The woman with long blond hair and elegant nobleman clothes said to the person who came shortly after her awakening "Zimel, prepare the invitations to the important people of this age from every realm to join the banquet."
Zimel, a female butler who almost always keeps her eyes closed says "As you wish, my lady."
The elegant woman also said "Also, prepare someone who can make my hair neatly tied up like I like it. Do we have anyone like that currently?"
Zimel says "That art has been passed down in the Toromeus bloodline for generations so that won't be an issue. I've already sent someone to notify the current holder of that art to come by shortly."
The elegant woman says "Excellent. Also…"
The elegant woman looks outside the window and says "Make sure that that person will be treated as the honorary sanguine of the banquet."
Zimel says "As you wish, my lady. May I know this person's name?"
The elegant woman replies "For me to utter his true name would be disrespectful, so search for a newborn demigod in, what I still presume is still called Thalaraalin."
Zimel says "Understood. I'll handle the matter regarding that person personally. Now if you'll excuse me."
And with that, Zimel the butler leaves the elegant woman's side.
The elegant woman mutters to herself while looking out the window "Let us hope that this banquet will be much more productive than the last one."
Meanwhile in the Embershthir household, people have gathered to eat in celebration of the patriarch's rejuvenation. A mighty feast where all the members of the family are invited.
As they are having a jolly good time, Loyr grabs Lud by the shoulder while holding a drink in his other hand. Loyr raises his cup and says to the whole assembly "Hear hear! While we have gathered here to celebrate my rejuvenation, it was only possible thanks to this young human. As such, I, Loyrktoshthil Embershthir, declare that house Embershthir stands with Elysium and its people! Cheers!"
And with that the whole assembly cheers in unison for their lord's amusement. There are people who have joy in their faces, especially the four core members of the family, but there are people who question the situation a little bit.
Loyr says to Lud "Honestly. Thank you for what you've done. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to witness all these smiling faces and… caused much suffering for those dear to me. We of the Embershthir household will never forgive the kindness you have shown."
Sarah and Brutus are just eating their fill and arguing over who gets what. Lud looks at them and says to Loyr "While a ruler should always hold the smiles of their people dear, I cannot help but wonder if I made the right choice."
Loyr says "Ah. You mean my reservations on continuing these cycles."
Lud drinks a little and says "Yes. Was it not your wish to give up the torch to another generation?"
Loyr drinks some of his own drink and then says "I still haven't decided fully if this will be my last cycle or not. But even if I do decide to relinquish my position, I have faith that the next generation could take up the mantle in due time. Granted, I had time to ponder on the mistake of not preparing for my departure in earlier cycles."
Lud smiles and says "Your son sure looks happy that he doesn't have to take up the mantle just yet."
Loyr chuckles a little and asks "Is that how you see it? I think that he is just happy that his father is alive."
Lud points out "Do not act like you never wanted to have extra days off. As a ruler of a kingdom, I have learned those days of peace are few and far between."
Loyr chuckles again, takes a sip of his drink and says "I personally find peace in maintaining the household manners."
Lud looks weirdly at Loyr and asks "You are not workaholic, are you?"
Loyr just smiles, takes another sip and stays silent.
After a while of just being in the moment, Loyr says "Come to think of it, Shalaphinar's long awaited wish was finally realized thanks to your daughter. I would like to personally thank her, but before she left, she didn't look to be in the mood to talk much."
Lud says "I sensed that too."
Loyr looks at the night sky and says "Sometimes, a family does things in a way that is in conflict with one of its members. Even so, the family must not break because of differences in philosophy."
Lud says "I know. I'll talk to her when she is ready to talk."
Lud takes a sip of his drink and Loyr blurts out "So do you want to have Shalaphinar's hand in marriage?"
The drink in Lud's mouth bursts out and makes Lud cough a little. Loyr just comments "You okay, young man?"
Lud gathers himself for a moment and asks "Where did that come from?"
Loyr answers "You mean the marriage talk? It was just a question. As the patriarch of a family you have aided with its troubles, it is natural for me to offer some form of compensation for your efforts."
Lud says "Still, I think marriage talk is a bit out of the left field."
