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A Systematic Tale: The Hero 10
🕑 Added 2025-04-26 21:52:26 +0000 UTCChapter 10:
– Silas –
I slowly lowered myself into the chair across from Alexandria, my heart pounding loudly enough that I was almost certain she could hear it.
…I felt ridiculous. My mouth dry, hands trembling slightly, and a nervous tightness gripping my chest.
Alexandria watched me calmly from behind the sleek helmet that hid most of her face. Even with half her features concealed, her presence filled the room completely. She didn't need theatrics to intimidate me–just sitting there was enough.
Fuck, I really needed to get stronger.
The silence stretched for a moment too long, so I cleared my throat awkwardly. Before I could stumble my way through some idiotic attempt at small talk, her lips actually moved into a slight smile.
"You don't need to be so nervous, Silas," she said calmly, a small note of amusement coloring her voice. "I'm not here to interrogate you. At least, not the scary version you're probably imagining."
I blinked in surprise, then chuckled softly, relieved. "Is it that obvious?"
Her smile widened fractionally, and she inclined her head slightly, almost apologetically. "It is to me. I'm quite good at reading people."
Oh…fantastic. An expert at cold-reading. Exactly what I needed right now.
I swallowed, shifting slightly in my seat and trying to loosen up. "Alright. Well… I'll keep that in mind."
She nodded, and sat forward slightly, resting her forearms neatly on the polished tabletop between us. Despite her relaxed posture, there was a sense of precision and complete control to every motion she made. "I'm glad you decided to join the Wards," she began, her tone calm but sincere. "Not many young men who suddenly find themselves with power are mature enough to choose the hero's path. Too many are tempted by the easy road. Heroes—true heroes—are always something the world desperately needs more of."
I met her gaze, feeling my pulse steady somewhat. It was strange hearing those words from Alexandria–a woman who’d made a lot of very questionable decisions according to my meta-knowledge, at least.
"I appreciate that," I told her honestly, managing to keep my voice steadier than I'd expected. "Being a hero was always the goal. Being a villain… that's something I'd never even consider."
Hell no.
She paused for a moment, tilting her head very slightly as she seemed to study me closely. I wasn't sure exactly what she saw, but after a heartbeat, she nodded again, apparently satisfied. "I'm genuinely glad to hear that, Silas," Alexandria replied, sounding approving. She leaned forward a little more "I would like to discuss your abilities now. Specifically how they function, or at least, how you believe they function. It could be quite important for the PRT moving forward."
I nodded, steeling myself. I'd expected this question—hell, I'd gotten it from Piggot, Armsmaster, and Miss Militia already.
Alexandria wasn't going to be any different in that regard. If anything, she’d want to know more. Everything. She wasn’t going to get everything of course… Well, to be fair, I didn’t even know everything.
"To be completely honest, I'm still figuring out a lot about my powers," I admitted. "It's pretty strange, actually. Basically, I see this sort of video-game interface. It gives me tasks or quests to complete, and whenever I finish one, I get rewarded. It even rewards anyone who goes along with me."
She didn't interrupt, simply watched and listened carefully, which encouraged me to continue.
"Beyond that, it's mostly guesswork. I don’t have an instruction manual or anything." I chuckled.
Her head dipped once, indicating understanding. "This quest you completed with Panacea, your journey to another world? I read the reports from Armsmaster. Are you able to control when and where you travel like that? It would be incredibly useful to the PRT if you can."
She sounded almost eager when she said that.
Before I could answer, my system interface suddenly flared to life in front of us, the familiar bright blue holographic glow startling us both slightly.
Alexandria tensed minutely, a hint of surprise flickering briefly across the visible lower half of her face.
On the screen, glowing words formed clearly:
[Host Silas will be capable of returning to previously visited quest worlds upon successfully completing 3 System-issued quests to other worlds. Current status: 1 of 3 quests complete.]
Alexandria stared at the floating text for a second. "This is your power–your system? Is it sentient?" she asked carefully.
