Chapter 404: Not Found

Hey Artemis!

I’m about to graduate from the School! I got Platinum in medicine! Apparently the scrolls I wrote back when we were traveling together as Rangers managed to become a little important. Ha! And to think you teased me about them. Well, who’s having the last laugh now?

Iona’s Valkyries have had a spot of trouble, and she doesn’t exactly have a place to return to. She also made something of a small mess in Rolland, and we’re avoiding the country for a short time. 100, maybe 200 years.

Exterreri looks promising. Iona and I are going to see if we can settle down there. We’re aiming for the capital, Sangino. Marcelle has given me a letter of introduction which should make things smoother.

I have no strong evidence for this, but I believe Night is alive. My studies have suggested that the Exterreri Empire is similar culturally to how Remus was, and I struggle to believe that there isn’t the guiding hand of vampires from Remus in how similar they are. It’s also the country of vampires. I’d love for you and Julius to visit at some point! I’ll send you my address once we’re settled in a bit, otherwise we could miss each other and never find each other again. That would suck.

I miss you and Julius. I wish we could see each other more often, but being at the School has made me more aware of just how violently people see healers like me. I also ended up being a little bit of a big deal, and I suspect I’m a little too famous to be anonymous for long if I settle down in mortal lands. I could probably take some trips now and then though!

Say hi to Julius for me!

All my love,

Elaine

I made eight copies of my letter, and sent it to eight different places I thought Artemis might get it. Communication and keeping in touch with people was hard, and I was determined to put in the work - and the money! - to stay in touch with Artemis.

Amber was next.

To my favorite money munchkin-

Hey! Long time, no see! I haven’t heard from you in a while, and I hope it’s just your adventures combined with the bad post, or letters are too expensive.

I’ve graduated! Iona and I are heading to Sangino in Exterreri. We think our prospects are best there.

I know you mentioned occasionally taking trips to Urwa. I can’t promise anything right now, but Exterreri sounds like it’s safe enough for me to sell that thing you want me to sell. Everyone else is protected from the type of concerns we have in other places, and it sounds like I’d be naturally folded into the same protections.

Please let me know that you’re alright! Then again, getting letters to me is going to be difficult for some time. I’ll be sending more messages out when I can.

I have a few books I think you should read. Given that I’m copying this letter to a few different locations, I can’t attach them to the letter. Anyway, here’s the list…

…

Cheers,

Elaine

I paid a [Scribe] to copy Amber’s letter 31 times, and sent the copies all over the place, hoping one would reach her.

“Elaine! Just the person I wanted to see!” Martin the [Librarian] half-ambushed me as the [Scribe] was finishing up his copies.

“Martin. Everything alright? I’m pretty sure I’ve returned all my books, and there are no books left hidden in secret corners.”

He paused.

“The way you phrased that last part is deeply concerning. No, everything’s alright. I’m just wondering if you’d be willing to sign a few books for us? The Museum of All Things got the original you submitted, but I’m hoping to get a couple of copies for the Library.”

I looked at him suspiciously.

“Define ‘a few’.” I said, and since I was dealing with Amber’s letter, I was in a mercantile mood. “And are you willing to pay per signature?”

We struck a quick deal that was going to cramp my hand, and have me stay a little longer than I technically was allowed to - I should be booted off the island before the next quarter started, but the School really, really wanted a few more bites out of me.

I whistled all the way back home, funding for the next year or two secured. Maybe enough to buy a small, out of the way home.

“We’ve got two more weeks here?” Iona confirmed.

I nodded.

“Yup! School wants me to do a few more things for them, and Martin pulled a few strings. They’re paying me well enough that it’s worth it, and it gives us a little bit of time to say goodbye.”

Iona frowned.

“Like. I’m fine with this. I just wish you’d talked with me before deciding.”

I internally cringed. Shit! I’d been rude, acting without thinking.

“Sorry! Martin was right there, and it seemed like too good of a chance to pass up.”

Iona sighed and ruffled my hair.

“You’re good. Just keep us in mind, yeah?”

I nodded.

“Yeah. Got anything special you’d like to do? As my way of saying ‘whoops, sorry’?” Nothing like shameless bribes to get back in my girlfriend’s good graces.

“Of course!” She grinned wickedly at me. “A date! To all the places we’ve seen!”

“That sounds nice. When and where?”

“Well, first the gardens, a tour of the arboretum, then when it gets dark let’s go to the Museum. I hear they have a fancy new exhibit!”