Loyr repeats Lud's words "'Out of the left field' you say? Haven't heard that one before."
Lud asks "The saying or the rejection?"
Loyr answers "The saying. Oh how easy life would have been for me if I never heard rejection."
Lud says "I mean… with a man of your stature you never know."
Loyr replies "I can see where you are coming from. I haven't heard much opposition in this cycle, but I've read that I have had some difficult times when I first became a patriarch."
Lud asks "What was it like?"
Loyr takes a deep breath, sighs and asks "Oh where do I even begin?"
With that, Lud knew this was going to be a long night, so he drank the rest of his drink and mentally prepared to be a listener for the rest of the night."
Meanwhile in the abyss, Toki is looking at the timelines more carefully and notices that the timeline is indeed very different from the rest.
Toki mutters "If She is in the timeline I've spent time with, that would explain the very few instances of mes not colliding so much here. But if that is the case, how did different timelines appear to make Nemesis become a reality. Mom also has splits of her too in different timelines, following the logic of singular beings, but still, She is in that timeline, and somehow she never existed in the split timelines. How is that possible?"
Maumar appears behind Toki and says "That is a good question indeed."
Toki would be startled a little by Maumar's sudden visit, but knowing the absurdity of the fact that She is in the picture, she figured Maumar would show up and explain the situation."
Toki asks "So do you know the answer, gramps?"
Maumar answers bluntly "No."
This surprises Toki who repeats Maumar's answer "No? What do you mean 'No'?"
Maumar answers "I don't know why the splits happen in that timeline if She specifically exist in one of them."
Toki is surprised and mutters "So… even you don't know the answer, huh."
Maumar replies "No, but I have some theories."
Toki says "Go on."
Maumar continues "There is the matter of four outsiders interfering with the balance of Lutah."
Toki asks "Four? Dad, mom, Mathews and who?"
Maumar answers "Personification of death from another world that came after the Sword Demon."
Toki asks "How come you never mentioned something that grand to me?"
Maumar tilts his head and says "You never asked."
Toki looks at Maumar for a moment, until eventually she sighs and says "Well if something as grand as the law of nature from another world appears in the timeline She is in, then I suppose it can kind of make sense."
Maumar says "But it is just a theory, so don't rely on it so much."
Toki says "While you never really show concern for anything, I'd expect something like this to make you investigate more thoroughly."
Maumar says "There is a saying from earth where two of your three parents come from, and I think that it fits the situation quite nicely."
Toki is cautious, but asks "And what is that saying?"
Maumar says "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Toki stares at Maumar for a moment, until eventually turning around and sighing once again.
Maumar says "I hear that if you sigh too much, it'll take years off of your life."
Toki replies "I'm literally the embodiment of eternity."
Maumar replies back "I almost forgot that you don't see the world as I do."
Toki is taken aback by this and stays silent.
Maumar notices this, but chooses to ignore Toki's current mood and says "By the way, She will invite your father and mother to a banquet, so don't look too much into the future if you want to be a surprise guest."
And with that, Maumar disappears and Toki is left to ponder things on her own.
Toki mutters "How am I supposed to face dad now? I can see that they are holding a quite nice party for what dad did but…"
Toki shakes her head and slaps her cheeks a little. Then she nods and says "Well since this is Her we are dealing with, I have to tread carefully but not show weakness."
Toki then leaves and wakes up Lud in the next morning. Lud is surprised to see Toki so cheery, so he feels a little taken back, but smiles at her effort to reconcile their differences.
When the group is eating breakfast with the Embershthir family, a servant of the family comes and whispers something to Loyr.
Loyr asked the servant "Are you serious?" And the servant simply affirms what he told Loyr.
Loyr pondered for a moment, until he said "Apologies. I have something to take care of. Please eat well, friends and family."
And with that, Loyr leaves. Lud asks the people at the table "I wonder what that was all about." To which Yush commented "It is rare to see father leave the table when we are eating."
Toki stayed silent, but Lud could tell that she knew something. He asked Toki "Do you know something?" To which Toki answered "I have an idea, but I don't know how it'll play out."
Flot asks Toki "Please. If it isn't too much trouble, would you share your thoughts Lady Toki?"