I shrugged helplessly. "Honestly? I have no idea. Sometimes it feels like it’s aware, but mostly it's more automated. Like, triggered responses or notifications. It hasn't really shown independent thought yet."
Her lips pressed together thoughtfully, and she studied the interface carefully as it slowly faded from view. "You mentioned these quests encourage heroism, specifically?"
I nodded firmly. "Yeah. Every task it's given me so far pushes me towards doing good. It's made that pretty clear. Even if it didn't, though, it wouldn't matter. I made up my mind long before the System showed up. There are already enough bullies and assholes around without me joining their ranks."
Alexandria's smile widened again. "I'm glad you feel that way. It's not always easy sticking to that path. Especially not once you start seeing how harsh the world can really be. People often become cynical after seeing too much..." She was probably talking from experience there. Alexandria paused for a moment, the silence lingering as she appeared to think something over carefully. Her posture remained composed and steady, her hands neatly clasped atop the polished table. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured, and she chose each word with clear intent. "You visited the Dallon residence earlier today—the home of New Wave. I understand you met with Carol Dallon to discuss your contract," Alexandria stated calmly.
"Yeah," I confirmed simply, leaning back a little in my chair, grateful to have the topic shift away from my mysterious powers. "She helped me sort through the PRT paperwork. I'm glad she did, too—she caught some things I probably wouldn't have noticed on my own."
Alexandria nodded slightly, acknowledging this. "Yes, Carol Dallon has a formidable reputation as a legal expert. Her skills have proven many times before." She paused again, clearly selecting her next words with care. "Tell me, how was Panacea? Is she coping well after your… recent experiences together?"
I couldn't stop a small smile from forming on my face as I thought about Amy. "Amy's doing great, honestly," I answered, relaxing a bit more now that the conversation felt less like an interrogation. "She's actually really excited about her new abilities."
Alexandria froze for a second, her head tilting just slightly to the side. It was subtle, but I caught the shift instantly. "New abilities?" she repeated carefully, her voice tinged with sudden interest. "I'm sorry, I don't believe you explained this part in detail earlier."
"Oh," I said, suddenly unsure if I'd mentioned this clearly enough before. "Maybe I didn't emphasize it earlier. Yeah, Amy got new powers as well after we returned from the quest. It wasn't just me. She gained the ability to heal herself, and today she learned to conjure actual fire from her hands."
I decided to leave out the fact that these new abilities were literal magic, and not parahuman powers.
Alexandria visibly reacted with genuine surprise. Her jaw tightened slightly, her posture straightened fractionally, and her gloved fingertips twitched almost imperceptibly.
I realized immediately how significant this revelation was to someone like her.
"Silas," she said, her voice lower now, with an intensity that was almost unsettling. "Let me make sure I understand correctly. Not only are you capable of granting yourself new powers—essentially becoming a Trump-class cape—but your abilities also allow you to give powers to others?"
I swallowed, feeling suddenly on edge. The gravity in her tone was unmistakable. "Yes. As far as I know, anyone who joins me on these quests can receive rewards similar to mine."
She exhaled slowly, deliberately. Her voice was careful and controlled when she spoke again. "Silas, this information absolutely cannot be allowed to spread. Villains will not hesitate for a moment. If they discover that you can grant powers, you'll become the single greatest target in Brockton Bay. Possibly the entire world!"
I grimaced inwardly at that. It wasn't exactly comforting to hear, especially since it was probably already too late. "Yeah, about that," I admitted reluctantly. "Amy's whole family already knows. Vicky was there when Amy showed off her new abilities, and subtlety definitely isn't her strong suit. So honestly, this might already be public knowledge. Or close to it…"
Alexandria pressed her lips together briefly in clear frustration. She visibly restrained herself from showing further displeasure, instead remaining silent for a second, clearly considering her next move.
"If it hasn't spread widely yet, then you must act quickly," she said firmly, focusing directly on me. "Contact Amy and Victoria Dallon immediately. Make sure they know how serious this is. For your safety, and for theirs!"
