Chương 96: Chapter 95 - Search

When Atzi arrived at V's mansion, there were none of their guards outside. She knocked on the door and waited. There was no answer.

"Eh?" Atzi knocked again, "Hello? Anyone in there?" She waited a bit more. Finally the door opened, a guard peaking through a narrow passage.

"V would like to know how you made it here with the perpetual curfew."

"I'll tell 'em if they let me in." The door closed once more. After another two minutes the door was opened again, and a guard pointed Atzi to the living room. Atzi wandered in. She knew the way well enough by now. The room was like always, with bookcases, a couch, chairs, and various decorations. Besides V, sitting in their armchair, and some of their guards, there was one other person in the room. A middle aged man with an immaculate appearance, a monocle, and greying hair slicked back.

The innkeeper of the fanciest inn in town, the Crystal Chime. He was sitting on the sofa, sipping tea. He didn't even look at Atzi.

"Hey, you're that innkeeper, how'd you get around in the curfew-" V said, "Speak."

"Oh, uh, sure. I'm a personal friend of the Serpent's now. She lets me do what I want." V was silent before saying, "I find this very difficult to believe."

"Well that's not even the crazy part. I told her about the stuff with Malus, and it kinda" - Atzi coughed - "caused all of this." V slowly lifted their fingers to their face and pinched between their eyes. They rubbed them once, twice, three times.

"Of course your buffoonery is responsible for this mess." They let go of their eyes.

"I suppose, then, you are also the reason my heist fell apart?"

"I knew Cory wouldn't show up, so I didn't. The plan needed her, right? She's the only blood mage and it's a blood lock."

"You knew she wouldn't show up - because you encouraged her not to." V's dark eyes fixed themselves to Atzi's gaze.

"Is that correct?"

"V, look, imagine if you could see how things would play out, if you did stuff differently. I was doing this to stop a whole war breaking out! And I might have succeeded, except it caused a different one. Normally Hasen would be invading, I think I stopped that, but Vinovia's still gonna be invaded, and the undead might still, too." V hummed.

"Some sort of ability to tell the future? Assuming anything you've said is accurate, I suppose that explains my missing book, as well."

"Sorry. But I think I can fix things, maybe. That's why I came here, to, " Atzi's voice got quieter, "work together?"

"Work together." V stood up. Atzi took a step back.

"I can move around the city! That's pretty useful, right? And I have money."

"You steal from me. You ruin my plan. You plunge the city into danger while I am still in it." V strode towards her.

"And you want to work together?" V's guards closed around Atzi.

"Before you stab me with the dagger in your sleeve can you just listen? Please?" V frowned.

"I am listening. But will your words be worthwhile?"

"I'm the prophet of the Saintess now." They did not immediately stab Atzi, which was presumably permission to keep speaking.

"The heist would fall apart anyway. Unless you believed me early enough, which never happens because if I try you freak out and leave the city. Cory steals the book unless I stop that from happening. The heist also has some holes in the plan." She swept her tail against the floor and added, "Sorry." V seemed to consider something. Finally, they said, "I will make my negotiating position clear to you. We," they pointed to the innkeeper and themself, "need safe passage out of the city.

I have little interest in working with you. But if you get us that, I will avoid working against you."

"Oh. Sure, I could probably sort that out? But, V, do you know anywhere that they keep magic gems?" V's eyebrow twitched, and Atzi reflexively raised her arm in case she was about to be stabbed. The annoyed criminal asked, "Why?"

"The Saintess needs as many as possible, the university isn't exactly open to listening to me and you know their vault is basically untouchable. I've been trying to find a way in, can't figure out anything."

"Don't try. It would be suicide. Much as I would love you to kill yourself."

"I'm not excited to get disintegrated either! But there has to be other places that have them, yeah?" V considered Atzi for a moment. Then they smirked.

"Despite your ability to tell the future, you don't know, do you?"

"Know what?" V stepped away, the gap in the circle around Atzi being filled by another guard.

"Oh, then I suppose we could come to another trade." Atzi stared in confusion. She felt like she was being played, but didn't know what it was that she didn't know. V extended an arm.

"The job I had you perform - of poisoning those cups. Get back all those cups for me."