Toki pondered for a moment, but before she could say anything, Loyr came back to the room and said "I'm sorry, mt dear guest of honor, but there is someone who wishes to meet you."
Lud, Sarah and Brutus looked at each other and stopped eating the breakfast midway. They soon rose from their chairs and followed Loyr.
Of course, Lud asked Loyr "Did something happen?" To which Loyr answered "A messenger came here and wished to see us."
Brutus comments "By the sound of it, the person sending that messenger sounds like a big deal to make you look worried."
Loyr answered "That, my dear dragon friend, is an understatement if I ever heard one."
The group followed Loyr to a room, in which sat a messenger with a tied silver hair dressed in butler's outfit. She was calmly drinking tea before Loyr said to her "As you wished, I brought the people you were looking for.
The butler took another sip and drank calmly before replying "So it seems. So this is the person my lady wishes to see pronto."
Lud asks "Excuse me, are you talking about me?"
The butler says "While I can sense that the one with the eyepatch is much stronger than you, she doesn't fit the description that my lady gave me. Hence, it must be you."
Sarah comments "So you think I'm weaker than Faust, huh?"
The butler says "Weaker? No. I can sense that you, an amalgam, are far more dangerous than the homunculus you accompany."
Sarah is stunned by what the butler said and asks irritably "What did you just call me?"
Lud puts a hand between Sarah and the butler and asks the woman "I think we should start with the introductions. My name is Faust Ilumnos. The short powerhouse is Sarah Livendig, the dragon is Brutus and the woman with the eyepatch is my child Tokiko Ilumnos."
The butler puts the tea cup to the table, gets up and bows slightly as she introduces herself "Now where are my manners. My name is Zimelogos Ka'at and I serve my lady Mercy as her personal butler."
Loyr then says "Why don't we all sit down and…"
But before Loyr could finish, Tifa appeared on the opposite sofa from Zimel with her arms crossed and said "So she finally has made a move."
Loyr is surprised and tries to ask "Who on Lutah are…"
But Zimel said as she sat back on the sofa "My lady figured that you might show up. How has it been, Lady Zolotifa?"
Loyr is stunned to hear Zimel say Tifa's name, but before he can say anything, Tifa replies to Zimel's query "Well you know… that bastard still won't shut up about that one thing. But on the bright side, I have finally reunited with my darling."
Zimel says as she looks at Lud "By darling, do you mean…"
Tifa says "The most unique person here besides me is my darling."
Lud comments "I don't know if I should be offended or flattered by that."
Tifa replies "Take it as flattery and you live longer."
Zimel says in the midst of this "I see. That is indeed high praise from Lady Zolotifa. As expected, you and my lady have the same interest."
Tifa comments "That bloodsucker better have a good excuse why I would lend my darling to her."
Sarah says "Faust is not an object!"
Tifa says to Sarah without even looking at her "Shush child. Adults are talking."
Sarah is fuming at this point, but Brutus takes a hold of her while Lud goes and sits next to Tifa. He says "Tifa, so you know the person who sent Zimelogos."
Tifa replies "I had my fair share of interactions with her, but even as I tried to use her body as my own, I only felt pain all over me all the way in the abyss."
Zimel comments "Lady Zolotifa was so furious that she had hard time controlling my lady that it became an annual thing for a couple millenia. Alas, my lady stood victorious as Lady Zolotifa came personally to admit defeat."
Lud is surprised, but before he can comment, Tifa says to Zimel "This better be the way that you remember it and not the way Mercy remembers it or we are going to have a problem."
Zimel makes a slight giggle and says "I merely jest. I am well aware that the battle between the two ladies was considered a draw. I merely wished to see your reaction in front of a man you claim as your 'darling'. Please forgive my slight impudence, Lady Zolotifa."
Tifa says "I forgive you this time, but if I hear you spitting lies again, I'll resume that battle with that bloodsucker and win even if it kills me."
Zimel says "Oh my. I better tread carefully in the future so that I don't cause my lady unnecessary troubles."
Tifa then asks "So why does Mercy want to see darling?"
Zimel replies "I must apologize, but she did not tell me the details of her plans. All I know is that she wants to meet Lord Faust before the banquet begins."