I nodded quickly. "I'll text them as soon as we're done here."
Alexandria sat back slightly, her shoulders easing just a fraction. She regarded me in silence for a moment longer, something shifting subtly behind those carefully guarded eyes. Her posture relaxed somewhat, becoming less intense, almost thoughtful.
"There's one more thing," she began, voice softer now. Her gloved fingers gently tapped against the table as she appeared to contemplate her next words. "Your powers—the quests and missions. From everything you've described, it seems as though you may need skilled allies."
I nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I guess that's true?"
I would have been fucked without Amy in Skyrim at the very least…
Alexandria leaned forward, and when she spoke next, her voice took on an oddly personal note. "I'd like to accompany you myself. On your next mission!"
My brain froze instantly. I blinked at her, my jaw dropping open slightly. First Vicky, now Alexandria herself was asking!?
My pulse quickened, anxiety flooding through me at the very thought of it.
"I, uh…" I stammered, desperately scrambling to think of some excuse that wouldn't sound utterly stupid or insulting. "That's—uh, I mean—it's not really something I can fully control. The quests kind of just… happen spontaneously. Randomly. I don't really get a say in when or where."
She watched me carefully, reading me easily, I was sure. After a second, she raised a hand gently, stopping my clumsy attempts at a bullshit explanation. "Relax, Silas," she said softly, the tone gentle and almost soothing now. "It's not an order. Just a request. I completely understand if the thought makes you uncomfortable. Truly."
I exhaled audibly, feeling immense relief at her understanding. "Thank you," I replied, trying my best not to sound as nervous as I felt. "I appreciate your understanding."
"I realize my presence can be overwhelming. I'm aware I might unintentionally cause anxiety. I'll not force the issue."
I nodded gratefully, deeply relieved that she wasn't pressing the subject any further.
She straightened slightly, resuming her professional demeanor. "I think we've covered enough for now. You're free to leave. I'll be in Brockton Bay for some time, Silas, so we will likely speak again soon."
"...I'll look forward to that," I lied, forcing a small smile.
She inclined her head graciously, watching me calmly as I turned to leave.
I exited the room quietly, the heavy metal door closing gently behind me. As I stepped out into the hallway, my shoulders slumped in relief. A wave of exhaustion swept over me. Alexandria being here indefinitely felt more than a little oppressive. She seemed far more reasonable than I'd expected, yet knowing she was part of Cauldron made me deeply wary…
Shaking it off, I reached into my pocket for my phone and quickly typed out a text to Amy and Vicky as I walked down the corridor, footsteps echoing softly off the metal floors.
Me: Hey, so… Alexandria’s here at the Rig. Apparently, me giving people powers is a huge deal. Please don’t tell anyone where Amy got her “enhancements…”
I barely waited a few seconds before my phone buzzed twice in rapid succession. Smirking slightly, I glanced down at the screen.
Amy responded first.
Almighty PanPan: Obviously. We're not dumb. We’ll be careful.
Vicky’s text followed immediately after.
Glory Girl: Secret’s safe with me. I promise!
A second later, my phone vibrated again—this time just from Vicky. Another message flashed across my notifications.
Glory Girl: Also… I sent you something special. Check it out when you get a chance ;)
My curiosity instantly piqued. Vicky wasn't exactly subtle about her intentions, so I figured it would probably be another one of her playful teasing texts. I clicked on the notification, opened the message, and immediately stopped walking as the attached photo loaded onto my screen.
My face went hot.
Holy shit…
There, filling my phone screen, was a clear picture of Vicky standing in front of a bathroom mirror. She had a playful grin on her face, blonde hair cascading loosely down her bare shoulders. She was completely topless, her firm, beautifully shaped breasts exposed openly for me to see. Her pale skin looked smooth, almost flawless in the warm bathroom lighting. Her pink nipples stood out sharply, perfectly erect.
