explained.

‘People often turn to religion in times of crisis,’ Queen Lilyth said with a shrug. ‘I would not deprive them of that. Do bear in mind that if I hear about you rallying against the Fae, I will be… less understanding.’

‘I’ll keep that in mind. Will we be allowed to go back to the Cathedral to retrieve the possessions and tools of worship we weren't able to take with us during the evacuation?’

‘I’ll have Captain Asha arrange an escort for you. We’ll also ask for volunteers to help you carry things.’

‘Thank you, your Highness.’

‘Can I help you with anything else?’

There were a few other things, but Warnyq chose not to press his luck for now.

‘Nothing immediately urgent, your Highness’ he said.

‘Then this audience is over,’ Queen Lilyth dismissed him with lazy gesture.

Aki

‘That went better than expected,’ Lilyth shrunk after the crusty old man left.

‘You did well, sweetie,’ I tried to reassure her.

My Jelly turned to Ireela.

‘Very well, I will play the Queen when it comes to shit like this. Otherwise, you are in charge. Deal?’

‘Deal,’ Rennie's mom smiled.

‘Anyway, I think I am going to lie down.’

As she tried to get, Lilyth suddenly got very pale and sweaty, lost balance and collapsed onto the floor.

Fuck!

‘Lilyth!’ I cried her name and ran over to help her.

Together with Caei and Sav we helped her back into her throne.

She tried to thank us, but her words were drowned by coughs.

Nyx immediately appeared by our side and said:

‘Fuck! Had I known the Bishop was here I would have never offered to bring her here.’

She then turned to Ireela.

‘If you call Lilyth down here without a very good reason I will turn you into a charred skeleton. Understood?’