<~> Chapter 276Everyone quickly loaded themselves back into the carriages while I held Bel against me. She was still crying, not nearly as forcefully as she had been, but she was still pretty upset. The merchants were pleased we had somehow managed to get them out of a long annoying inspection process from people they didn't trust, and they didn't ask any questions on how I had accomplished it. I wouldn't be surprised if they thought I had bribed our way out of it. None of them would compin about that, but some gave confused looks at the crying girl I carried into my wagon.
Norta hadn't changed much. They had put out the fires and cleaned up the streets, but the architecture and decorative style remained the same. All of the buildings that had been destroyed were already rebuilt, likely using the magic of earth mages. Patrols of Tamin Padins were walking the streets. There weren't quite as many as there were in the capital, but since Norta was smaller, it felt like they were everywhere. Cecilia brought us into the same stable that Tarklin had used the st time we were here, but we chose a different inn across the street this time.
Bel was quiet now but still looked morose from the conversation with her mother. The twins and Mimi in particur, were worried about her. These were probably the most intense negative feelings the twins have felt through the bond so far. Bel didn't have the presence of mind to close the bond from the others so all of those raw emotions were spilling out while she brooded over the conversation we had.
It felt like a long time before we finally arrived in our shared room at the inn and fell onto the bed. Our caravan was rge enough to rent out two entire floors of the inn we stayed at, but the inn was used to caravans and did a good job of getting the room assignments taken care of efficiently. I was happy they were able to handle things so smoothly because I really wanted to help Bel rex a little. The innkeepers didn't even bat an eye when I requested to room with Bel, Morrigan, and Mimi. Enough people were sharing rooms that it probably didn't register as romantic to them.
With a tap, Mimi relieved me of my armor by pcing it inside her pocket dimension. Normally I like to take it off properly, but I didn't want to wait while Bel was feeling so terrible. The moment I was free from my restrictive metal armor, I swept Bel into a big hug and she buried herself in my chest as she started to sob again. Morrigan and Mimi scooted in to hug her from the side and send supportive emotions through the bond.
I ran a hand up and down her back. "Are you feeling any better, Bel?"
She shook her head in my bosom.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked.
"I don't know..." she replied with a sniffle.
I looked over at Mimi. "Boots too, get Bel's as well."
Mimi nodded and got rid of our shoes so that we could get all the way onto the bed together. I id down and pulled Bel against me while soothingly rubbing her back. She was still sniffling occasionally, but it seemed like most of her tears had dried up. Morrigan took a few moments to take off her own clothes before lying down next to us.
"I don't want to talk about it tonight... Maybe tomorrow," Bel said after a while.
"Okay. Let's get ready for bed then," I replied.
The four of us spent some time getting ready for bed and switching to our nightclothes. This might be the st time we get to use these in the upcoming few days since it's safer to be more or less fully dressed while camping in the forts. This would be our st day in an inn before we reached Traehall.
Nearly immediately after slipping into the bed, Bel fell asleep. That situation had to have been incredibly taxing on her. It felt like it from her raging emotions at the time. I got comfortable in the bed with Bel pressing against me, and Morrigan slid into the bed on the opposite side since Mimi wanted to sleep next to Bel tonight.
"What happened over there?" Morrigan asked after a while.
"You remember that Corrine was Bel's mother, right?" I asked.
Morrigan shifted to better look at me. "Yeah. I remember you telling me about that the st time we were in Norta."
"The st time we talked with Corrine, we had been in a [Zone of Truth] and Bel had asked her if she really hated her son. We knew she was lying when she said yes. Those questions had led her to look into her son's disappearance afterward. She had been convinced her son had died when, in reality, her son became Bel instead. Bel had been... I guess furious would be the best way to put it when Corrine started asking about her son. Corrine asked us if we knew how her son had died, and Bel admitted that she was formerly her son. Corrine was confused and asked if she was Bruno, and Bel didn't take that well. Bel seemed convinced that Corrine didn't care that her former self had gone missing. It seemed to me that she had, though. She apologized for abandoning her and expined what happened. When Bel didn't reply, Corrine told us that she would ask the guards to leave us alone and let us go into the city."