I grinned, touched by Iona’s thoughtfulness and quiet pride in my work.

“Sounds great!”

The date almost went well. My concerns about having a normal School life were well-founded as every fourth person seemed to recognize me, and wanted to interact with me.

“Why me?” I complained to Iona after casting a complicated spell to change the look of my face.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Why do I get bothered, and not any of the other famous people here? Like the [Princesses] and whatevers.”

Iona gave me a Look.

“Are you - no, no you’re not. Alright, it’s like, three different things going on. First is the sheer scale of things. There’s a bunch of [Princesses], there’s only one you. Second is the importance. The really important nobles end up in Hapensburgs, not the School. Third is deterrence. Your house doesn’t have a reputation for beheading annoying petitioners. Fourth is accessibility. Fundamentally, anyone interested in the Rolland [Princess] can probably petition the crown for their issue, while you’re the entire locus. Plus, no bodyguards.”

Iona somehow said the last part with a straight face. I punched her arm.

“Isn’t that why I’m dating you?” I asked rhetorically, then slipped my hand into hers.

She squeezed, and I squeezed back.

Iona and I were giggling as we got back to our suite, only to be ambushed by Auri and a half-dozen flaming images.

Not that I was really surprised, being able to see them through the wall and all. [The World Around Me] was busted.

“BRRRPT! Brrrpt, brpt bbbbrrrrrrrrrrppPPpppTT!!” Auri frantically explained. Iona was nodding along, and I agreed.

“Yes, we can throw a big fancy going away party for everyone. How many of your friends did you want to invite?” I asked.

“Brrrpt!”

“‘All of them’ is sweet, but we need numbers! You’d bake more cookies for eight people than you would for three, right?” I said.

“Plus, I’d like to invite a few of my friends over, and it could be nice to invite your combat teammates.” Iona said.

“Brrrpt!” Auri gave me a number, and I wanted to pinch my nose. But no, no. I was Auri’s companion. I should be supportive. Instead, I gave her a beaming smile.

“Great! Alright, what do you need me to do to get ready for this party?”

“Brrrpt! BRPT! BrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrpT!” Auri started sending off orders like the world’s smallest [General]. Iona and I traded each other amused looks, and got to it, followed by a flurry of [Mage Hands].

“This party might’ve gotten away from me a little.” I admitted to Iona as we watched Auri putting the finishing touches on the preparations, and the first guests started to arrive.

Iona shrugged.

“Like, yeah? At the same time, why not? We only live once, we’re leaving, and why not celebrate this moment with our friends?”

I nodded.

“Oh yeah! Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for it, but…” I gestured out to the three different grills Auri had going, along with the it’s-better-to-ask-forgiveness-than-permission fire pit Iona had dug out with four whole pig carcasses starting to slow cook. We had two tables dedicated to desserts that we’d spent the last week baking - and I was happy to say we because Auri had kept me running around, buying supplies and making everything go smoothly for her baking marathon. There was a table for non-grilling food, two kegs of the cheapest beer I could find - we were already breaking the bank, and full kegs weren’t cheap - and all in all, we had an entire feast going.

Iona sagely nodded over the prep work.

“We might be able to feed the three gluttons with all of this.”

Three gluttons? Auri for sure, she was always eating, Fenrir required silly amounts of food, and -

“HEY!” I protested and punched Iona in the arm as she cracked up laughing.

People started to trickle into the party, everyone contributing something to the party, and Auri lit up the fires. Fenrir lay there like a small hill, curling around half the park where we were throwing the party and leaving his head near the large grill, waiting for his food to finish.

I thought he liked it raw, but maybe Auri had gotten to him. Auri cooking and Fenrir eating was a potent combination.

I recognized a number of the people who were here. Marcelle brought a number of bottles of wine. Professor Lothar had a taste for smoked meats that he was happy to share. Martin brought a stack of stroopwafels. Sir Polarton brought a basket of berries. Even Reinhard showed up, towing a freshly caught shark!

It wasn’t just my friends who showed up. Iona’s friends and some professors came over, and Bridget - carrying baskets of apples, why - came with a number of Auri’s classmates. Children of other professors and students at the School.

Iona leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“I got this, but we won’t be able to socialize a ton.” She moseyed over to where Bridget had put down the lethal basket of apples, and plucked a few out. Iona shot me a cheeky wink as she downed an apple in two bites.