"Oh. I could try? Wait, why did you have me do that anyway?"

"I will tell you after you retrieve them."

"Alright, alright. Do you know about any places with gems, then?" V sighed.

"That's the trade. I will tell you about those after you retrieve the cups for me."

"Sure. Then you want me to sort out safe passage, yeah?" V nodded.

"Yes."

"Cool. That shouldn't be too hard, I got people into the city before." V waved her off.

"Then if there is no further business you have with me, you may, mercifully, go." The guards behind Atzi stepped away. Atzi slinked out. Maybe I've annoyed V by ruining all their plans and stealing from them and ruining their life. She didn't think the cups would be difficult. She could just ask the Serpent. But she decided to go back to the inn to eat and sleep, first. - When she arrived back at Hemm's, Hemm's eye widened.

"Thank goodness you're okay. What happened?!"

"Got dragged into politics, and went to see my" - Atzi hesitated - "old boss. They were kinda pissed with me." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Atzi, are things going to be safe? We're still not allowed out. We've been like this for days. We have more than enough food here, but what about everyone else?"

"Hemm, don't repeat this, but the Serpent is nuts. I think she'll eat me if I annoy her by suggesting peace again."

"So there's no stopping it?"

"I don't think so. There'll be other problems which may distract it from starting, but," Atzi trailed off. Hemm shivered. Atzi said, "I've got no idea where this is going, in the end. I don't think any of the other gods are gonna be much help either. The Water, well, I'm technically a follower and I think this falls under 'virtuous suffering' enough that she's fine with it. The Star isn't here, the Ancestor's got other things to worry about, and the only person who can even talk to the Saintess is me."

Hemm clasped her hands together and closed her eye.

"May the Saintess protect us."

"If you need anything from outside, or if there's anywhere you want to go, I can help."

"Just, if you find Marco, please make sure he's okay." Atzi cursed.

"I was going to do that then the Demon showed up and- I'll do that tomorrow, I promise."

"Thank you," Hemm said, and gave a weak smile wracked with nervousness. Sorry Hemm, the one the Saintess sent to protect you is me, a cowardly idiot.

"Could I have some food? I'm pretty hungry." Hemm nodded.

"Sure." After eating a meal without Hemm talking further with her, Atzi went upstairs to curl into her bed. This is the worst. When everything feels like it's already gone wrong, but I'm still alive to keep experiencing it. She drifted off to sleep. === Before talking with the Serpent, Atzi wanted to find Marco for Hemm. So she headed off to the Ancestor's temple. Even if he wasn't there, the prophet or her idiot brother might know. The temple was empty save a single, very tall priestess leaning on her weapon.

She had red hair, and Atzi remembered her name was Allie.

"Hey, is the prophet around?" The priestess scratched her chin. Then she said, "Ah, you must be the new prophet of the Saintess." Atzi nodded, "Yeah."

"What need you of our prophet?"

"I need to talk to her brother about something, has she brought him to the temple already?" She might have, because she had before. But who knew, with how screwy things were this loop. Allie shook her head.

"He is missing."

"Oh, I know where he is, I'll let her know."

"Then I shall fetch her." The priestess went into the back. Five minutes later, Jewel ran out, her curly hair bouncing.

"You're the new prophet of the Saintess? And you know where my brother is?!"

"Hey Jewel." Atzi waved.

"Your brother's in jail."

"He's-" Jewel's face went red.

"Of course he is!"

"Yeah, him and," Atzi rotated her claw, "the other one, Kevin? Something like that."

"Who?"

"One of his friends. Anyway I just need to ask him something."

"Alright. Thanks!" Without asking questions like 'how do you know' or even 'what's your name', Jewel ran out of the building. I guess all prophets can just walk around? Atzi felt a pang of sadness that she wasn't special, and decided to follow Jewel. -"Sis! Hey!" Vance grinned after stepping out from the jail. Jewel glowered at him.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing, nothing, just a big misunderstanding, promise."

"Uh huh." Then Jewel turned towards Atzi.

"She has a question for you." Vance looked up at her.

"Oh, hey. What's up?"

"Vance, where were you and Marco and the other one staying? Need to find him, Hemm's worried about him. Can't move around with the lockdown."

