Ria's Adventures
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Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 257
🕑 Added 2024-11-01 16:46:09 +0000 UTCChapter 257: Saying Farewell
It was evening when Lysette again awoke, dusk’s golden glow streaming through the window in an unfamiliar room. Lysette moved her arms, but not without difficulty— just as the last time Lysette had a battle within her soulscape, the wounds she sustained inside reflected onto her outside body. She attempted to flare her aura out to examine what lay beyond, but her entire body ached as she spread it beyond the boundaries of the small room.
She tried standing up, and was able to do so without too much difficulty. Ultimately, though, she chose to lie back down and rest. Solanna had protected her from Bionco’s desperation attack, and Lysette trusted that Solanna would continue to protect her from anyone else who tried to harm her while she rested.
Instead she closed her eyes and enjoyed doing nothing for the first time in quite a long while, not even passively Cultivating as was now almost second nature to her. Just relaxing, feeling the sensations of a warm, comfortable, inviting bed caressing her back and a thick, soft blanket over her body. It felt nice— luxurious and comfortable.
Aurella’s voice suffused through the door, followed by a gust of wind as she darted in. “Cousin Lysettie! You’re finally awake!”
“Lysettie?”
“Yeah, I decided Lysette wasn’t cute enough, so now you’re Lysettie!”
Lysette rolled her eyes. “Well, if it makes you happy calling me that. Anyway, where are we?”
“Well, uh, we’re actually staying in the Chancellor’s suite right now. And you’re staying in what used to be his bed.”
A shiver ran down Lysette’s spine. “Gross. I’m definitely going to need a bath after how dirty I feel right now.”
“Anyway, Auntie Solanna went to have some words with Miss Stick-Up-Her-Bum after she got done tracking down the guy who was responsible for this whole mess. Turns out he was a pretty high-ranking priest of Bionco.”
“And who’s been here looking after me while the two of you were off chasing after him?”
“I mean, I have been of course. I wasn’t going to leave you to recover from injuries like those even if Solanna didn’t tell me to keep an eye on you. But thanks to one of my abilities— Séance, I call it— I can keep an eye on her while I’m still here with you!”
“Séance? Is that like an avatar?”
“It’s the same principle. Except, instead of using a physical body as the vessel for my consciousness, I use one of pure light. I can’t interact, let alone fight, with my séance, but I can use it to see and hear things from afar.”
“Wow. That definitely sounds like it could be really useful.”
Aurella looked skyward and stuck her tongue out. “You hear that, Mom? Lysettie agrees with me; my ability is useful!”
“I don’t understand why Luminia wouldn’t agree with your assessment. I know there have been plenty of times where I would have loved to be able to spy on enemies without having to worry about being captured. I’d love to be able to spy on the Terean capital right now. Well, not right now while I’m resting, but–”
“Well, thank you. Anyway, Auntie Solanna is going to be back in a few minutes. Also she told me to tell you that you were reckless, that you pushed yourself way too far, and that you are not to get out of bed no matter what until she allows you to do so.”
“I–” Lysette stammered. “Yes, Aurella. And thank you both for looking after me.”
Aurella walked toward the door, but Lysette stopped her.
“Wait, Aurella. Before you go. Can you use your Séance to contact Mirae and let them know that I’m okay? I’m still too weak to move my avatar effectively.”
“I’m sorry, Lyse. If it were twenty minutes earlier or two weeks from now, I could. But I’m the daughter of the Goddess of Light, and that ability relies on the presence of natural light to function. And dusk has already passed over Ciricu, just as it will do here in Domark momentarily.”
“I see. And thanks again, Aurella.”
A short while later, another knock came from the door, accompanied by a more serious but no less friendly voice.
“Alright Lyse, I hope you’re decent in there because I’m coming in anyway!”
Lysette looked up at Solanna, who was followed by an unfamiliar-looking plain, almost homely blonde who nevertheless exuded the same air about her as Saffron. Last but not least, a well-dressed, distinguished older man followed. He was well-dressed and again had a familiar feel to him, but it was hard to tell. He was ensnared in some sort of shackles that impeded the Essence flow through his body, and was unwilling to meet Lysette’s weakened gaze.
“I do apologize, Lyse,” the blonde said. “Both that this had happened so soon after our meeting and that our meeting earlier ended on such a rough note.”
“It’s fine, Saffron.” Lysette said her name with a bit of unease, not fully certain if it was, in fact, her avatar.
