Posts from ☀️ Arselia and Akonia Auto-translated

-- There was some furniture, gathering dust in the basement... I guess it's time to use it. Thank you, Alaria, now I know what to do. As for the books, we need to figure out how to send them to the future archive, if our contributors, including Milady, agree.

— You seem to have forgotten that budget money was also spent on our research. You're right, — the inquisitor nodded, — these books are no more "ours" than the headquarters building itself. We don't have the right to dispose of them without the approval of our patrons. Apparently, I must have overlooked this because my brain was too tired from the search.

-- ... I have another interesting conversation for you, please remind me in a more private setting. So that people don't think, "Oh, here's that Red Fury again, she knows something but won't tell anyone." It's nothing serious, but you'll find it interesting.

— Oh, is that so? — she said with a wide smile, — Have I finally earned enough karma to be transferred to the ranks of "trusted Carneolians" and be privy to your many secrets? You're intriguing, I must say! Thank you for your trust, I'll try not to forget it. Otherwise, I'll regret it, haha!

Upon returning home, they tell Tay that the situation was resolved thanks to the governor's efforts. Unfortunately, they didn't have the physical strength to go to the villa.

Perhaps her colleagues' work was coming to an end, but her own responsibilities were not. Upon returning to the headquarters, Alaria stretched a bit and went to prepare a warm dinner for her comrades. Just in case Tay decided to stay, she made a portion for him too. The guy deserved it. Without his heroism, today's story could have turned out very differently. And in general, he was already, one could say, an "honorary Carneolian." At least, in the eyes of the Tanarisi herself.

Guyon only hoped that Tai no longer hated him after he saved his life...

Still holds a grudge for not letting some beautiful woman from the squad feed him a gem, and did it himself...

Beata and Guyon: alien enthusiasts.

Heh.

We didn't do anything, we just asked why she was so quick to judge...

— Oh, so that's how it is? — she says with a wide grin, — I've finally earned enough karma to be transferred to the "trusted Carneol" category and be initiated into your numerous secrets? You're intriguing, I must say! Thank you for your trust; I'll try not to forget it. Otherwise, I'll regret it, haha!

-- Karma? Secrets?

Even though the comment was clearly a joke, it wasn't entirely unfounded. Erephir tried to imagine what she must look like in Alaria's eyes, what she had done to deserve this. Some kind of cunning, malicious intriguer, like that?

Yeah, that's not pleasant.

— Well, don't forget, and in general, if you want to bond, you can always organize a get-together in the format of a cross-questioning session, just as an aside. Usually, that's the easiest way to do it, I suppose, for maximum disclosure?

I like this Erathia more than the usual one. Sorry...

I like this Erathia more than the usual one. Sorry...

I completely agree. I would serve in her Carniole.

I completely agree. I would serve in her Carniole.

She would put everyone through a lie detector and lock up all the unreliable ones in a penal battalion...

Well, I would choose an obedient lackey who would happily bash in skulls for anyone on her command.

You're thinking correctly, and if that's the case, you'll get a raise, a bowl of meat, and we'll take a cat for you from Creon, even if he doesn't have one anymore.

Erephir tried to imagine what she must have looked like in Alaria's eyes, how she had earned her respect. Some cunning, malicious schemer, like this?

Alaria was somewhat surprised by Erephir's furrowed brow. She seemed so impenetrable, yet here she was. Doesn't she realize how she constantly withholds information until the last moment, or whispers about something with those around her? She did admit it herself when they had that conversation about other worlds. What a complex, yet seemingly simple, knight, indeed.

-- Well, don't forget, and in general, if you want to bond, you can always organize a get-together in the format of a question-and-answer session, just so you know. Usually, this is the easiest way to do it, I think, for maximum openness?

— Honestly, I don't know. But we can talk about the past sometime; I wouldn't mind.
Alaria didn't say that she herself wasn't inclined to be open with people. When a significant part of your life is associated with lies, both in everyday life and as part of your duty, it is difficult to break away from this, so to speak, occupational hazard.

