Caethya retreated deeper into Aperio's wing, hoping to hide the redness that had started to creep up her cheeks and ears. She had wanted to say something else, but it was not the time for that; nor the place.
The All-Mother noticed her distress, pulling her wing tighter around Caethya as well as wrapping an arm around her. While the Elf knew Aperio just wanted to soothe her, at the moment it had the opposite effect.
Still, she leaned into the embrace, letting herself be held by her Goddess. Caethya had not gone as far as she had wanted to with her words, but Aperio would only doubt the veracity of her confession if she gave it now. She had still managed to speak her mind in the hopes of getting her point across, and for that she was proud of herself.
"Caethya?" the All-Mother asked, a sliver of her magic running through the Elf's body. Aperio had her eyes fixed on her, the intricate pattern of blue lines and specks that crisscrossed her irises changing every time Caethya blinked.
"I think she has something else to say that you are not yet quite ready to hear," Mayeia said from her position on the grass a few steps away.
Aperio ignored the Goddess of Magic, simply continuing to look at Caethya. The Elf could feel the All-Mother's attention weigh on her. It was not the tidal wave that had once seemed to threaten to crush her, but the promise of a tight embrace that would bring nothing but comfort.
"There is no need to stay quiet if you wish to say something," the All-Mother said, brushing her hand over Caethya's cheek in the same way the Elf had just recently done.
Caethya gave a shallow nod in reply. "I will tell you when I am ready," she said, leaning a little more heavily against Aperio's wing. "For now, finding Moria is more important."
Aperio held her gaze a little longer before she gave a curt nod, a few strands of her hair falling in front of her ever-shifting eyes. "As you wish."
A thought accompanied the words; one filled with the All-Mother's worry for her, her uncertainty. Aperio had also conveyed a small question to which Caethya readily agreed.
She was effortlessly lifted into the All-Mother's lap with her back resting against Aperio's chest. A moment later, her Goddess wrapped her arms and wings around Caethya, holding the Elf a little tighter.
Mayeia smiled at the two of them, though she quickly averted her gaze after Caethya felt a brief flare of anger flow through the All-Mother's aura. Caethya placed her hands on Aperio's own in response, trying to convey a feeling of calm through her own aura.
"Where do you think we should look for Moria first, then?" the All-Mother asked, her body losing some tension as she leaned against Roots.
"Might I suggest Foderys?" Mayeia said, lowering the notebook in her hand. "The [Ancestral Guard] is likely your best bet for information, unless you plan to look at every little bit of Verenier at once."
The All-Mother tilted her head, Caethya perceiving the motion through her aura and by the slight tickle of silver-blue hair against her face. Is she actually considering it?
"Do you even know what to look for?" she asked. "I think asking the [Ancestral Guard] would be a good start."
"I know how Moria's soul felt the last time I saw her," Aperio said after a moment of silence. "But that was… a while ago, and I would have to abandon my form to properly search using that method."
Mayeia nodded at the words. "And you would rather not risk being stuck formless without Caethya while you figure out how to make a new shell to contain you."
"Yes," Aperio replied. "There are other reasons as well, but that is the main one. I do not know if I can reinforce my body fast enough to return to it after finding Moria."
The uncertainty Caethya felt in the All-Mother's aura made it clear that she herself was not even sure if she could find Moria that way. It was not the only thing that permeated the bond she shared with Aperio, however. There was also fear.
She knew little of what happened to Aperio in her time as a slave, but it was abundantly clear that the prospect of losing her body terrified the All-Mother. What Caethya was not so sure about was the reason her Goddess was so frightened of the prospect. Was it because she was attached to her physical form as it was now, and did not wish to lose her current 'shell,' as Mayeia had called it? Or, she considered as she was held just a fraction more tightly, was her Goddess frightened that a loss of physicality might harm their relationship?
A small sliver of her mana flowed around Aperio in the best approximation of a hug the Demigoddess could manage. Her control over her mana was still nowhere near that of Aperio or even Mayeia, but ever since she had become a Demigoddess it had become easier and easier. And I keep getting more mana too.
She was not entirely sure where it came from, but her best guess was the woman in whose lap she currently sat. Caethya wouldn't put it past her love to give her a little extra, just to make sure she could take care of herself. Or she's done nothing because she's forgotten amidst all the other things she's worrying about.