My pulse quickened instantly, and my eyes lingered hungrily for a moment longer than they probably should have. Damn, she was absolutely gorgeous.
The caption below it read simply:
Glory Girl: Keep me in mind the next time you want to go on an adventure. ;)
A goofy smile spread across my face. Vicky really wasn't playing around anymore. I'd been so nervous and stressed earlier, and this picture immediately wiped all of that tension from my mind.
At least for a few moments.
Distracted as I was, I didn't hear the footsteps approaching from around the corner ahead of me. As I rounded it, my eyes still glued to Vicky’s provocative picture, I collided directly into a solid body.
“Oh shit—sorry!” I stumbled backward, quickly locking my phone and fumbling to shove it into my pocket before whoever I'd collided with could see anything incriminating.
The person I'd run into had barely budged an inch, standing completely steady in his shiny armored costume. It took me a second to recognize the silver-and-blue gear and stylized helm—Gallant.
Gallant chuckled softly from beneath his visor, his voice calm and genuinely friendly. "Hey, no worries. You looked pretty lost in thought there. Everything okay?"
My stomach clenched a bit at the realization. Gallant was Dean. Dean Stansfield.
…Vicky's ex-boyfriend.
I definitely wasn’t about to tell him I was distracted by a picture of Vicky topless. "Yeah, sorry about that," I managed, laughing a bit awkwardly. "Just distracted. A lot on my mind lately. You know, new Ward stuff. Anyway, my bad…"
Gallant nodded. "I get it. You're Silas, right? The new guy who took out Rune the other day?"
“Yeah. That’s me,” I confirmed quickly. "Silas Thorn. Cape name still pending, though. I haven't exactly figured out something cool enough yet."
Gallant chuckled again, the tension in my gut easing just slightly. He held out a gloved hand, and I shook it firmly. “Don’t worry. Picking a name always takes longer than people think. Nice to finally meet you officially, Silas. Glad to have you on the team.”
"Thanks," I said genuinely, appreciating the warmth in his voice. It was a relief he wasn't trying to size me up or be overly intimidating.
He seemed like a good guy.
Gallant gestured down the hallway behind him. “The rest of the Wards are already in the barracks if you wanna head over and introduce yourself. They’re pretty excited to meet you—taking down a major Empire cape on your first day made a serious impression around here.”
I smiled sheepishly. “Things kind of just… happened.”
Gallant laughed softly. “They usually do. Anyway, head on in whenever you're ready. I have to go meet with Armsmaster, unfortunately.”
I nodded gratefully. “Sounds good. See you around, Gallant.”
He gave a small wave, then walked past me, footsteps echoing evenly as he turned the corner and disappeared down the hallway.
Once he was gone, I took another deep breath and ran a hand through my hair. Holy hell. Today was seriously giving me emotional whiplash. Alexandria, Vicky’s surprise nude selfie, bumping into her ex...
My phone vibrated again, another notification from Vicky popping up teasingly.
Glory Girl: So, did you like my pic? You better say yes.
I shook my head with a smirk and typed back quickly.
Me: You’re definitely unforgettable. Thanks for that.
Glory Girl: Good. Don’t keep a girl waiting too long though. Talk soon ;)
Chuckling softly to myself, I finally managed to slip my phone back into my pocket, and head inside to meet the team properly.
I pushed open the door to the Wards' barracks and stepped inside, taking a deep breath as I did. The door closed behind me with a gentle whoosh, leaving me standing awkwardly just inside the entrance, taking in my new surroundings.
The place was surprisingly welcoming, well-lit, and spacious. Comfortable-looking couches and armchairs were scattered around a large central lounge area, circling a flat-screen TV mounted on the far wall. Off to one side was a small kitchen nook—fridge, microwave, coffee pot, and cabinets stocked with snacks. To my left, I spotted a short hallway that I assumed led deeper into the facility.