Giyyon didn't sleep well that night. The abduction of Princess Naera was a major trigger for him, reminding him of the past. The hellish night in the bandits' fort replayed in his mind, along with everything they did to him. Later, in Lower Lunaria, things were even worse, more painful, and more humiliating, but that night was the breaking point. That was when he was shown too clearly what his future held. He still didn't understand how he managed to recover from it, how he started to enjoy intimacy again, and how he accepted his overly attractive appearance. There was a time when he hated his face and body, thinking that if he weren't so handsome, the bandits would have found him repulsive and simply killed him instead of... doing what they did. Perhaps Beata is right; he really is very strong. Despite still waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, remembering the grasping hands that wouldn't let him move, the nasty comments about his appearance and certain... private parts not meant for public viewing, the pain – the aching muscles from the unnatural, uncomfortable position he was held in, and the bruises and hematomas blooming all over his body from trying to resist, and, most terrifyingly, that relentless, unstoppable, inevitable, and unwanted intrusion into his personal space. Something he didn't believe in until the very end and hoped he could somehow avoid, but when it did happen, despite his desperate resistance, something inside him died. He wouldn't wish what he went through on anyone, ever. It was too horrible, too wrong. And Naera... Well, he's just a regular person, accustomed to all sorts of crap even before those events. But she was a princess, an influential and respected person, and her status alone made even the thought of such treatment sacrilegious. Yes, people of royal blood often married for political reasons rather than love, but there's a difference between negotiating and controlling the situation, and being simply grabbed and having something taken that doesn't belong to them, and can't and shouldn't belong to them. And the fact that the abductor was alone, not a crowd like in his case, doesn't diminish the horror and wrongness. Such things, such treatment of people, simply has no right to exist in any form, and the bastards who break any resistance and forcibly force their victims into such close contact don't deserve understanding or forgiveness. He didn't have time to properly assess the princess's condition in the chaos. It's unlikely the scoundrel had time to do what he intended, but if he did... Giyyon hoped Naera would be strong enough to survive it. "Erephir, are you going to see the princess? Tell her from Beata and me that we sincerely sympathize and apologize for being too late. We hope she's okay, or will be soon... The situation is terrible; no one would wish to be in it." Beata, standing nearby, nodded, agreeing with what he said. She understood perfectly why Giyyon was so worried and had witnessed his bad dreams. "The bastard needs to be interrogated," she said grimly.

Erephir's self-perception


Erephir in reality

Not having woken up on a Saturday morning, Klin decided to visit the working guild, where he saw an announcement from a certain Lady Knight and went to the address indicated.

The building at the indicated address turned out to be a richly decorated house. The butler, who worked there, having ascertained the purpose of the guest's arrival, led him to his employer, who turned out to be a blind woman.

- Greetings, Klin. - She knew his name from the butler, without whom he would not have been allowed inside. - Let me clarify, you are here on assignment from the working guild, is that correct?

- Kilika, I'm glad you're okay! - said Guion as he met the cat-girl. - Astellia said you were gone for a while, and I was about to run to the guards 😅 That guy was also from the School of Serenity, and I was worried he might have gotten to you. Are you alright? By the way, have you seen him before?

- I'm fine, I was on a date, so I didn't make it on time. Sorry...
Kilika glanced at the sketch, presumably in Guion's hands.
- No, I haven't met that guy before... Is he really a criminal? He looks very, very young.

Added 2 minutes later

And then on Saturday morning... On Saturday morning, it became clear that the time for gifts had come. And it had already been delayed for too long, to the point that one recipient almost left during the delivery process. Of course, it wasn't clear how traumatic or not the recent experience of the lady had been; maybe she wouldn't even want to see guests... But all of this could be found out from the servants, and that's what Erefir will do when she arrives. If necessary, she will pass the item through them.

She takes the pendant and goes to the villa.

At the villa, Erefir finds neither Naeru nor the servants, only Naria standing alone in the middle of the familiar walls.