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>>40246826
“Perhaps I’m just like you; concerned about the well-being of the many people who inhabit this area.” You return her heavy stare in full.

Ali smiles. “That may very well be the case, but if we agree to work together, I might have to be privy to other reasons why she might seek you out.” She finally looks away from you and sighs. “But I am fair, so I won’t use this as a reason to wantonly snoop into your secrets. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, of course.”

A servant finally brings in a tray of various fruits, cakes, and other breaded desserts, as well as several cups of tea.

Ali plucks up one of the fancier looking cakes. “Those are the terms. I hope you find them agreeable and that we can work together on this. If not, then you’re free to stay to eat.”

The terms aren’t terrible, and Ali is very likely to put up the bulk of the resources involved in searching for Sayuline, but the very thought of working together with her seems like a crime against the natural order of things.

>Agree to the terms.

>Disagree, stay for lunch.

>Disagree, leave.

>Write in.

>>40246856
So she won't allow us to help her find Sayuline unless she gets to snoop into our personal matters? That ain't happening. We should have enough power to defend our group from her machinations.

>Disagree, stay for lunch.

Sophia may have tried to make it look like she was doing Ali a favor too, but she clearly didn't try very hard :(
What we were gaining was supposed to be Ali owing us a favor or something.

>>40246856
Are you prepared to have your secrets laid bare as well if need be? If so
>Agree to the terms.
But seal her ability to lie first.

Hello there!

>>40247060
Ali is quite a bit more business savvy than Sophia is, so she saw through it even before you got the ball rolling.
>>40247084
If you use your abilities on her, expect to be treated in kind.

Really hoping for a tie-breaker, by the way.

>>40247156
I'm really hoping whoever breaks the tie doesn't second just putting a seal on Ali. I don't even care if they agree to these shitty terms, in the face of an action like that. We might as well be attacking her with fire.

>>40246856
>Agree to the terms.
Lets not piss her off by sealing her. I like our legs in tact.

>>40247237
>>40247084
A deal is made!

>Writing~

>>40247257

“If those are the terms, then I hope you’re prepared to have you secrets laid bare as well, if need be.” You reach for the most ornately decorated cake, stealing before Vicki could grab it. “If so, then I agree.”

Ali gives Vicki a comforting pat on the shoulder and places a plate of cake in her hands. “That’s only fair.” She looks back and smiles at you deviously. “But, let’s catch her before any of that is necessary. Shall we?”

A very rare event when you and Ali completely agree on something.

“Agreed.” You respond and then return your attention back to your food.

The business of sharing what the two of you know seems to have been pushed aside in favor of whole-hearted eating, and idle conversation.

“That’s a lovely dress you have on, Marissa.” Ali nods toward the low-cut pale green sundress Marissa chose for this outing. “Beautiful matching shoes, as well!” She points. “They must have cost a fortune.”

Marissa finishes a sip from her tea. “Not as expensive as you think.” She finishes with a wink.

Ali places a hand on her chest. “That’s good to hear. But I’ve always found that regardless of how you pay, everything costs the same in the end.” She finishes with a small smile.

Those words seem to have hit Marissa particularly heavily, since she seems entirely absorbed in thought.

[1/2]

>>40248026

You wouldn’t be much of a mentor if you left you apprentice to be the only one on the receiving end of this ribbing that has arisen.

You place your empty plate down. “Have you gotten any better at sealing, Vicki? What I read in the tome had me positively worried about both you and Ali.”

She flinches at finally being included into the conversation. “I-I-I have! Stop reading those notes, right now!” She begins to stand.

Ali gently pulls her back down. “She’s not reading them at this moment, Vicki, and the more you get riled up about them, the more she’ll want to read them.”

Vicki quiets down with a heavily blushing face.

What’s fair is fair.

Your gaze meets with Ali’s.

…

You’re both afraid to continue down this road of teasing, not knowing whether or not the town will survive what awaits at the end of it.

But what if you can end it all before it began? No, you mustn’t. It’s absolutely foolish, and only serves to advance your position in this pseudo-battle you have with Ali.