Shadow Stalker was leaning casually against one of the couches, her dark costume standing out starkly against the room's warm colors. Vista was sitting cross-legged in a cushy armchair, scrolling lazily through something on her phone.
Both looked up immediately when they noticed me.
Shadow Stalker raised an eyebrow at me, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think Alexandria had scared you off."
Vista glanced up and instantly went red in the face, hastily fumbling her phone and nearly dropping it in her lap. "O-oh! Silas! You're... um..." she stammered, pushing herself awkwardly from the chair and smoothing down her costume nervously, clearly flustered. Her eyes darted shyly between mine and the floor, cheeks growing pinker by the second. "Hi—hi again. It’s good, um, really good to see you again…"
I smiled down at her warmly, hoping to reassure her. "Good to see you too, Vista."
Her eyes widened a bit at that, cheeks flushing deeper. She ducked her head shyly, muttering quietly, "Um, yeah... you too. And—uh, sorry again about barging in on you when you were, you know… shirtless… last night." Her voice trailed off in embarrassment, and she looked mortified as the words spilled out.
I chuckled softly, trying to ease her discomfort. "Hey, no worries."
Vista bit her lip shyly and nodded, clearly still embarrassed but relieved I wasn’t making a big deal of it.
Shadow Stalker snorted from her spot on the couch, smirking openly at Vista's flustered state. "Smooth, kid."
Vista shot her a quick glare but remained red-faced and silent, clearly too flustered to respond.
A male voice cut in from behind them, calm and relaxed. "Ignore Shadow Stalker. She makes it her job to embarrass everyone at every opportunity."
I glanced past Vista to see two more Wards stepping out from the hallway I'd noticed earlier, each wearing friendly expressions. Gallant had mentioned they'd be eager to meet me, but seeing their welcoming attitudes firsthand was still reassuring.
A tall, broad-shouldered guy with short brown hair approached first. He extended his hand toward me, offering a firm, confident handshake. "Aegis," he introduced himself, a friendly grin on his face. "I'm the team leader around here. It's great to finally meet you, Silas. You've been the hot topic of conversation since yesterday."
I shook his hand firmly, appreciating his genuine friendliness. "Thanks. Glad to be here."
A shorter boy with tousled blond hair and a mischievous look stepped up beside Aegis, flashing me a playful grin. "Clockblocker," he introduced himself enthusiastically, giving my hand an exaggerated shake. "And can I just say—dude, you literally took down Rune and joined the Wards all in like twenty-four hours. Impressive as hell."
I laughed, feeling my cheeks warm slightly from the praise. "Honestly, a lot of that was just luck."
Clockblocker shrugged easily. "Eh, luck or not, you're still awesome in my book."
Shadow Stalker rolled her eyes, still smirking slightly. "Don't get used to it. Give 'em a week and you'll see how annoying these dweebs really are."
"Hey!" Clockblocker exclaimed, throwing an exaggerated look of mock-hurt toward her. "Who're you calling a dweeb?"
Shadow Stalker merely raised an eyebrow at him. "Who do you think, dumbass?"
Aegis shook his head with an amused sigh. "Ignore those two. They're always like that."
I laughed, starting to relax properly for the first time since I'd entered the building. "It's fine. Trust me—compared to everything else that's happened today, this is tame."
Clockblocker perked up curiously at that. "Wait, 'everything else'? Dude, details! We heard you were just casually talking to Alexandria herself just now."
I groaned softly. "Yeah. And let me just say, having a casual chat with Alexandria isn't exactly 'casual...'"
Clockblocker shuddered dramatically. "Better you than me, man. She seems all nice and shit on tv, but seeing her in the hallway earlier, her presence is really intimidating."
Vista shifted closer again, keeping her eyes on the floor shyly. She peeked up at me, cheeks still faintly red. "So… now that you're officially one of us, maybe, um, we should give you a tour?"
"Sounds great. Lead the way."
She smiled nervously, quickly leading us toward the hallway. As she walked, she seemed distinctly aware of me, periodically glancing over her shoulder and quickly averting her eyes each time we made eye contact.