Though it was indeed possible that she was being given special treatment, it was more likely that Aperio had not given her anything extra. The All-Mother had made it quite clear that she did not want to influence her in any way; that she was scared of the mere prospect. Convincing her that her feelings did not come from the blessing but were truly her own was easier said than done.
But, we are making progress, Caethya thought with a small smile on her face. "We're going to Solito, then?" she asked, tilting her head back to look at Aperio with not only her aura but also her eyes.
"Yes," Aperio replied after a moment, shifting a little and moving Caethya effortlessly as she did. "It is the best place to start and I can continue my search from anywhere."
"If I may?" Mayeia interjected, continuing after Aperio waved her on with her wing. "I have a temple in Foderys and a good number of followers in the [Ancestral Guard]. Knowing your preference for staying off the map, I thought it would be best if I arranged a meeting for us."
Aperio squinted at the Goddess of Magic. Mayeia had a point, but the All-Mother also thought that she had pushed the issue away for long enough.
"Fine," she said with a sigh. "How long will that take?" Might as well look at the city while we wait. Maybe meet with Neria.
"A few hours," Mayeia replied. "A day at most if they try to delay it for some reason."
The All-Mother let her senses wander, finding Solito and the biggest city on it a rather trivial task for her. Aperio also had no trouble spotting Mayeia's temple; another library filled to the brim with books of all kinds.
"Are you trying to get Lore or Knowledge as a second Domain?" she asked, her eyes focused on the Goddess of Magic as her senses wandered through her temple in Foderys.
"Maybe," Mayeia mumbled in reply. "No luck so far, though."
"The other Gods aren't willing to help?" Caethya asked, shifting a little in Aperio's lap to better look at the Goddess of Magic.
"Edisicio told me I am on the right track, but that's about it." She shrugged and stood up. "In the end, it doesn't really matter if it takes a few more centuries or millennia. Time is not really a concern."
Perhaps she can't get one because that part of the System is also broken? Aperio was certain by now that the thing was only holding on by some form of divine grace — one that undoubtedly came from some part of her own subconsciousness.
"Are you ready to go, Caethya?" Aperio asked, looking down at the Demigoddess.
"I am," she replied. "But… What about Maria and Adam? I did promise to train them, and I would like to keep that promise."
"If you wish, I can bring them here and you can stay with them," Aperio said, her shoulders and wings slumping a little. "But I am certain that both of them would understand if you delayed their lessons by a little."
Her disciple remained quiet for a moment, tapping her fingers on Aperio's hands as she thought. "Can you land your temple?"
"Yes? But, what does that have to do with anything?" Aperio had brought her temple out of another dimension; landing it should most definitely be possible. If it can't do it on its own, I can just teleport it down. Probably.
"Nothing yet," Caethya said. "But I thought that it would make everything a little easier. People could just come here directly and you would only have to teleport me. And maybe I can eventually figure out how to do that too."
The All-Mother quirked an eyebrow at the words and shook her head after a moment. "Maybe," she said. "Do you wish to accompany us to Foderys or do you want to remain here?"
"I'll come," Caethya replied, attempting to stand up but failing to move from her Goddess' embrace.
Aperio stood up in response, effortlessly bringing Caethya up with her as she did. A touch of her magic ensured that the Demigoddess of Creation had not been injured by her movement. She folded her wings behind her back, giving Caethya a last squeeze before letting go.
"Are you ready?" Aperio asked, directing her gaze at Mayeia.
"Of course!" she replied, her own magic gathering but failing to take hold as the barrier surrounding the All-Mother's temple prevented it. A thought from Aperio brought Mayeia outside, where she stayed for a moment before appearing in her temple in Foderys.
The All-Mother shook her head lightly at the action. "She could have just told me where to go," Aperio mumbled, holding her hand out towards Caethya. "Have you ever been to Foderys?"
"No," her disciple replied, taking the offered hand. "I have spent most of my life on Spicor before coming to Vetus."
"I have never been to Spicor," Aperio said, looking in the direction the continent laid in. "Would I be welcome there? Even though I look like an Elf, it's only because I feel comfortable as one. But, in the end, it's a lie."
"Most would probably honoured you chose to look like one of us when you could be anything," Caethya said, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze. "Some, however, would probably take it as an opportunity to proclaim that 'Elvenkind is superior'. Such people sadly exist in every species."