There’s still the matter of exchanging information to get to…

How can something be simultaneously the absolute worst thing, and best thing to say at the same time?

>Continue on to business.

>”It seems Matthias may have gotten someone pregnant…”

>Write in.

>>40248067
>Continue on to business.
wow no wow we are not going down that road
no throwing away valuable info just to be the top gossip

>>40248067
>Ask about the necromancy book. Did Vicki/Ali have her own....obstacles....with the general study of it?
Come to think of it, has Matthias had any progress with that?

>>40248067
I saw some witch hunters sniping around town during the fair, have they caused any trouble?

>>40248067
>Continue on to business.

>>40248239
Snooping*

>>40248239
Uh yea, they did. Vicki had to kill one, remember?

>>40248184
One of the many things you still have to ask him.
>>40248239
If you're referring to when you brought Izu along with you and saw Carmina and her companion; One, they are Occultists as well, two, the fair hasn't happened yet.

>>40248325
This was after that. When we went out with Izu.

>>40248067
>Continue on to business.

>>40248067
>>Continue on to business.

>>40248184
>>40248239
General questions first, then..
>>40248160
>>40248248
>>40248432
Back to business.

>Writing

>>40248460

As much as you’d like to bring Ali down a peg in any sort of way, the thought of throwing away valuable information like that almost makes you sick to your stomach.

You clear your throat. “Perhaps I was a little unfair. Did you have any luck with the Necromancy tome, Vicki?”

“Necromancy tome?” She turns to Ali for explanation to your meaning.

“That was a gift for you, Sophia.” She waves over a servant to clear away the leftovers. “I hardly skimmed through it myself before I gave it to you.”

You do recall her saying that it was a gift. Perhaps she expected you to do more with it than you actually have. Best to change the subject.

You finish your tea before handing it off to the servant. “If that’s the case, let me try to pay you back somehow. Have you seen that the Occultists of the Order of Sacred Magdalena have been snooping around your market recently?”

This bit of information immediately piques Ali’s interest. “Have they now…They must be taking extra precautions to hide from me.”

She leans over and whispers something urgent sounding in Vicki’s ear, and before you know it, there’s only one person sitting across from you.

[1/2]

>>40249252

She quickly turns back to you. “She’ll be back shortly, probably. Thank you for the information, Sophia. Did you happen to catch any word of why they might be here?”

You shake your head. “I didn't overhear anything of the like, but whatever it is, it seems rather important.”

Ali sighs. “There’s always more work that needs to be done. Speaking of which, let’s get back to ours.”

You nod in agreement and begun divulging what you know about Sayuline and her work.

Your business together at the guild, her request for your help, the crystal catalysts, and the fact that she’s been seen lurking around the guild as of late.

Ali in turn informs you about her going through a long chain of newly arrive merchants to buy basic necessities for what seems to be two people. She goes into detail about how large amount of eviscerated corpses resembling the summoned beasts that terrorized the market have been found outside the city.

The two of you think about the pooled information for quite some time, with no progress.

Ali finally groans and speaks up. “I’ll just have to send a few capable people to look into the guild, and increase security even more.” She sighs and stands up. “I’d very much like to meet with her before the festival and –thank- her for all her work, so what you can do to help would be very much appreciated.”

Seems like this meeting is coming to its end. There’s a plan of action in place, but any plausible suspicions you can think of should not be overlooked.

>Bid your farewell and return home.

>Write in.

>>40249292
Right, now I FINALLY remember to mention:

>How does demon fat do for necromancy?
>Did we keep some from our dissection?
>Do we want to get some from these corpses? I guess their blood is already useless.

>>40249292
Ali I understand your reservations with delving, but how come you haven't tried to practice other magics in its stead?

>>40249398
Demon fat should work the same, but no one you know has tried it to see if it is any different.
The corpse was fully burned to the ground.
The corpses found around the city have also been disposed of, doesn't make for a good atmosphere leaving them around.

>>40249439
Going ahead with this.