Tifa says "While I wish to darling and that bloodsucker to never meet, I can tell that keeping him from her will prove much more trouble than it is worth."
Zimel says "I'm thankful for your understanding Lady Zolotifa. Then if I may, I should take Lord Faust to…"
Tifa stops Zimel before she could finish and says "I hope that me tagging along won't be an issue. Won't it."
Zimel is a bit taken aback, but still remains calm and replies "I'm sure my lady will understand."
Then Toki speaks up and says "I'm going to tag along too."
Zimel looks at Toki once more and says "While I can tell that you share blood ties to the two people that will come with me, my lady has just woken up and is wary of visitors before the banquet."
Toki says "Even so. I must come along with my parents."
Zimel says "But my lady…"
Tifa, seeing how serious Toki is about this, says to Zimel "I take the responsibility if Mercy becomes troubled. I'm even willing to refrain from harsh words as long as she doesn't step out of line."
Zimel thinks for a moment before deciding "I understand. As long as Lady Zolotifa can vouch for this unexpected variable, I think there won't be any problems."
TIfa then says "Now then, shall we?"
Zimel nods, places an envelope to the table and says to Loyr "This is an invitation to the banquet for the four members of the Embershthir family, Lord Loyrktoshthil. With this envelope being delivered and Lord Faust coming with me, this concludes my visit. I apologize for the sudden visit and I hope that we'll see each other during the banquet."
With that, Lud, Tifa, Toki and Zimel disappear from the meeting room, leaving Loyr, Sarah and Brutus confused.
Sarah would call Altair and Sarah and Brutus would soon depart from the Embershthir household back to Elysium.
Soon, Lud, Tifa, Toki and Zimel appear in a meeting room where there sits a woman wearing clothes fitting of a nobleman. She was also drinking coffee at the time the group arrived.
While the woman wears men's clothes, Lud can tell from her face and hair that she is a woman.
Before no one else says anything, Zimel says to the woman "I have brought the person you requested, my lady."
The woman puts the cup of coffee back to the table and opens her previously closed eyes. The crimson red eyes make Lud and Toki stunned as the woman herself greets them with the words "Greetings guests. And old friend. Please take a seat.
The three go and sit on the sofa that is besides the chair that the woman is sitting in. Tifa is the one that sits the closest, then Lud and then Toki. Zimel goes to stand beside the door of the room to keep watch on the situation.
The woman says "While I did expect you to come as well, old friend, I didn't expect to see your offspring this soon. With the man I wished to see, no less."
Tifa says "Cut the pleasantries. Why did you call my darling here, Mercy?"
Mercy answers "My my, don't be so hasty. It has been so long since we last saw each other. And my, oh my, can I see that time has changed you, my dear old friend."
Tifa asks in annoyed tone "Changed? Me? Why would I?"
Mercy says "Oh, you can't hide it from me, my old friend. The last time we saw each other, your mind was like a storm that could tear the very ground beneath it to the skies. But now… While the wind still rages on in you, I can clearly see that it has mellowed down. Like the calm after a hurricane."
Tifa, in a more annoyed tone, asks Mercy "Why don't you stop with your little act and just get to the point already?"
Mercy says "Well, if you are that impatient, you can simply pop in my head like you usually do."
Tifa says "And make my head hurt? No way."
Mercy says "I see. So am I right if I ascertain that you, Zolotifa, blood daughter of Maumar, have become weaker after meeting your destined one?"
Tifa snaps and asks "You fucking dare to say that to me, bitch?"
Mercy chuckles and says "Oh? Did I strike a nerve? Was it because I referred this man here as the reason you have become weaker, or were you insulted by the mention of your lineage?"
Tifa's eyes become as dark as dark can get. Then Mercy's hand moved forward and struck her own heart. Ripping it out and crushing it right before her eyes.
Then Tifa became distraught and her head started to hurt heavily, making her hold her head for a moment.
Mercy in the meanwhile, looked at all the blood that spewed out from her casually and said calmly "Oh my? I would have expected you to rip a sharp wooden stick from one of the appliances and stab me to the heart, but you went straight to using my own hand. I'm a bit disappointed, my friend."