I spun off a [Parallel Thoughts] mind just to smell everyone and track who’d eaten an apple, and who I needed to avoid, along with potential escape routes to make it less obvious that something was going on. I was starting to regret this party. I was hours away from flying literally halfway around the world from any forbidden fruit.

“BRRRRRRRRRPT!!” Auri gave the mightiest cry she could as she ascended up a pillar of multi-colored flames, hovering in the middle of the crowd. With a thought, a tiny chef’s hat made out of brilliant white flames appeared on her head. She started to give a speech as best she could with her limitations.

“Brrpt! Brrrrrrrpt, brpt brpt bRRRrrppT!!”

She wasn’t dumb, and she wrote words in flames above her head as she spoke. Only in one language, and the few unfortunate souls who didn’t know the language needed someone else to translate for them.

Hello! Thank you everyone for coming here, it means a TON to me! It’s been quite a journey these past few years with you all, and…

Auri gave one hell of a speech, but forgot two critically important parts.

One - this was an informal BBQ, not a fancy dinner. There wasn’t room for big, fancy speeches, and people were starting to chat with each other and carry on instead of listening. I didn’t blame them, I was starting to think about splitting off a third thought process to read a book. The part about having baked a special treat for every single person invited was sweet.

Two - food didn’t stop cooking in awe of her speech abilities. Her grandstanding ended with an untranslated brrrrrrrrrpttt!!!! As one of her projects started billowing black smoke.

I chuckled at that. A phoenix burning something. She must’ve been so distracted with her speech.

People came and went, saying hi, enjoying the party.

“This is for you!” Marcelle handed me a beautifully detailed set of biomancy references. A [Bookbinder] must’ve spent hours on making it. “You simply must write and tell me your address once you settle in.” Marcelle said. “Being your advisor these past five years has been a joy, and I’d love to keep in touch.”

I smiled at her, noting Iona swooping back to the apples and eating a few more.

“I’d like that as well! I’ll make sure to write once I settle in. And thank you for the books, they’re wonderful.”

We exchanged a few more pleasantries, and the party moved on. Lothar, one of my main wizardry teachers found me next.

“Congratulations.” He rumbled at me. “I heard about your final exam. Remember, a wizard can never be too prepared.”

It took me a few moments to realize he was talking about my wizardry final exam, and had nothing to do with my medicine thesis.

“Thank you. I’m aware I’m only at the start of my wizarding journey, and I have miles and decades to go before I can even think I’m halfway competent at it.”

I felt like I was something of a bruiser with my wizardry. I could throw huge amounts of power and mana at a problem, so I never needed to work under tight constraints. A downside of coming to the discipline with a high level.

It was weird to think of myself as a thuggish brute, but like. The complex seven-ring array to make things happen, or the quick and dirty sigil for the same effect? I did have the spare power and mana to burn.

I made a mental note to practice my efficient spell forms when bored.

Lothar nodded.

“You’ve got the right mindset. You’ll do well.” He spotted another professor he wanted to talk with - I assumed - drifting back into the crowd.

I found myself needing to dodge and weave through the crowd a bit to not have awkward forcefield instances with my curse. Auri was in deep discussion with Bridget, and my plan to check if apple tree dryads caused issues were thwarted by an obvious, stupid thing.

Didn’t matter if I could approach her or not, apples were a critical part of her diet. I carefully backed off, mentally noting escape routes if Bridget wanted to talk with me. Which was likely, given my relationship with Auri.

Blessedly, Auri and Bridget came to an arrangement - I wasn’t sure what, I wasn’t eavesdropping on every single conversation here, that’d be rude and take up way too much mental space and social energy - and a bunch of apples went into the grill, and up in smoke.

Auri shot me a look, and I gave her a grin.

Good job! I mentally shot at her. [Telepathy] wasn’t a skill, but Auri and I understood each other. She puffed up proudly at her brilliant - actually brilliant - method of disposing of most of the apples in a way that nobody would think twice.

Apple-smoking meat was a thing, and Auri was a [Baker]. Maybe not with the class, but it was her thing.

Goddesses. I loved Auri and Iona so much. The way they just found ways to try and help me without saying anything. I had to figure out a good way to say thank you.

Ling Li was at the party with the other members of the School combat team, and she also found time to chat with me. Her robes were slightly modified from the base, looking more like a cultivator’s robes than a witch’s.

She clasped her hands and half-bowed to me.

“Fairy Elaine. It has been a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. If you should ever find yourself near the Blue Luan Paradise Sect, I would be honored if you would give us some face and visit.”