>Writing~

>>40249546

“The festival is in three days after all.” Ali promptly adds.

You nod firmly. “I’ll see what I can do.” You push a strand of hair away from your face and broach one last question, quietly so that it’s only in between the two of you. “It’s strange to see you depending on others like this, Ali. How come you haven’t tried to practice other Occult arts?”

She stares at you for a moment to see how genuine you are in asking. Apparently satisfied with the result she sighs and finally whispers to you. “We all have things from our past we’re trying to overcome. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bring that up.”

Unpleasant times for the both of you it seems…

“I won’t.” You wave your good-bye and leave to return home absorbed in the memories of the time long ago that you called each other best friends.

~

A young teenage Matthias walks along side of you. The two of you just finished breaking every window of an abandoned house, and now idly search for what else you can get it trouble with.

>“…and then we did this.” Matthias makes vulgar gestures with his hips and his hands.

You laugh at his stiff movements. “When? When I was getting the rocks? Although, I do suppose it’d be more than enough time for you.” You rub your chin in thought.

He punches your arm, not hard because he was lying after all.

>Something catches his eye in the distance. “What the hell is that? A dog?”

An extraordinarily dirty creature crawls feebly in the distance, whatever it is, it’s clearly injured.

“Wait.” You squint to see strands of blonde hair underneath all the filth. “That’s a girl!”

~
[1/2]

>>40250532

You suddenly awake, largely forgetting your dream, and proceed on with your morning.

~

Early in the morning, you sent for Matthias, considering the fact that you have a multitude of questions that you want to ask him, and also to check in to see if he’s doing alright.

Of course, he’ll never know about the latter part of your reasons.

Izu chattering away outside loudly, lets you know that they’ve finally arrived. The young boy seems to shoot out a flurry of words at the newly unsealed Aya, who patiently and kindly responds to them all.

“Hello Aya.” You nod politely to her when she enters your home. “And company…”

“Yeah, yeah. Very funny. Now go sit down, Aya. You’ve been sick all morning.” Matthias scolds her.

“I’m fine.” She reassures him. “Only a bit queasy…”

Aya immediately runs outside and begins to dry heave over your front lawn.

Matthias sighs and scratches his head roughly. “It must be stress from being unsealed. I don’t know, but it's annoying seeing her like this and not being able to do anything.”

Umm…

Well you do have quite a few things you want to talk about, maybe it’d be best to save that for the end... How can they both not know?

>Tell him now that Aya is very likely pregnant.

>Have a normal talk with him first. (Write in what you want to ask.)

>Write in.

>>40250600
>Have a normal talk with him first. (Write in what you want to ask.)
necromancy and the other stuff we need to talk to him about. Talk about Ali, too.

Only mention the pregnant thing as they're about to leave.

>>40250600
>>Tell him now that Aya is very likely pregnant.

>>40250600
>>Tell him now that Aya is very likely pregnant.

a hotdog is not a sandwich captcha

>>40250600
>>Have a normal talk with him first. (Write in what you want to ask.)
Pyromancy, progress with necromancy, any witch hunters or occultists bothering him, ayah tell him about why she was sealed, pregnancy for last.

>>40250600
>Have a normal talk with him first.
Seconding what's been asked already.

>>40250755
But there is a bun in the oven.
>>40250654
>>40250783
>>40250837
Talking with the still cogent Matthias first.

>Writing~

>>40250866

You walk over to Aya and gently rub her back to help her through her ordeal. After a few minutes, she’s collected enough to stand on her own accord.

“Come, you can lie on the couch and take it easy.” You lead back inside, and reassure the two boys who nervously watch over the two of you from afar.

After you’ve helped Aya to the couch, you turn your attention to Izu. “Take it easier on her, and bring her anything that she needs.”

Izu gives you a spirited nod. “Okay!” He speeds off to her side.

Aya rubs the head of the boy sitting next to her. “You were telling me about your books.” She reminds him in a quiet voice.

Matthias isn’t doing anything positive by quickly pacing the room and staring her, so you lead him back to the kitchen to try to calm him down.