While Mercy was speaking, her wounds heal in a sanguine flame, making the blood disappear from the appliances.
Then Mercy commented "Though then again, you did leave your destined one a window to my chest, as these clothes don't fix themselves. Too bad. Now the only man in the room has to look at my inner chest area."
Tifa just spouted "Fuck off."
Mercy asks "So… what do you think of my proposal? My dear old friend."
Tifa, still distraught after briefly taking control over Mercy, took a few breaths before saying "I don't like it, but I agree to your proposal."
Lud asks "What? What proposal? Why do I feel like it is some heavy stuff? Would either of you tell me?"
Mercy says as she grabs her cup of coffee "Well… it does include your current situation. Ludwig Freigner."
Toki and Lud are surprised that Mercy knows Lud's real name, but then Toki looks at Zimel, who was able to deduce everyone's race back in the Embershthir household and she was reminded of what kind of existence Mercy and her servants were. Lud was still confused though.
Then Mercy brought a bombshell as she said "The proposal that my friend agreed to is the marriage between me and Ludwig."
Toki and Lud held a blank stare at Mercy for a brief moment, but before either of them could say anything about it, Zimel beat them to it and said "My lady! Are you seriously considering something so drastic?!"
Mercy says "Calm now, Zimel. I have planned this all out."
Zimel asks "Since when?" and Mercy answers "Since the moment I noticed this new demigod's rise."
Zimel objects "But my lady. How is he worthy of your…"
Mercy looks at Zimel with a calm yet powerful gaze and says "Do you object to my will, Zimelogos?"
Zimel backs down as she answers "N-no, my lady."
Lud then decides to ask "I'm flattered, but why would you want to marry me? We just met."
Mercy clears things out by saying as she drinks her coffee "It isn't a marriage born from feelings. Rather, it is a marriage born from necessity."
Lud repeats "Necessity? How is it a necessity that we get married?"
Toki then asks Tifa "Why did you say that you agreed with her proposal?! Don't you love dad?!"
Tifa says, now more collected than before, "I don't like the means, but I agree with the reasons."
Lud asks "Reason?"
Mercy looks at Tifa and asks "Do you want to tell them, or me?"
Tifa takes a deep breath once more and then says "Darling. Do you know what is happening to your body currently? And what can you tell about your father's condition, Toki?"
Lud checks his body briefly and then says "I… don't feel like anything is wrong."
Then Toki sheds light by answering "His body is in chaos from all the things it has endured and is still enduring."
Lud looks at Toki puzzled and asks "What do you mean by that?"
Mercy says "You don't need to hide it from us. Everybody in this room knows that you have, at the very least, communed with a god of some sort as well as someone related to the abyss."
Tifa says "The abyss shit I can tolerate since that shitface brought us here in the first place, but I have seen time and time again what happens when you mix abyssal stuff with aether. And trust me, those aren't stuff that you'd speak about during dinner."
Toki says "Normally when aether collides with the abyss, the abyss just absorbs the aether without a problem. But mix an abyssal entity with an abundance of aether and the little semblance of intelligence that the creature might have had just disappears. Only the will and emotion left in the aether consumed will dictate what that kind of creature will do in the future. Outside of consuming more, they become chaotic manifestations of the emotions left in the aether."
Mercy continues "And given that you are on the edge of becoming a singular entity, that being an abyssal entity, with great concentration of aether that comes from the chaos god themselves, plus little bit of star god's aether, and you will not remain you much longer."
Lud says "But… I feel just fine. If it is as dangerous as you all make it out to be, how can I be so fine right now?"
Toki says "I believe that the fact that you chose convergence as your aspect isn't a mystery. Your body might have felt that something is wrong, so it chose a path of many other minds colliding to fix the problem temporarily."
Lud stays silent after hearing that and Mercy says "No matter what reason you went the path of convergence, the fact remains that you did choose to do it in the end. And… that is also what that chaos god wants as well."
Lud asks "You know her?"
Mercy asks "Her? So they appear as a woman before you, huh. I would be worried if they said that they love you."
Lud looks away nervously and this makes Mercy say "So it is like that. Then we have to proceed with the marriage."
Lud asks "But… What will marriage solve? How will it fix the issue at hand?"