“Saffron?” the man asked. “As in, the Saffron Ateni? Why do you permit such anathema to defile this world? You should know by now exactly what she is and how dangerous allowing her to live is! R– Release me now, that we might end this threat before she–”
“That’s quite enough, Blaise!” Saffron snapped her fingers and Blaise’s entire body froze as though enveloped in a straitjacket. “You will speak when spoken to and remain silent otherwise.”
“B– But.” Blaise tried to clench his fist, but whatever ability Saffron had used before kept him from doing more than twitching his fingers.
“Now then. Lyse. Is this man the merchant who sold you the medallion earlier today?”
“I can’t tell for certain. His visual appearance was disguised by a powerful technique— if I had to guess, directly by a deity. Your technique has completely stopped the flow of Essence throughout his body right now, so I can’t compare the two. And even before, the flow of Essence was warped by his bracers, but I… I think it’s him.”
“I see.”
Solanna cut in. “I can confirm Bionco’s direct will was contained within the amulet. This first part is speculative on my end, but while attempting to attune the medallion to herself, Lysette engaged Bionco’s will in single combat. She nearly succumbed from her injuries, but managed to damage the artifact and permit me to link with her. At that point, I shielded Lyse’s weakened form from Bionco’s final assault and brought her to a place where she could recover her Divine Essence.”
“What have you to say for yourself, Blaise?” Saffron asked.
“I was carrying out my Goddess’s orders, no different than you, Lady Ateni. If it is my duty to die by your hand, I shall do so willingly. However, I will remind you that as Bionco’s head priest and emissary to Domaria, I am entitled to diplomatic protection. My goddess will hear of your treachery, and I assure you there will be consequences.”
“Your pretenses of diplomatic immunity were null and void the moment you took direct action against the person of the diplomatic representative of another nation. Whatever consequences may happen between our patrons will happen in the future, but as far as the laws of Domaria are concerned, you are in the wrong.”
“Another nation? Do you mean to tell me that Domaria actually acknowledges this demon’s upstart rebellion as an independent nation? I trust you know the ramifications of such a foolish and shortsighted decision.”
“My decision is neither foolish nor shortsighted. I have learned the value of having powerful allies, especially ones not beholden to deities ordering them around. My and Domar’s misgivings with what she is aside, in terms of her actions, she has done more to ensure Domarian Stability and continuity than perhaps any other in the past century. And for that, she has earned my trust.”
“Soon, very soon, the gods shall unite to strike down this blight. They have not forgotten the scourge of Lilit four million years ago, nor how close she came to scouring all of creation clean.”
“I do not foresee such unity coming from such disparate interests, not when they have already been mired in their own conflicts for so long. With that said, whatever will happen later will happen, and I will do my part to guide Domaria through the oncoming storm.
“As for you, Blaise, on behalf of the Domarian crown, your diplomatic immunity is hereby revoked and I am ordering you expelled from Domarian lands. You have seventy-two hours to make whatever arrangements are necessary and depart at once. If you do not comply, you will be considered an enemy combatant and treated as such.”
“If I cannot convince you otherwise, Lady Ateni, then so be it. I hope that you reconsider your words before it is too late. For you, for me, and for all of us.”
Saffron released her binding technique and, after a brief pause, unhooked the bracers which bound his arms together. The Essence around Blaise again began to flow, and though for a brief moment he turned toward Lysette with a scowl, his eyes dropped as he turned around. He offered a quick bow to Domaria’s Shadow Queen before again lowering his head. He seemed not angry, but more disappointed— mournful, even— as he departed and headed off.
Once he was out of sight, Saffron sighed and let her previously-impeccable posture and composure soften a bit. She too looked mournful, and Lysette’s eyes watered slightly as she prepared for the words she felt likeliest to follow.
“I’m sorry, Saffron,” she uttered.
“Why are you apologizing?” Saffron asked.
“This is the last time we’ll see each other as friends and allies, isn’t it?”
“Why do you say that?”
“I can see the sadness in your eyes, even though it’s just your avatar here with me. And I know from your words and actions that, despite what you just said to Blaise a moment ago, that your truest loyalties lie with Domar and vision for Domaria the two of you hold. Though you see me as an ally, maybe even as a friend, you understand as well as I do. When push comes to shove and Domar orders me dead even despite the objections you’ve raised with him, you will obey. And I suspect that day is very near indeed.”
“Lyse, I–”
“It’s fine, Saffron. I’m beginning to understand exactly what Alan meant when he said that ‘All of Aimarion will be my enemy as long as I live.’ Just in the past three days, two primordial deities have sent their subordinates after my life. Thankfully, Aurella is a friend and has shown no interest in her mother’s war. But Blaise was a true believer in his goddess and was prepared even to die at her behest. As you are to yours, so far as I can tell.”