Aperio nodded, focusing on herself for a moment to get rid of the subtle glow beneath her skin. Another thought caused her wings to vanish and the armour to appear above her dress.
A tiny flex of her mental muscles twisted reality apart, bringing Caethya and herself into Mayeia's temple in Foderys. The shelves that surrounded them were not only stuffed to the brim with books and scrolls, but also runes. They were engraved in every visible part of the wooden surfaces, and glowed with mana. At least, they did to Aperio's eyes.
"Why do you have Wards of Confinement on your shelves?" Aperio asked, squinting at the struggling enchantments. At least they aren't breaking.
"Ah, yes, those." The Goddess of Magic looked at the shelf in question and sighed. "Those are books written by people not from this world, and the knowledge within has been deemed too dangerous by the Pantheon and the countries that originally held them. So, as a somewhat neutral third party, I hold onto them."
"Why not in your Dominion?" Caethya asked. "Wouldn't that be safer?"
Mayeia shrugged in reply. "It would, but the mortals wanted to keep them on Verenier and the other Gods didn't really care."
"Have you already sent someone to the [Ancestral Guard]?" Aperio asked, changing the topic.
"I did that as soon as you had agreed to it," Mayeia replied. "I will let you know what they tell me once they contact me. Until then, you could take the opportunity to explore the city. Perhaps it will help you worry a little less."
The All-Mother glared at the Goddess of Magic, only stopping when Caethya slung her arm around her waist and smiled at her. "I think that is a good idea."
While staying in a library had been a large part of her life as a slave, Aperio still enjoyed being surrounded by books. They had given her knowledge and a small taste of freedom with the stories they told. Walking these halls with Caethya would further her enjoyment, but so would walking outside.
Exploring the city was something she could do without leaving but, much like reading, she preferred looking at it with with her own eyes. Having her disciple by her side while walking through Foderys was a nice thought, and ultimately the one that won in her mind. She could spend some time with Caethya alone; finally get to know her a little more.
“Perhaps it is,” Aperio replied, a thought twisting reality apart to bring Caethya and herself outside.
GamingWolf
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Caethya retreated deeper into Aperio's wing, hoping to hide the redness that had started to creep up her cheeks and ears. She had wanted to say something else, but it was not the time for that; nor the place.
The All-Mother noticed her distress, pulling her wing tighter around Caethya as well as wrapping an arm around her. While the Elf knew Aperio just wanted to soothe her, at the moment it had the opposite effect.
Still, she leaned into the embrace, letting herself be held by her Goddess. Caethya had not gone as far as she had wanted to with her words, but Aperio would only doubt the veracity of her confession if she gave it now. She had still managed to speak her mind in the hopes of getting her point across, and for that she was proud of herself.
"Caethya?" the All-Mother asked, a sliver of her magic running through the Elf's body. Aperio had her eyes fixed on her, the intricate pattern of blue lines and specks that crisscrossed her irises changing every time Caethya blinked.
"I think she has something else to say that you are not yet quite ready to hear," Mayeia said from her position on the grass a few steps away.
Aperio ignored the Goddess of Magic, simply continuing to look at Caethya. The Elf could feel the All-Mother's attention weigh on her. It was not the tidal wave that had once seemed to threaten to crush her, but the promise of a tight embrace that would bring nothing but comfort.
"There is no need to stay quiet if you wish to say something," the All-Mother said, brushing her hand over Caethya's cheek in the same way the Elf had just recently done.
Caethya gave a shallow nod in reply. "I will tell you when I am ready," she said, leaning a little more heavily against Aperio's wing. "For now, finding Moria is more important."
Aperio held her gaze a little longer before she gave a curt nod, a few strands of her hair falling in front of her ever-shifting eyes. "As you wish."
A thought accompanied the words; one filled with the All-Mother's worry for her, her uncertainty. Aperio had also conveyed a small question to which Caethya readily agreed.
She was effortlessly lifted into the All-Mother's lap with her back resting against Aperio's chest. A moment later, her Goddess wrapped her arms and wings around Caethya, holding the Elf a little tighter.
Mayeia smiled at the two of them, though she quickly averted her gaze after Caethya felt a brief flare of anger flow through the All-Mother's aura. Caethya placed her hands on Aperio's own in response, trying to convey a feeling of calm through her own aura.