Tifa says "Mercy has the ability to… change a thing's very concept with her ability by simply uttering their name. The only exception is herself and only herself. Even Maumar's 'being' can be molded by her."
Lud looks at Tifa and asks "Seriously? She is more powerful than that guy?"
Mercy chuckles a little, places the cup of coffee back to the table and says "I wouldn't go as far as to say that I'm more powerful than him. I simply know things and can mold them according to my will. Maumar might not be able to mold the world anymore, but he can do many other things with the current state of the abyss."
Toki asks "I've been hesitant to ask, but why haven't you done anything to the abyss or Maumar by now with your powers?"
Mercy smiles and says "Both would lead to this world likely ending or become much worse places to host life. Any change to the inner workings of Maumar's being or the abyss could lead to catastrophic consequences. And while I year for the day that I die, I don't wish that day to be the very end of this world."
Lud asks "Why doesn't Maumar just make you the next host since you are so powerful? Why focus on me if he has you?"
Mercy says "Maumar may refer to me as the bones of this world. A necessity that wasn't there before like how it was before the Mythril Tower. But if I would use the words that my dear friend called me once, that would be because I am the cancer of this world."
Lud is surprised and asks "Cancer? I'm barely able to follow Maumar's Lutah biology metaphor, but why would Tifa call you the cancer of this world?"
Tifa says "Because, like a cancerous cell born from the same cells as the body itself, she has become an integral part of Lutah that can't just be cut off just like that."
Lud says "I… don't quite follow."
Toki tries to explain "Since Mercy was something that was born in this world in a natural way, she did something nobody expected and became a being that Lutah itself cannot let go off."
Lud asks "What did you do, Mercy?"
Mercy takes a deep breath before saying "I killed off every other true vampire besides myself. And the only way to kill a true vampire is for another true vampire to consume another's essence. Well, Maumar has his own method's, but even Mathews with his Matrix cannot kill me."
Lud is a bit taken aback after hearing this and asks "Why… Why did you do it?"
Mercy says "For my namesake. Mercy."
Lud asks "What mercy is there to kill off an entire species?"
Mercy answers "We true vampires were a product of time before the abyss. A time when gods tried to find ways around the high concentration of aether in the world. True vampires were the closest ones to surviving those conditions and perhaps Betherlov, the creator of true vampires and the former god of vampires, was close to a success. But when Maumar came up with his abyss plan, there wasn't a need for such a powerful race to exist."
Tifa says "But still, she was a merciful god who didn't want her creations to go to waste."
Mercy says "Yes. There was nothing wrong with that act in itself. But it was a mistake. True vampires, like dragons, phoenixes and angels were products of another time. And hence the races of higher realm were decided. Low and behold, the previously failed creations, humans, beastmen, elves, dwarves, demons and so on were placed to the other realms. Humans, being the very product of Maumar himself and the basis of all other higher forms of life, were placed to the realm closest to where Maumar rests, the lower realm."
Tifa says "I think we are getting a bit off track here."
Mercy "Oh my. I just… This tale is important to me, as you soon hear… why I… consumed the rest of true vampires."
Toki says "What Maumar would tell me… True vampires started to see themselves as highest form of life compared to the rest of the high life forms, making them comparable to how the middle realm treats humans."
Mercy says "While there were some true vampires that didn't agree with this worldview, more and more true vampires began to act as the superior species. So… in order for our race to not be known as a species that detests other forms of life, I massacred all the rest of my kin. Men or women… adults or children… guilty or innocent."
Lud asks in astonishment "But… why? Why even those that weren't guilty? Why needlessly kill everyone else but you?"
Mercy answers "Mercy. It was all for the act of mercy. If I left the innocent live, they might start to resent me for one reason or another, maybe even have survivor's guilt. By killing every last one of my kin was to not let them face the stigma of being from a race that could be otherwise immortal but waste it on killing each other. I saw that I could carry on the stigma by myself. And as I grew to carry this kind of stigma, the original stigma would disappear."
Toki says "But people are still going to remember what you did. Stories have been told throughout the ages in this timeline. The stigma of you committing a genocide still remain."
