The Chronicles of Dwynveia – A Slimeling LitRPG

Aki - Day 61 - 57 Days Remain Until the End of the Mourning Period on Mavigan

‘How does it feel?’ I asked Ren.

She was walking around our room, testing her new foot. Like Caei’s fingers, the prosthetic was white with golden filigree.

‘Weird,’ my birdie admitted. ‘Throws my entire movement pattern off. It will take some adjusting to.’

‘Take your time,’ Lilyth, still bedridden, shrugged. ‘I doubt we will be departing for a week or so.’

Definitely “or so”.

Judging by the general mood during breakfast, the preferred time to depart would be “never,” but we simply had too many enemies to sit around. At least, no longer on the clock, as the Harvester plant mess cleared Deirdee and Persephone from their obligations towards Ereshkigal, we could take our time and not rush blindly into danger.

Well… we would still be going in blind, but we would at least be somewhat rested. And if we wanted to save Mavigan from the Red Masks, we had about two months, so we couldn’t put it off forever; but on the other hand, since Persephone could teleport, we could now do something Savri called a “Hot Drop.” We’d rather avoid doing that since skipping the journey meant we would be skipping all the intel and chances to intercept the enemy before reaching the destination.

Still, the option was there, and that meant I got to sleep in a real bed for a while.

‘Just think about it like a new pair of shoes, sweetie,’ Ireela said encouragingly. ‘A new shoe, anyway.’

That wasn’t that bad a piece of advice, all things considered.

Lilyth looked as if she wanted to say something, but thought better of it and stayed silent.

‘If you have something to say, Your Majesty, speak,’ Ireela said. ‘It is a privilege of a ruler to always be able to speak their mind.’

‘A wise ruler knows when to stay silent,’ Lilyth smiled. ‘I am not that wise, but I am learning. Also about that ruler thing…’

‘Oh, right. Rennie told me. We will have to figure that one out in practice. I understand your reasoning, and I agree with it. You just can’t show up out of the blue and drop this kind of news.’

‘I know. The original plan assumed I likely wouldn’t be coming back. Hell, nine out of ten doctors agree that I should be dead.’

I had no idea who that tenth doctor was, but I wasn’t sure whether I should hug them for keeping faith in Lilyth’s survival or tell people to avoid them because of how obviously unqualified they were.

‘I am okay with not making my abdication an official thing yet,’ Lilyth continued. ‘Rennie can be the power behind the throne for now.’

‘Thank you for understanding,’ Ireela said, smiling. ‘Will this be satisfactory for you as well, oh daughter of mine?’

‘Oh… yes,’ Rennie said absentmindedly. ‘Yes. Sure. Let’s do that.’

She had been pacing around the room, Chirpy riding on her shoulder, only paying half attention to the conversation between her mother and wife.

‘Hmm… I will need to try that with a shoe,’ Rennie muttered. ‘I will need to find myself an actual new pair.’

‘Need help?’ Caei asked.

‘Sure,’ Ren gave her a faint smile.

‘I’ll go handle the court business, then,’ Ireela nodded and turned to me and Lilyth. ‘I gather you two will find a way to… entertain each other while we are all out, yes?’

We looked at each other with Lilyth and nodded.

‘Very well. Come then. Rennie. Caeileera.’

I slid myself next to Lilyth the moment the door closed.

‘You heard the lady,’ I laughed.

Ren

Did Mom seriously just imply Lilyth and Aki should go and fuck?

Judging by the faint smile on her face… yes.

Yes, she did.

‘Hey, I was young once, you know,’ she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. ‘Honestly, if it wasn’t for your shoe idea, I would have left all four of you to enjoy some quality R&R.’

I felt my cheeks flush red.

‘Listen,’ my mom continued, relishing in my discomfort. ‘After all you’ve just gone through and all that you have managed to achieve, you and your wives deserve nothing less than some peace, quiet and indulgence.’

‘But that doesn’t mean just sex!’ I tried to protest, but then the very characteristic sound of Aki’s moans reached us and contradicted what I was saying.

My mom gave me an “I told you so” look, and I felt my cheeks redden further.

I glanced at Caei for support, but she looked as if she was losing a fight to contain a laugh. Only Chirpy came to my defence, as he licked my cheek, rubbed against my head and began purring.

I love you too, little guy.

Caeileera

Ren’s mom finally took pity on her and left us to our own devices, so we made our way to the keep’s armoury and found her a set of less-worn guard shoes to test her new foot in.

‘I will need to order myself a new set of travelling shoes or two,’ Rennie said blankly. ‘At least my slippers should still fit.’

‘Maybe Lilyth can make you some once she recovers enough Mana,’ I suggested. ‘There must be some comfortable shoe styles on Terra.’

‘I’d rather ask Nyx or just go to a cobbler. As much as I love her, I wouldn’t trust her to make well-fitting shoes. Or myself, for that matter. Shoes are like that.’

‘I guess you are right. I’d rather not get blisters because Lilyth visualised some minor stitching wrong.’

‘I don’t blame you, you know,’ Rennie suddenly changed the topic after a moment of silence. ‘Or hate you. It will take me a moment to forgive you or even get over it, but I know you did your best to get me out of that rubble pile intact.’

I looked at Rennie with a mix of relief and apprehension. Tears were glistening in her eyes, so I just embraced her. She buried her face in my chest and began to weep.