“You’re not helping her by panicking like that.” You fiercely whisper at him and jab him in the chest. “She’ll get better…in time.”

It’s not a lie. It’s just going to be a long amount of time.

He rubs his temples and sighs. “You’re right. I just need to clear my mind of it.”

You take that as initiative. “Well then, tell me how you’re progressing with your Pyromancy and Necromancy.”

He moves the rubbing to his eyes, but it seems like he’s calmed down. “I had to stop with the Necromancy when I couldn’t find anything bigger than a dog.” He lets out a single laugh. “Plus, Aya doesn’t appreciate when I have a bunch of corpses lying around the backyard.”

You signal for him to go on.

He smirks. “I’ve come up with a few new techniques with Pyromancy. All of them involve manipulation of huge amounts of smoke, boring to you I’m sure, but Aya told me that she hasn’t seen anything quite like it before.”

“Is that all she told you?” You cock an eyebrow.

[1/2]

>>40251767

He glares at you for a moment. “I know all about her past and her father now, if that’s what you’re referring to.” He crosses his arms. “She’s still the same to me.” He mumbles quickly.

“I suppose I should start referring to you, as Prince.” You take a low and swooping bow.

“Shut it!” He flicks your forehead.

You bow lower. “Oh no, I’ve angered you somehow, my prince.”

You straighten yourself out and grin wildly at the fuming Matthias. “Don’t be like that.” You change the subject. “I’ve been talking with Ali a lot as of late.”

It only takes a few minutes to catch him up on your past few meetings with her.

“Is that so…” He responds and quickly follows up. “Tell her that I said hello. But more importantly, I’ve been meaning to ask you about the Occultists from out of town.” He looks around to make sure that no one is listening in. “Do you think they’re here again for Aya?”

Hmm, you’re still not sure as to why they’ve returned to town, they certainly can’t just be here for the festival afterall.

Wait…Was Matthias a little eager to change the subject away from Ali? Well, he does have Aya at the forefront of his mind. You think back, just a few years ago all three of you got along fine, and then one day, Ali started to drift away after practically being attached to the two of you. Neither Matthias or Ali ever gave any indication, but they never seemed to speak to each other again.

>Tell him that you don't think that they're here for Aya.

>Tell him that you still don't know why they're here.

&

>Ask him what happened with him and Ali.

>Leave it in the past.

>Write in.

>>40251853
>Tell him that you still don't know why they're here.
>Ask him what happened with him and Ali.

>>40251853
>Tell him that you still don't know why they're here.
>Ask him what happened with him and Ali.

>>40251868
>>40251934
Digging up a lot of personal stuff today!

>Writing

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Hi auri!
My choice of options are same to the two potions above.

>>40252219
Hello there, anon!

>>40251853
>>Tell him that you still don't know why they're here.
>&
>>Ask him what happened with him and Ali.

>>40252045

You slowly shake your head. “I still don’t know what they’re doing here, so I’d err on the side of caution.”

Matthias lets out an unsatisfied grunt. “I’m not a fan of hiding out like those rats across your house.” He stares out the window. “I think I might head over to the market by myself.”

“Don’t do anything stupid.” You walk over to him and stare out the window as well.

He has a family to think about now…

“I’m still not sure if I’m going to do it or not. It just gets frustrating living like a fugitive, you know?” He scratches his scruffy chin.

The two of you are quiet for a long time before you finally speak up.

“As of late, a lot of things have been making me think of the past.” You idly comment to begin with.

Matthias remains silent.

“…You never told me why you and Ali stopped talking.” You state frankly.

Again, you were never one for beating around the bush.

“And I never planned to.” He quickly responds.

That certainly is a first. You can hardly think of anything else of such importance Matthias has kept from you.

You turn toward him. “Now you’ve only made me more curious. Come on, I know practically everything about you. Remember that one time we were at the lake and you got diarrhea?”
He winces. “Don’t bring that up…” He turns to meet your gaze and the two of you stare each other down for quite some time.