Yes… It was pretty obvious the younger girl had a crush on me. And I was going to do the mature thing… and completely pretend like I didn’t notice it.
Hoping it would go away on its own eventually…
Yep, that sounded pretty good. Every other character in this alternate worm Universe was aged up except poor Vista apparently…
Vista gestured timidly toward the first room. "Here's the game room. It's pretty awesome—we've got consoles, board games, comfy chairs, snacks—basically everything you need to relax after patrol or training."
I glanced inside appreciatively. The setup was seriously nice—couches clustered around a large flat-screen TV, shelves lined with games and controllers, even a well-stocked mini-fridge in the corner.
Clockblocker immediately moved to grab a handful of chips from a bowl, munching loudly.
Aegis chuckled at my impressed expression. "Perks of the job. Trust me, you'll appreciate it after dealing with villains all day."
Vista then led me further down the corridor, pointing shyly toward a room at the far end. "That's Kid Win's workshop. You can check it out later when he's not busy tinkering. He builds stuff…usually it’s cool…sometimes it’s just loud. Unfortunately, he’s out sick today."
Clockblocker rolled his eyes dramatically. "And by 'cool' she means 'explosive and unstable.' If he ever asks you to hold something, just run. Cause it will go boom!"
I laughed softly, making a mental note of that advice. "Good to know."
Finally, Vista guided me toward a large glass-walled room overlooking multiple computer terminals, monitors, and communication equipment.
"This," she announced hesitantly, "is the control room."
I eyed the blinking lights and numerous screens curiously. "Looks impressive. What exactly goes on here?"
Aegis stepped up beside me. "It's mostly for mission coordination—tracking patrols, emergency calls, surveillance. Unfortunately, it's also where 'console duty' happens."
Clockblocker groaned loudly. "The most boring thing ever invented by the PRT. If you screw up badly enough, you'll end up stuck here for hours staring at screens and waiting for something—anything—to happen!"
Shadow Stalker smirked darkly. "Yeah. Vista gets it all the time."
Vista scowled fiercely, her blush returning. "Shut up! I do not!"
I raised an eyebrow at Aegis, amused. "Guessing I should avoid that?"
He nodded sagely, fighting back a grin. "Absolutely. Consider it a strong motivation to behave yourself."
I laughed again, feeling surprisingly comfortable and at ease with my new teammates. They weren't what I'd expected at all.
…Even Sophia was a lot more chill than I expected with everyone else around.
Vista nervously tugged at her gloves, giving me another shy glance. "Um… anyway, we're really glad you're here. It'll be nice… having you around more."
"Honestly, I’m happy to be here. Can't wait to start working with you guys," I replied.
Aegis nodded firmly, meeting my gaze with approval. "Looking forward to seeing you in action. Clock, grab some snacks. We've got a little downtime before patrols later..."
I popped myself down on the couch. And then Shadow Stalker sat right next to me–before leaning in closer. She smirked behind her domino mask at Vista who was pouting suddenly.
“I hope we can go kick some ass together soon, Silas,” Sophia whispered in my ear. “Now, tell me how awesome it was meeting Alexandria in person! Fuck, I’m so jealous!” she finished loudly.
“...”
– Alexandria (Rebecca) –
Rebecca stared blankly at the small plastic card in her hand. The glossy laminate felt oddly slippery between her fingertips, and she could only blink slowly, confusion etched openly across her face. Her thumb brushed absently over the printed surface, feeling the raised edges where her picture and name were printed.
Across from her, sitting comfortably on the small couch in the private conference room, Contessa casually peeled another section from her banana, entirely unbothered by Rebecca's clear bewilderment. She lifted the yellow fruit and took a leisurely bite, chewing thoughtfully as she eyed Rebecca, her expression utterly neutral.
Rebecca forced herself to speak, breaking the odd silence that had settled over them.
"Contessa," she started slowly, her voice carefully level, "what exactly is this?"