Morrigan frowned and looked over at Bel, who was dead asleep against me. "No wonder she was crying so hard when you two got back..." Morrigan sighed and cuddled up next to me. "I feel really bad for her now but... Do you think that they should try to make up with each other? I know its... weird since Corrine is a Tamin priest, but... she's still Bel's mother, right?"
I sighed. "That's up to Bel. This isn't something that I feel confident sticking my nose into. It's up to her if she wants to reunite with Corrine, and that's even setting aside the nightmare of working around the Tamin church. Corrine isn't supposed to be around her former family anymore and Bel is a beastfolk, in a retionship with three other girls, and one of the prophesized wives of their harbinger of doom, me."
There was a moment of silence while Morrigan thought about it. After a while, she shook her head. "I don't know... I never got to know my mom. Even if I felt like she had abandoned me, I think I would want to reunite with her. I know it's not the same... but Bel's mom is still alive. I think she should try to make up with her. But... I might just feel that way because my mom is dead..."
I reached over and ced my fingers with Morrigan's. "It's a hard question... I don't have any memories of my past family, but I can see where you're coming from. For me though... this is something that I think should be purely Bel's choice. I don't want to meddle with how she handles it. I'll be supportive no matter what she chooses. I don't personally want to push her to do anything, one way or the other."
Morrigan frowned. "Would... would you mind if I talked to her about it? At least gave her my perspective on things?"
"That's up to you, you don't have to ask my permission," I replied while squeezing her hand.
"I'm not- Okay... maybe I was, but I guess I was actually asking if you think it's a good idea."
I sighed. "Honestly, I don't know."
"You should talk to her about it," Mimi said. I turned and saw her cuddled behind Bel with her head on the top of her shoulder. "You should tell her how you feel, Morrigan. You don't need to tell her what to do, just tell her why you think she should consider it."
Morrigan smiled at Mimi. "You're right. I don't need to push her into anything, just tell her why I feel the way I do... I just hope Bel takes it okay. She seemed really upset, and I don't want her to be mad at me too."
I squeezed Morrigan's hand. "I think it'll be okay. I don't think Bel would be mad if you were only trying to expin how you felt about it."
Morrigan wiggled under my other arm and leaned against me. "It's too bad we won't get to have sex in our st chance at a bed before we get to Traehall."
I chuckled and squeezed her against me before closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep for the night.
***
When I woke up the next morning, Bel and Morrigan had already left, and Mimi was rocking me awake.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. "What happened?" I asked.
Mimi shook her head. "Nothing important, we're just going to be te if you sleep in any longer. The others have already been up for a little while."
I raised an eyebrow. "Bel is already up?"
Mimi giggled and slid off the bed. "Yep! Morrigan was surprised about it too. Do you want me to dress you in your armor or should I put it out for you?" she asked.
"Just put it on me this time. If I'm already running te, it'll probably be better that way," I replied.
Mimi stripped me naked first. Next, the sparks of magic flowed out of her hand and flowed around me until suddenly snapping into pce. It always felt odd when this happened because it moved and shifted my body around. I adjusted my underwear and the clothes I wore under my armor before letting her do it again. It took much less time to get ready like this, but it always felt odd and slightly uncomfortable.
When I went to pull up my status, I noticed that I had overlooked a notification.
[Luck Magic has increased from level 10 to level 11]
It must have been from all of the times I used [Carousel] throughout the trip so far. I'd probably get a few more levels in luck from that alone if that's the case. I know that not a lot else has changed on my status but I pulled it up anyway to take a look at it.