Mercy takes a sip of coffee and says "Whose feelings are stronger to the tormentor. The victim, someone who empathises with the victim due to similar circumstances, or just an empathetic person who hasn't suffered the same kind of torment?"
Toki says "That doesn't answer the question!"
Mercy says "For a true vampire, it does. And that is all that matters."
Tifa says "This… THIS is why I never liked you."
Mercy guesses "Because I'm a homicidal maniac?"
Tifa says "Because you think that every true vampire back then felt the same."
Mercy says "I don't think so. I know that if they saw who they really had become, they would rather die than live in shame."
Tifa says "And you say that because no one can no longer prove otherwise. Not even that pile of shit or your god."
Lud asks "Wait, how can it not be proven? Can't you or Toki just go back in time?"
Tifa says "By consuming the rest of her kin, Mercy somehow twisted the whole Lutah by becoming its bones and making it so that she has been the only true vampire since the dawn of the abyss. This makes seeing that part of the past impossible even for me. And hence, why I call her the cancer of this world."
Toki says "And the rest of the timelines only have an affliction called vampirism and not a single other from the true vampire race but Mercy here."
Lud says "I see. Well time travel in this world kind of sucks."
Toki replies "I don't know any other form of time travel, so I can't argue for or against it."
Tifa says "I've seen more confusing time travel plots than this, but this part in particular is something I'd put it on the lower tiers, even if there are reason for why something is."
Mercy says "Fascinating. I've always wanted to see the world where Tifa and Lud come from ever since I first met Tifa. Alas, me entering the abyss would just end this whole world so all I can say is that it is interesting to listen to."
Lud says "But back to the topic at hand. Even after hearing that story, you think that it is best for me to marry you?"
Mercy explains "Well that story was more for explaining what I can do and why. But yes."
Lud says "And what if I don't agree?"
Tifa says "You will, in all likelihood, die."
Toki says "And given how things have been going, it might just be what Maumar or that chaos god are counting for."
Lud asks "Why would Maumar want me to die so suddenly?"
Tifa says "Oh you won't die. You don't have to worry about that."
Lud says "But I'll lose my mind."
Tifa says "I can ask Li to lift his thing from you and I can pull you into my illusion and we can be happy again."
Lud confirms "But you did agree with Mercy's proposal?"
Tifa clarifies "That is if I want to keep you as you."
Lud asks "Is it not important that I'm me?"
Tifa stares at the ceiling and says "Well would you look at that lamp."
Lud sighs, then looks at Mercy with a serious look and asks "Why can't you just do it without the marriage? Does doing your thing require some sort of ritual or something?"
Mercy says "Well, no. Marriage isn't necessary for fixing your body's current condition."
Lud raises his eyebrow and asks "But it has something else I would benefit from?"
Mercy says "Yes. If you marry me, Elysium and its people would be affiliated with me, Mercy of Absolution. This would make the middle realm treat humans that affiliate with Elysium at least a bit more pleasantly. And if you agree here to become my fiancé, in three days, there will be a banquet held where all the important people in Lutah are invited. There, you can cement your affiliation with me by being by my side as my fiancé. I would introduce you as such and by the time when the holy church's affiliates come, we can ask them to help us with the wedding."
Lud turns to look at Tifa and asks her "And you are fine with this?"
Tifa says, her arms crossed, "I have realized that your condition has been worsening, but I have nothing that can help you with this."
Toki says "Also… the issue of the chaos god."
Tifa says "Right. Me, Toki or Li can do nothing about them pulling you to the abyss whenever they like. Mercy on the other hand… she has the ability to counter almost all things abyssal."
Lud thinks for a moment and asks "Can I have some time to think about this."
Mercy says "Of course. But just in case you are wondering, the Holy Church of Lutah let's people marry as many people as they can. Well, it depends on the priest, but there is no law against marrying multiple people."
Lud raises from the chair and nods "Ok. I'll… keep that in mind" And leaves the room. No one but Lud leaves the room and the four women are left to chat.
Lud wanders a bit in the castle and can't find a place to think things through in peace. Oddly enough, none of the servants in the castle didn't didn't question his presence there, which is kind of odd.