Contessa's dark eyes flicked briefly to the card, then back to Rebecca's face. "That's your student ID, obviously," she replied casually, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Rebecca made an incredulous noise somewhere between a cough and a choke. She lowered the card, glancing at it again as if to confirm it was really in her hands. The image printed there was unquestionably her own, but it was her actual face—young, fresh, lacking the subtle cosmetic touches and illusions she employed daily to appear older and more authoritative.
The card boldly declared her a "Winslow High School Student."
Rebecca looked sharply back to Contessa, eyes narrowing slightly. "Student ID?" she repeated incredulously. "What do you mean student ID? Contessa, I'm in my thirties!"
Contessa raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the rising irritation in Rebecca’s voice. She swallowed another bite of banana before calmly responding. "Biologically, your body stopped aging at nineteen, Rebecca. And technically, you never finished high school."
Rebecca opened her mouth, paused, then promptly closed it again.
Damn.
"Yes, I left high school early—over a decade ago," Rebecca said stiffly, her voice deliberately even. "You can’t possibly expect me to attend a high school as an undercover student? What purpose would that even serve…?"
Contessa calmly finished off the last of her banana, expertly and effortlessly tossing the empty peel across the room. It landed neatly in the small trash can. Contessa leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. Her eyes focused on Rebecca with sudden seriousness. "The Path demands it, Rebecca. If you don’t attend Winslow High as a student, very bad things will happen." She spoke plainly, as though stating an unshakable fact.
Rebecca stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words. Contessa's Path. A tool they'd relied upon countless times over the years, a power she trusted more than anything else, even her own formidable abilities. And here it was, demanding that she, Rebecca Costa-Brown—one of the most powerful and influential capes on Earth—pose as a teenager at a failing high school…
She felt a headache starting to form right behind her temples.
"Fuck my life," she muttered finally, leaning back heavily in her chair and pinching the bridge of her nose. "And fuck your Path too, Fortuna..."
After a few moments of silence, Contessa cleared her throat lightly. Her expression softened slightly into a small, almost conciliatory smile. "If it makes you feel any better, I do have some good news as well."
Rebecca eyed her skeptically, crossing her arms firmly. "Somehow I doubt your idea of good news is going to align with mine right now."
Contessa leaned forward slightly, her face becoming oddly animated as she spoke. Her voice took on a distinctly pleased note. "I've been devoting some time to pathing around Silas Thorn," she began, her eyes brightening slightly. "Trying to nudge him toward being a reliable asset—someone we can guide toward our side."
Rebecca frowned slightly. "And?"
Contessa paused briefly, her lips twitching slightly, clearly hesitating. Finally, she sighed softly and shrugged. "Well, there’s been an unexpected development. For some reason, Silas has become a dragon."
Rebecca stared blankly at her friend for several seconds, absolutely sure she'd misheard. The room fell silent, the faint hum of the air conditioning unit in the corner becoming suddenly noticeable.
Finally, Rebecca blinked slowly, her voice carefully controlled, but clearly bewildered. "A dragon? Fortuna, I just spoke to the boy. He's as human as they come. Maybe with odd powers, but certainly no mythical creature."
Contessa shook her head gently, looking oddly earnest. "He's both, actually. Human and dragon simultaneously. I've checked and double-checked. My Path is very clear."
Rebecca simply stared, eyebrows drawing slowly together. She opened her mouth, then shut it again.
What the fuck did that even mean!? Did her friend have to be so annoyingly cryptic!?
Contessa's expression shifted again, becoming clearly excited about whatever she'd uncovered. "Well, you see, dragons have certain… unique needs."
Rebecca felt a wary sense of dread rising quickly. "Needs?"
Contessa nodded vigorously, apparently delighted with her own revelations. "Indeed. Dragons require hoards—collections of valuables they consider their own. Wealth, treasure…" She paused significantly, eyes locked onto Rebecca’s. "And sometimes, companions."