"Where do you think we should look for Moria first, then?" the All-Mother asked, her body losing some tension as she leaned against Roots.
"Might I suggest Foderys?" Mayeia said, lowering the notebook in her hand. "The [Ancestral Guard] is likely your best bet for information, unless you plan to look at every little bit of Verenier at once."
The All-Mother tilted her head, Caethya perceiving the motion through her aura and by the slight tickle of silver-blue hair against her face. Is she actually considering it?
"Do you even know what to look for?" she asked. "I think asking the [Ancestral Guard] would be a good start."
"I know how Moria's soul felt the last time I saw her," Aperio said after a moment of silence. "But that was… a while ago, and I would have to abandon my form to properly search using that method."
Mayeia nodded at the words. "And you would rather not risk being stuck formless without Caethya while you figure out how to make a new shell to contain you."
"Yes," Aperio replied. "There are other reasons as well, but that is the main one. I do not know if I can reinforce my body fast enough to return to it after finding Moria."
The uncertainty Caethya felt in the All-Mother's aura made it clear that she herself was not even sure if she could find Moria that way. It was not the only thing that permeated the bond she shared with Aperio, however. There was also fear.
She knew little of what happened to Aperio in her time as a slave, but it was abundantly clear that the prospect of losing her body terrified the All-Mother. What Caethya was not so sure about was the reason her Goddess was so frightened of the prospect. Was it because she was attached to her physical form as it was now, and did not wish to lose her current 'shell,' as Mayeia had called it? Or, she considered as she was held just a fraction more tightly, was her Goddess frightened that a loss of physicality might harm their relationship?
A small sliver of her mana flowed around Aperio in the best approximation of a hug the Demigoddess could manage. Her control over her mana was still nowhere near that of Aperio or even Mayeia, but ever since she had become a Demigoddess it had become easier and easier. And I keep getting more mana too.
She was not entirely sure where it came from, but her best guess was the woman in whose lap she currently sat. Caethya wouldn't put it past her love to give her a little extra, just to make sure she could take care of herself. Or she's done nothing because she's forgotten amidst all the other things she's worrying about.
Though it was indeed possible that she was being given special treatment, it was more likely that Aperio had not given her anything extra. The All-Mother had made it quite clear that she did not want to influence her in any way; that she was scared of the mere prospect. Convincing her that her feelings did not come from the blessing but were truly her own was easier said than done.
But, we are making progress, Caethya thought with a small smile on her face. "We're going to Solito, then?" she asked, tilting her head back to look at Aperio with not only her aura but also her eyes.
"Yes," Aperio replied after a moment, shifting a little and moving Caethya effortlessly as she did. "It is the best place to start and I can continue my search from anywhere."
"If I may?" Mayeia interjected, continuing after Aperio waved her on with her wing. "I have a temple in Foderys and a good number of followers in the [Ancestral Guard]. Knowing your preference for staying off the map, I thought it would be best if I arranged a meeting for us."
Aperio squinted at the Goddess of Magic. Mayeia had a point, but the All-Mother also thought that she had pushed the issue away for long enough.
"Fine," she said with a sigh. "How long will that take?" Might as well look at the city while we wait. Maybe meet with Neria.
"A few hours," Mayeia replied. "A day at most if they try to delay it for some reason."
The All-Mother let her senses wander, finding Solito and the biggest city on it a rather trivial task for her. Aperio also had no trouble spotting Mayeia's temple; another library filled to the brim with books of all kinds.
"Are you trying to get Lore or Knowledge as a second Domain?" she asked, her eyes focused on the Goddess of Magic as her senses wandered through her temple in Foderys.
"Maybe," Mayeia mumbled in reply. "No luck so far, though."
"The other Gods aren't willing to help?" Caethya asked, shifting a little in Aperio's lap to better look at the Goddess of Magic.
"Edisicio told me I am on the right track, but that's about it." She shrugged and stood up. "In the end, it doesn't really matter if it takes a few more centuries or millennia. Time is not really a concern."
Perhaps she can't get one because that part of the System is also broken? Aperio was certain by now that the thing was only holding on by some form of divine grace — one that undoubtedly came from some part of her own subconsciousness.
"Are you ready to go, Caethya?" Aperio asked, looking down at the Demigoddess.
"I am," she replied. "But… What about Maria and Adam? I did promise to train them, and I would like to keep that promise."