Then Lud thinks that it is odd that he would just be let out without any attendants, causing him to panic a bit. But then he realizes that there are plenty of people around him, so he is not alone.
Which was also something he craves at the moment.
As soon as Lud sighs from the situation he finds himself in, a man with a blindfold appears behind him and asks "Are you okay sir?"
Lud is startled by the man's sudden appearance, then he calms down and says "No I… well, I've been looking for a place where I can clear my thoughts carefully, but I've been stuck in the castle for quite some time. It is like a maze here."
The man rubs his chin and says "Hmm… since you have our lady's scent on you, you must be important. And since you are important, it is important that I assist our lady's dear guest with his worries. Do you wish that I'll show you the way, sir?"
Lud says "Thank you. You would be a life saver."
Then with a snap of the man's fingers, Lud and the man appear on a hill somewhere, the city where Lud and the group were brought up to being in the distance. The city looks as massive as Elysium, if not even bigger, and it is also hosting a harbour far from the castle. The view is something that Lud hadn't even experienced in Elysium. Simply magnificent. Majestic even.
The man asks "Is this for your liking, sir?"
Lud says "Thank you, but can I ask you to send me back to Mercy when I'm done?"
The man says "Absolutely sir. I'd be happy to assist you."
Lud stares at the city far away and becomes lost in thought. "Why can't things just be simple? Why can't people just get along?" Lud mutters to himself.
The man answers the questions Lud didn't expect to hear an answer to. "Because that is what living is."
Lud is a bit surprised by the man's answer, and asks further "But why does it have to be that way?"
The man answers "If things were all too simple, there wouldn't be discovery. If everyone got along, there would be dormancy. And when life would lay dormant, some couldn't call it living anymore."
Lud says "But some would live in bliss."
The man says "There is a limit on how much bliss one can live in before nothing feels worth it. Dormancy is just dormancy."
Lud stares at the city far away and says to the blindfolded man "Mercy asked me to marry her so that she can fix my body's affliction and help my people."
The man says "Is that so. Sounds like a wonderful proposition if you don't have anyone else in your heart."
Lud says "She did say that the church here allows multiple people to marry."
The man says "That is true. Some marry out of love, some marry out of necessity or circumstance. Important thing is that all parties can accept and fulfill their wows."
Lud says "My former wife seems to be okay with it."
The man says "Then what is the issue?"
Lud says "It just… came too fast and I have to decide soon."
The man asks "Do you believe that it is wrong for you to accept our lady's proposal?"
Lud stays silent for a moment and the man says "If you feel so, then follow your gut. They do say that you'll regret less having tried and failed rather than having never tried, but there are things that are better left not done."
Lud asks "Like what?" And the man answered "Crack".
Lud is stunned by the blunt answer and decides to look at the man and ask "Does that warning come from experience?"
The man stays silent.
Lud turned his head back to the city and nodded. Not sure why. Maybe just to acknowledge the situation. Lud himself didn't even know.
Lud then stretches his arms and says "Well. No time like the present. Let's get this over with. Bring me back to Mercy, would you, umm…"
The man bows and says "Geralt Olaf Dandelion. May your fortune be plentiful, sir."
And with the snap of Geralt's finger, Lud pops back in the room where the women were having a conversation about something.
Mercy looks at Lud and asks "So… Do you have the answer, or do you still need more time?"
Lud kneels, picks one of the rings from his inventory, presents it to Mercy as he says "Mercy… May I have your hand in marriage?"
This stuns, all four women in the room. There is silence. A silence that couldn't be more loud.
Lud started to sweat as the suspense that shouldn't be there loomed over him. He thought "Have I… been caught in some heavy ass joke?"
.
.
.
After silence that felt like eternity, Mercy looks at Tifa and asks while pointing at Lud "Is… is this how you propose where you come from?"
Tifa says "One of the more traditional ways of proposing from our home world, yes."
Mercy says "Oh." Then looks back at Lud and says to him "Sure. I'll accept. Though you could have just said yes to my proposal. There was no need for a ring yet."
Lud says "Is… that so…" Puts the ring box back to his inventory and goes sit in the corner of the room.
Then Lud says while huddled in the corner "Still went better than with Tifa though."
Tifa pretended not to hear Lud's comment.