“Fine. As a display of respect and to treat you as a peer as you deserve, I will not mince words. As a Godslayer, as a deity, and as a person, you have been the best ally I and Domaria could have ever asked for. For what you and Mirae did, helping me fight Karchek, I will be grateful so long as I live. I will never forget you, and when I said that it was an honor to meet you and spar with you that day not so long ago, I truly meant it.
“But yes. I believe it is for the best if we distance ourselves, at least publicly. I am going to expel you from Domaria under the same conditions as I did to Blaise. You may spend the rest of the next two days here to recover, although I suspect you shall be rejuvenated by morning. But after that, please know that if you do return, I will not hesitate.”
“After all that, this is your answer, Saffron?” Solanna said. “You should be ashamed of yourself. As should your shitty patron.”
“Why! Cousin Lysettie is a friend!” Aurella added. “She’s a good person!”
“I’m sorry, all three of you. But as I said before, I must act in the best interests of my country, even when I do not like what those interests require of me.”
Solanna raised a fist and arched backward to swing at Saffron’s avatar, but Lysette stopped her midswing.
“Wait, all three of you,” Lysette said. “Saffron, I accept your condition, but before you go, I have one request.”
“Name it.”
“A hug? I would like to remember our final parting as being one between friends and comrades, not between enemies.”
Saffron nodded. “And so would I.” The two shared a long embrace. “Farewell, Lyse. I hope that we shall not meet again.”
Chapter 256: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115093068
Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101896170
Chapter 258: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115284822
Comments
Bielna
That's a very good point, and in a way, that's a bit satisfying, at least to me. It was Lysette's choice to follow the path that would turn allies and bystanders against her, her choice to use Demonic abilities even after knowing what they meant, sometimes even letting herself be controlled by them. If she makes the choice to keep walking the same path, even as she calls out her own mistakes, it's fitting that she would pay the cost and feel the consequences. She might decide that it was worth it, and it would be completely reasonable for her to think that what she achieved was worth turning Saffron against her, especially as she hasn't lost that much (they're not in open conflict and still friends). But whatever she decides, it's only fair the she would feel the consequences directly, that they would affect her and the people around her. It would be too easy for her to forgive her own mistakes when she doesn't feel their weight. I once read an advice for a protagonist trying to make a change to "do what she needs to, then accept to pay the price for it". I loved that advice. It's not the most heroic way to think, though.
Ria Corvidiva
Well said, Jessica. Lysette knew that the stakes were increasing, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt when those impacts come from much closer to home than she was expecting. And further compounds that the stakes are getting even more personal.
Jessica
When enemies attack we know that was always how it was going to go and peace was never an option. But when friends have to distance themselves because it just couldn't work right now, we can't help but wonder if there was a chance if only we had been better. And that's what hurts.
Jessica
Betrayal really hurts more than hostility. But Saffron really made an effort to end this on the best possible terms so I really hope Lysette is going to honor that when it inevitably comes to blows. But the more important theme here is that the Gods failed to stop Lyse before because they are isolated in their antagonism while Lyse has always had allies she relied on. And with all of this "all of Aimarion will be your enemy" thing it would be really easy for Lyse to fall into the trap of isolating herself while the gods might yet learn the lesson and band together. But of course, no god has so far shown the capability to learn to begin with and while Lyse has lost one ally she had gained two new ones. So it will be interesting to see what lessons if any each one will learn from this.
Ria Corvidiva
Everyone's doing what they feel is right, and yet there is still conflict. Sometimes it just happens, even without someone being evil for capital-E Evil's sake. And all we can do is try to manage. Bittersweet partings are always the worst. :(
Bielna
Oof. Predictable, but sad. And yet, I must respect Saffron's decision regarding both. Blaise attacked an ally on her territory, but she's not lashing out to him, inflicting sanctions (that would have a significant impact on Bionco's influence on mortals) but without resorting to violence, since it's not necessary to send a message and would only escalate things. And for Lysette, she's doing what's best for her country, as she doesn't want her people to become the target of the enemies Lysette has made. But she's also open to her, shows that she did not let the attempt against her life slip (even though expelling Bionco's emissary is a cost for her), and makes it clear that while she can't drag Domaria in the conflict she also doesn't want to be Lysette's enemy. Saffron has flaws and I don't quite agree with her vision, but she's a good person.