"If you wish, I can bring them here and you can stay with them," Aperio said, her shoulders and wings slumping a little. "But I am certain that both of them would understand if you delayed their lessons by a little."
Her disciple remained quiet for a moment, tapping her fingers on Aperio's hands as she thought. "Can you land your temple?"
"Yes? But, what does that have to do with anything?" Aperio had brought her temple out of another dimension; landing it should most definitely be possible. If it can't do it on its own, I can just teleport it down. Probably.
"Nothing yet," Caethya said. "But I thought that it would make everything a little easier. People could just come here directly and you would only have to teleport me. And maybe I can eventually figure out how to do that too."
The All-Mother quirked an eyebrow at the words and shook her head after a moment. "Maybe," she said. "Do you wish to accompany us to Foderys or do you want to remain here?"
"I'll come," Caethya replied, attempting to stand up but failing to move from her Goddess' embrace.
Aperio stood up in response, effortlessly bringing Caethya up with her as she did. A touch of her magic ensured that the Demigoddess of Creation had not been injured by her movement. She folded her wings behind her back, giving Caethya a last squeeze before letting go.
"Are you ready?" Aperio asked, directing her gaze at Mayeia.
"Of course!" she replied, her own magic gathering but failing to take hold as the barrier surrounding the All-Mother's temple prevented it. A thought from Aperio brought Mayeia outside, where she stayed for a moment before appearing in her temple in Foderys.
The All-Mother shook her head lightly at the action. "She could have just told me where to go," Aperio mumbled, holding her hand out towards Caethya. "Have you ever been to Foderys?"
"No," her disciple replied, taking the offered hand. "I have spent most of my life on Spicor before coming to Vetus."
"I have never been to Spicor," Aperio said, looking in the direction the continent laid in. "Would I be welcome there? Even though I look like an Elf, it's only because I feel comfortable as one. But, in the end, it's a lie."
"Most would probably honoured you chose to look like one of us when you could be anything," Caethya said, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze. "Some, however, would probably take it as an opportunity to proclaim that 'Elvenkind is superior'. Such people sadly exist in every species."
Aperio nodded, focusing on herself for a moment to get rid of the subtle glow beneath her skin. Another thought caused her wings to vanish and the armour to appear above her dress.
A tiny flex of her mental muscles twisted reality apart, bringing Caethya and herself into Mayeia's temple in Foderys. The shelves that surrounded them were not only stuffed to the brim with books and scrolls, but also runes. They were engraved in every visible part of the wooden surfaces, and glowed with mana. At least, they did to Aperio's eyes.
"Why do you have Wards of Confinement on your shelves?" Aperio asked, squinting at the struggling enchantments. At least they aren't breaking.
"Ah, yes, those." The Goddess of Magic looked at the shelf in question and sighed. "Those are books written by people not from this world, and the knowledge within has been deemed too dangerous by the Pantheon and the countries that originally held them. So, as a somewhat neutral third party, I hold onto them."
"Why not in your Dominion?" Caethya asked. "Wouldn't that be safer?"
Mayeia shrugged in reply. "It would, but the mortals wanted to keep them on Verenier and the other Gods didn't really care."
"Have you already sent someone to the [Ancestral Guard]?" Aperio asked, changing the topic.
"I did that as soon as you had agreed to it," Mayeia replied. "I will let you know what they tell me once they contact me. Until then, you could take the opportunity to explore the city. Perhaps it will help you worry a little less."
The All-Mother glared at the Goddess of Magic, only stopping when Caethya slung her arm around her waist and smiled at her. "I think that is a good idea."
While staying in a library had been a large part of her life as a slave, Aperio still enjoyed being surrounded by books. They had given her knowledge and a small taste of freedom with the stories they told. Walking these halls with Caethya would further her enjoyment, but so would walking outside.
Exploring the city was something she could do without leaving but, much like reading, she preferred looking at it with with her own eyes. Having her disciple by her side while walking through Foderys was a nice thought, and ultimately the one that won in her mind. She could spend some time with Caethya alone; finally get to know her a little more.
“Perhaps it is,” Aperio replied, a thought twisting reality apart to bring Caethya and herself outside.
GamingWolf
If you like the story, do leave a rating. If you really like it, please write a review!
Want to chat? Join the Discord. Want to read ahead? Check out the Patreon.