[Status]Name: Lilith BaphometRace: Greater Succubus [Race Hidden - Dispyed as Beastkin (Sheep)]Gender: FemaleCss: [Novice Magic Swordsman] Lv. 14Level: 52
Stat Spread:Strength: 100Vitality: 100Charisma: 10 (1010)Luck: 20 (1020)Finesse: 70Magic Control: 100Magic Force: 100 (170)Speed: 70 (90)Endurance: 30
Karmic Energy: 10000
Unallocated Stat points: 0
Skills:Haggling Lv. 15Swordsmanship Lv. 39Illusion Magic Lv. 6Light Magic Lv. 15Light Manipution Lv. 12Uuna Riding Lv. 13Linguistics Lv. 10Ritual Magic Lv. 17Drawing Lv. 19Mana Sense Lv. 9Luck Magic Lv. 11Enhancement Magic lv. 10Flying lv. 7Intimidation lv. 1Internal Mana Manipution lv. 5Cartography lv. 5
Css AbilitiesMerchant Skill - CalcutionsProstitute Passive - Resist DiseaseProstitute Passive - Magic FingersProstitute Skill - Ease PainProstitute Skill - Freshen UpProstitute Passive - Tight FitProstitute Passive - Group DynamicsProstitute Passive - Go UnnoticedProstitute Passive - Resist SleepProstitute Skill - Center of AttentionProstitute Skill - Nightcap
Special Passives:Soulbound CompanionsSpecial drop rate upSightspeakDouble Down
Innate Abilities:Karmic RetributionBeing of Karma
Racial Traits:Succubus ConstitutionSexual Appetite Lv. 50Succubus BondGreater Succubus Shifting
Titles:[World Traveler - Hidden Title][Origin of Succubi - Hidden Title][Dungeon Destroyer][First Explorer][Early Intervention][Demon Hunter][Follower of Sorsette][Mother of the Succubi - Hidden Title]
As expected, nothing much changed there. I originally started pulling up my status every day to get in the habit, but it seems rather pointless most days. The only days it feels relevant are after a battle. I shrugged and ced up my boots before heading down the stairs with Mimi.
The lobby of the inn seemed pretty lively with the merchants on the trip. They were getting some st-minute breakfast into them before we hit the road again. The breakfast was simple, mostly just baked bread and spreads to go with it. It reminded me of the breakfast they served at the cheap motels along the highway in my previous life. Less coffee was involved though.
I spotted Bel and Morrigan talking in the corner, so I headed over to the two of them.
Morrigan noticed me first and waved at me with a small smile. Bel looked better, if a little more frazzled than usual. She turned and smiled at me too, when I got close.
"Good morning, Lilith," Bel said before giving me a quick hug. Nothing that would be too suspicious to the Tamin church was watching, I noticed.
"Feeling any better?" I asked.
Bel nodded. "I do, but I think I need a bit more sleep once we're on the road again. I still feel... down, I guess."
I looked over at Morrigan, who nodded. "We talked about it... we're not going to do anything this time, but she said she'll think about it. Either way, we're on our way to Traehall now, so those kinds of reunions can wait."
Through the bond and my own read of the situation, I could tell that Morrigan wasn't exactly happy with the outcome of her talk with Bel, but she respected Bel's choice. Pragmatically it made sense too, for better or worse. We didn't exactly have time to hang around here and let the two try to reconnect when we were in the middle of escorting a caravan full of beastfolk who wanted to avoid such a high concentration of Tamin priests and padins in one pce.
That was Bel's choice and I would accept it. I patted Bel on the shoulder, and after catching up with the rest of our group, we went to the stables to get everything ready to get back on the road. Everyone was pretty quick to get going and we were leaving Norta headed for Traehall only shortly after dawn. It would have been quite a bit early for me before, but now that I didn't need sleep as much as I used to, it was easier than ever to get rolling.
Once we got a good distance away from Norta, I summoned new mounts for everyone and this time rode out with Raya, Sibyl, Lori, and Morrigan. It was a pretty ranged heavy group, but that would be fine. Raya was the only one in the group who really needed practice fighting and didn't actually need to get the kills, so Morrigan would be able to finish all the monsters on this next stretch of the trip. A few more days of forts and we would be back in Traehall.
Saine
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