Chirpy, still somehow holding on to her shoulder, patted my white-haired goddess on the head with his paw.

I’ll have to ask Lilyth for some treats for the furry douchebag.

The armoury turned out to be a terrible place to have a moment, as we gave Guardsman Sol a very wrong idea as to what we were doing. The poor boy got red-faced and began to retreat, apologising profusely.

‘I suppose we should change the venue,’ Ren said, her tears forgotten and replaced by barely contained laughter. ‘Or maybe…’

‘Maybe wh…’ I began to ask, but Ren’s lips locked onto mine.

Chirpy, tactfully, went to watch the door.

‘I love you, Caeileera of the Sanguine,’ Rennie whispered to me as we lay cuddling on a pile of winter coats.

‘I love you too, Ren of the Bloody Perch Clan,’ I kissed her.

Rennie was about to reciprocate, but there was a knocking on the door, and they opened it slightly.

‘I… I am s-sorry, m-my ladies,’ we heard Sol stammer from behind it. ‘B-but… S-sergeant M-Milten…’

Oops.

Lilyth

We were still basking in the afterglow with Aki when Caei and Ren returned. Seeing them enter our bedroom draped in guard cloaks, carrying their clothes in bundles and giggling like teenagers ruined my mood a little and raised some very interesting questions. Like… how much will I have to pay the washer for silence? Or where to reassign people who passed them in the corridor.

Do we own some cold island I can deport them to, or will I have to conquer one? Then again, the story is probably all over the keep by now, so it might be easier to just do a complete purge and recruit new staff.

Don’t get me wrong, Lilyth the Wife was very happy Ren and Caei had some quality time. It was Witch Queen Lilyth that was… less than pleased. If Ren was supposed to rule someday, it would be best if there weren’t that many salacious rumours about her beforehand.

‘I think Guardsman Sol deserves a bonus,’ Caei giggled.

Oh, Sweet Jesus. Poor boy.

‘I’ll see what I can do,’ I sighed.

‘Oh, don’t be such a grumpy face,’ Aki playfully punched me on the shoulder. ‘It is not like our sex life isn’t being constantly talked about.’

I couldn’t argue with that. In fact…

‘Since people will be talking anyway, how about we try to live up to the rumours?’ I suggested.

Hopefully we did.

Savri

‘Palace rumour is that the girls had a massive orgy in the armoury,’ Nyxie told me when she returned to my room bearing a platter filled with snacks. ‘If so, shame they didn’t invite us.’

She actually went to the kitchen to bring me those instead of creating them ex nihilo. To avoid scaring the palace staff, Nyxie wasn’t dressed in her usual suit and shirt, but rather opted for a French maid outfit instead, which, in her mind, allowed her to pass as a servant from the realm of Air.

‘I don’t think I am in the shape for a good orgy,’ I let out an exaggerated sigh.

It was true. Despite being fully healed, I was still hella weak and needed bed rest. I had no idea how Lilyth, who was in far worse state than I had been, had energy to fuck. Speaking of…

‘Wait… doesn’t Lilyth consider you to be her mother figure?’ I asked. ‘Wouldn’t that get in the way of the whole orgy thing?’

Not to mention Aki being my half-step aunt. Which will make my familial relationship with Lilyth…

‘Don’t worry,’ Nyxie laughed. ‘I am not into that. But I am happy to hear you are down to orgy in less icky circumstances.’

‘I never… I mean…’

‘Gotcha!’ She chuckled and booped me on the nose. ‘Or did I?’

Phosi

Someone disturbed my brooding by knocking on the door of my room.

‘Go away!’ I shouted.

Whoever was on the other side cheerfully ignored my protests and began to open the door.

It was Deirdee. She had an expensive-looking bottle of alcohol with her as well as two whiskey glasses.

‘I told you I wasn’t interested in visitors,’ I stressed, doing my best to control my temper.

‘I wasn’t asking,’ Deirdee said. ‘Just announcing. Figured you could use some company. After what you have gone through, sitting in your room and sulking cannot be healthy.’

‘I do not sulk, morsel!’ I made a half-hearted snarl. ‘I brood!’

‘We can sit and brood together then,’ Dee laughed. ‘Misery loves company and so on and so forth.’

I hated how right she was, but my pride wouldn’t let me admit that. Instead, I tried a different approach.

‘I can’t get drunk,’ I pointed at the bottle.

Another thing that was taken from me when I became this… thing.

‘Doesn’t mean you can’t drink with me. I can get drunk for both of us.’

‘Wouldn’t you rather drink with some of the others?’

‘The lovebirds are fucking; from what I’ve heard, Savri was “assigned” a weirdly-dressed servant from the realm of Air, which I assume is just Nyx attempting a disguise; and Persephone… She is with the Angel. Not sure what the story there is.’

‘Maybe they used to know each other before she got imprisoned in that pillar,’ I shrugged. ‘So you gonna pour us drinks or should I?’

Persephone

I finally mustered enough courage to enter the Angel’s room and sit by her bed. She was still unconscious, though Life mages looking after her assured me that her life was not in danger.

Maybe it would be easier if she died.

Who was I kidding?

If she died I would have spent the rest of my life blaming myself for it.

No. I would have to face the music.

Do I have enough strength, though? I thought as tears began to gather in my eyes. Ymi… why did the Light have to send you to that hellhole?