“Fine.” He finally says, begrudgingly. “It’s dumb as all hell, but here it is.” He turns back toward the window. “She was always like a little kid, interested in what I was doing and where I went and that’s what I saw her as, a little kid.”

[1/2]

>>40252938

Ali’s only a couple years younger than you, but at that age it makes much more of a difference, you guess.

“It was on my seventeenth birthday.” He rubs his chin. “You were in trouble that day, for whatever reason, and I was bored out of my mind.” He pauses for a moment before continuing. “So I returned to my room at the guild to find decorated to the last inch, and there she was with this small pathetic looking cake.”

Hearing how different everything has become make it feel like it all happened a lifetime ago, but it didn’t, it certainly didn’t.

He continues. “We ate the cake, chatted for a bit, and then she starts talking about giving me my present.” His words come out more heavily. “She said that she knew what I liked and was prepared to give it to me…”

Matthias was a normal teenage boy in that regard.

He shakes his head. “I refused her before things went too far…she didn’t like that. Went on asking ‘Who? Who is it that’s so much better than me?’ I panicked…That’s when I mentioned your name.”

…

“She didn’t say a word after that, just left the room, and we haven’t spoken to each other since.” He finishes his story and then turns back to you. “I’m really, truly sorry, Sophia. I want this to return to the past where it belongs.”

>”You’re an absolute idiot, but I forgive you.”

>Laugh at him.

>Write in.

>>40252970
>”You’re an absolute idiot, but I forgive you.”
That may explain a great deal don't let her her know you got says pregnant.

>>40252970
>>”You’re an absolute idiot, but I forgive you.”
>>Laugh at him.
both

>>40253024
Aya* freaking autocorect

>>40253034
Backing this.

>>40253024
>>40253034
>>40253164
Always, always laugh at Matthias's suffering.

>Writing~

>>40253177

You laugh, you laugh like you haven’t in years. The sound fills the kitchen, the whole house, and escapes outside unbounded. Your cheeks hurts and you’re having trouble catching your breath, yet you still laugh.

Finally with tears forming in your eyes, you manage to squeeze out a few words. “You’re an absolute idiot, but I forgive you.”

Your laugh finds new life when you remember what you considered telling Ali the day before.

“You’ve always had a really evil sounding laugh, Sophia.” Matthias informs you.

You clear your throat and place a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t let Ali know that you got Aya pregnant.”

“…What?” He eventually blurts out.

“It’s called morning sickness, it happens a bit after conception…” You grin at him.

…

“AYA!” He swiftly returns to the parlor room.

You catch up to find him clutching a surprised Aya’s hand.

“You’re pregnant!” He states expectantly.

“I know.” She replies with a smile.

“You knew?!” Matthias is flabbergasted and seems short on breath.

Izu stands tall. “I knew too.” He says with the utmost confidence.

He didn’t know at all…

Matthias stumbles on his words. “What do we do now?”

Aya thinks on his question for a moment. “I think I’d like to lie here for a bit.” She smiles.

~

After some congratulating and some spirited chatter, Matthias and Aya returned to their home, with Matthias watching over her like she had suddenly become made of glass.

You return to your room to get some peace and quiet after a hectic morning.

Only when you’ve finally have begun to relax is when your mind is assaulted by a torrent of noise.

It’s the exact same as last time, Grievermillion must be trying to communicate with you again. So you focus past all the ceaseless screaming, and focus in on the one voice speaking directly to you.

“It’s time, Sophia. My life has been found forfeit, and there’s only precious hours before my execution. I need your help now, Little Empress.”

~

>>40253728
Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for tonight. A lot of personal things were learned today, and I want to thank everyone that played! As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them in the thread, and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

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>>40253728
>
>Mfw
>>40253762
Thanks for running auri!

>>40253762
This'll be fun

>>40253762
Thanks for running Auri!

>>40253793
You're very welcome! I couldn't help smiling when I was writing some parts too.
>>40253835
I'm looking forward to it as well!
>>40253841
You're also very welcome!

I'll be stepping out now. Until next time!