Rebecca stared blankly. Something cold coiled slowly inside her chest. "What exactly are you implying, Fortuna?"
Contessa tilted her head slightly, looking at Rebecca with genuine innocence that fooled absolutely no one. "Silas’s Path clarifies that things will go significantly smoother for our goals—his integration, stability, loyalty—if he's properly provided with his own hoard."
Rebecca felt a slow, creeping suspicion settle heavily upon her shoulders. "Fortuna," she said carefully, forcing her voice to remain even, "what kind of hoard exactly are we discussing here?"
Contessa shrugged simply, as though it were obvious. "His hoard of beautiful and capable cape women, of course!"
Rebecca sputtered abruptly, coughing in shock, her eyes widening. She shot to her feet quickly, disbelief etched clearly across her face. "Excuse me!? His what!?"
Contessa merely raised an eyebrow at her mildly hysterical friend. "His harem. Hoard. Call it what you like."
"Harem!?" Rebecca snapped, eyes flashing with indignation. She shook her head vehemently, glaring openly. "No. Absolutely not. Fortuna, you’ve finally lost your mind."
Contessa, ever unflappable, simply gazed back calmly. "The Path is crystal clear, Rebecca. Things will proceed much better if Silas acquires a harem of capable, loyal capes. Preferably heroic women who can help him stay stable, happy, and firmly allied with our interests."
Rebecca gaped at her incredulously, entirely at a loss. "And this is your idea of good news!?"
Contessa nodded mildly, her eyes twinkling slightly with amusement. "Yes. It simplifies our objectives significantly. Honestly, it’s far easier to navigate than some alternatives the Path provided…"
Rebecca sank heavily back into her chair, utterly exasperated. "I genuinely can't believe I'm hearing this. A harem. And let me guess—you have me enrolled at Winslow not only to spy and interact, but to somehow steer him toward building this… this ridiculous harem of cape women?"
Contessa smiled serenely, entirely unapologetic. "Yes, precisely. I've signed you up for several of Silas's classes. You'll be close to him daily. My advice is to simply do your best!"
"Do my—!" Rebecca spluttered, completely losing her usual calm. "Fortuna, I am Alexandria. I do not join… h–harems!" she actually sputtered that last word!
Contessa stood smoothly. "I trust you’ll handle it gracefully, Rebecca. You always do."
Rebecca opened her mouth furiously to retort, but Contessa had already turned smoothly toward the door. "Door," she said casually, without even glancing back.
Immediately, a portal flared into existence. Before Rebecca could voice any further protest, Contessa stepped through it neatly, and it snapped shut behind her, leaving Rebecca alone in the suddenly empty, silent room.
For several long moments, Rebecca simply sat staring incredulously at the empty space where her friend had just stood, trying—and failing—to process the absurdity of the entire conversation she'd just had.
After another minute, Rebecca slowly rose from her seat, feeling the sharp, tense irritation coiling tightly through her shoulders. The sudden overwhelming urge to punch something surged strongly within her, and she took a slow, deep breath.
‘Fuck it!’ she thought to herself bitterly. She needed to punch someone right about now!
Preferably someone who could take it… at least for a while.
…It HAD been a while since she'd encountered Lung.
XXX
Comments
WhatAFungi
So… wing-woman Contessa is now in my top 5 favorite Fortuna’s in all of fanfiction. Didn’t know I needed that. Bug props to you, for repeatedly flabbergasting me with new ways to take the worm plot. Like seriously! Sending Rebeca back to high school! Also this is really ironic seen as how The Queen probably day dreamed about Alexandria coming to her high school and putting a stop to The Three Bitches. Why you gotta do best-girl-vista so dirty, making her the only one not aged up! She’s so adorable, and she’ll never get any! Poor girl was smacked harder by puberty than by Hookwolf Thanks for the chapter! Huge fan of this story.
Lil LightSkin
Well hopefully she gets her redemption arc because she really needs one for all the shit she’s done