Surprisingly formal from her, but I guess we weren’t about to get into a fight - or technically on the same team anymore. I tried to mirror her bow.

“Ling Li. I’d be honored to swing by at some point.” I started off strong and formal, and completely punted it with the casual swing by. Ah well.

The party continued. Fenrir made a big show of eating the roast pigs whole, to the excited squeals of the kids and paling of a few less martially-inclined members.

On and on it went. People got drunk and threw skills into the air, fireworks exploding above us. A strong [Whistler] could get an entire multi-part song going - between bites of food! Fenrir somehow got a cutthroat game of cards going, manipulating Ice to finely handle the cards.

As far as parties went, it was pretty good.

“Humor me for a second?” I asked Iona.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“I know we’ve talked about Exterreri extensively, but I just wanted to double check that you’re alright with me trying to find Night.”

Iona chewed her tongue for a moment.

“Like. I’m fine with you looking for him, but can you promise not to turn it into an obsession or anything, or burn too many resources on it? The odds of him being alive, in this place, and findable are vanishingly small, and I’d hate to lose you on a greased pig chase.”

I pouted at that.

“I don’t think it’s a greased pig chase. But… yes, I see your point. I can’t make it my entire life, but I’ll be kicking myself if I don’t try. If I don’t put forth a real effort. He’s the only person I can imagine has survived this long, and he’s important to me. He was my mentor, my teacher, my boss and my coworker. Dare I say he was also a friend? Imagine if you got twisted through the world. Wouldn’t you want to find Alruna?”

Iona was nodding along the entire time.

“No no, I totally get it. I’m with you. Just… I don’t want to lose you down an impossible rabbit hole. If something can’t be found, if someone’s died thousands of years ago, how will you ever know to stop looking?”

She had a painful point.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Well, it’s not like I don’t have any leads.” I said. “Vampires need to be turned. I can just ask who turned which vampire, and try to trace the turning tree, so to speak.”

“Unless it all ends in a dead end. Entirely possible with your Night being alive.”

Iona was right, but it was somewhat frustrating.

“I get it, it’s imperfect, but it’s the best I’ve got. Anyway, you’re all packed?”

Iona nodded, and drew me into a cuddle.

“I am. Your attempt to change the topic is as subtle as always. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a downer. I’m here for you. I’m happy to search. I just don’t want to spend my entire life on a futile search. Does that make sense?”

I nodded, letting Iona wrap her strong arms around me.

“No, absolutely. I’d never ask you to spend your whole life on a search with me. That’d be insane.”

Unsaid was Iona’s reluctance to become an Immortal.

“Packing! Are you all set?” Iona asked.

“I think so, but I’m not great at organization. Usually had a list to help me out. Doing it alone is not great.”

Iona kissed me.

“Well, that’s what I’m for. Let’s go see if you’ve got everything.

It was time. Fenrir was wearing his full armor - easier for him to carry it. I had as many books as I could legally take stashed in my [Bookwyrm’s Hoard]. Iona and I each had a chest full of our stuff - clothes, coins, and the rest - and another chest simply for generic travel supplies, like tents, bedrolls, tinder kits and more. Two more chests were filled with preserved foodstuffs, and a single barrel of the most dread evil water rounded out our carrying supplies. Each of these were attached to Fenrir in some way, shape, or form, the massive wyvern making logistics easy. He didn’t count as a protective wagon, and there were no great arcanite reserves on him, but I’d take him over the Argo any day of the week if dinosaurs attacked.

Auri had an easy-come, easy-go attitude towards possessions, her biggest desire in life to have a kitchen and a nest. Fenrir had his well-loved pack of cards and pipe tucked away with Iona’s gear.

I circled Fenrir one last time, triple-checking our preparations.

“Ready?” Iona asked.

“Brrrrpt?” Auri added her voice, letting me know she was impatient and ready to GO! ON! ADVENTURE!

“Go.” Fenrir growled, his deep voice rattling my teeth.

The packs were on, triply-strapped. The armor had all the latches done. The sky was clear, the sun was just peeking over the horizon, and there was a soft summer breeze, the scent of flowers drifting on the wind.

“Alright. Everything looks good.” I flew up onto Fenrir’s back, settling in front of Iona on the saddle.

“Let’s go.” I said.

Fenrir charged down the field, jumping off the edge of the island and snapping his armored wings open.

The four of us flew into the rising dawn.