"In the slums." Atzi grumbled.

"Yeah, but where in them? That's a lot of houses." Vance made a vacant noise.

"The slummy part?" Atzi looked over at the prophet of the Ancestor.

"Jewel, can I borrow this idiot?" Jewel nodded.

"Absolutely. Bring him back to the temple when you're done."

"Sure, sure." Jewel headed off. Atzi pointed a claw at Vance.

"You really have the most ridiculous luck. I sure as shit never got bailed out by two prophets."

"What?! You never said you were a prophet!"

"Well I wasn't till a few days ago." Vance scratched behind his head.

"Damn. Who of?"

"The Saintess." Vance's eyes went wide.

"No shit?"

"You heard what happened to Malus, yeah?"

"No?"

"Serpent ate her."

"And then you just became prophet?"

"Bit more complicated than that, and I can't be bothered explaining it again. Anyway, we're gonna find Marco. Then you can take it easy in the temple." Truly idiots lead charmed lives.

"Sounds good to me!" They started on their way to the slums.

"Why is there nobody in the streets?"

"Oh, cause the Serpent took over and put the city on lockdown."

"The-" Vance closed his mouth.

"You know what, this is above me. I don't care."

"Only sane way to think about this stuff. C'mon." -"Here we go." Vance motioned ahead of him, as if he was presenting a grand prize. They were in the slums. He was standing directly outside Atzi's old shack.

"That's my house."

"Huh?" Vance's face lit up.

"Oh yeah!"

"You can't even remember what your own place looked like?"

"All the houses in this shithole kind of look the same."

"Yeah, but I could still find where I lived!" Vance rolled his eyes.

"Nice rags to riches story." Said the guy about to get pampered just for being related to someone important, with no responsibilities for himself.

"I should have just left you in jail if you're this useless." Atzi sighed in annoyance.

"We're gonna wander around until we find him. Maybe someone will recognise you or something."

"So strut around and get people to notice me." Vance jutted both thumbs at himself and puffed out his chest.

"Got it." They wandered around. The streets were entirely empty of people, just like elsewhere in the city. But plenty were peeking out of their shacks at the pair. After a few minutes, Vance pointed to a deserted alleyway.

"Oh right, we were here for a bit."

"In this alley?"

"Yep."

"Marco, you around?" Atzi called out just in case. There was no response.

"Try somewhere else. What about the people in charge when all the refugees arrived, you know where they are?"

"I'm going to level with you. I've been in jail for basically a week. I don't know where people got to in the meantime, especially with all the crazy shit that happened. Marco could be anywhere." Atzi groaned.

"Let's just try anywhere else you remember, maybe we'll get lucky." Atzi passed a young-looking guy feeding a few chickens in his open home. She looked away from him guiltily. I watched you die. Sorry dude. A bit later, they came across a poor looking girl who couldn't even afford to be in a slum house, huddled against an alley wall. She looked to be about ten and malnourished.

"Hey, you know where the refugees are staying?" The girl looked up at Atzi.

"After the Serpent said nobody can be outside, a bunch of them went to camp outside the city, led by the Ancestor. I tried to sneak out with them but I got caught."

"Outside the city? Wait, the Ancestor? But his prophet's still in the temple?" The girl shrugged. Damn it! Jewel could have told me that if she knew if I was looking for a follower of the Ancestor! Atzi grumbled a bit and turned around.

"Alright, I'll try there. Thanks."

"Wait." Atzi looked back at the girl.

"Yeah?"

"I don't know how you're allowed to walk around like this without getting caught but do you have any food? I haven't eaten anything in days." Atzi sighed.

"Fine, alright, alright. Come with me, I'll figure something out. You can keep a secret without just yelling it out, yeah?" The girl got up much faster than Atzi expected a hungry poor girl to be able to, and clung to Atzi's pants, nodding her head.

"I'm the new prophet of the Saintess." The girl looked up at her.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I used to live round here till I got chosen." The girl's eyes sparkled.

"So then you're going to make sure we're all helped?" Atzi coughed.

"I mean, I usually stole food from the markets, but I guess you can't do that right now, huh? Things really that bad? No food anywhere?"

"Can't even go outside the slums." The girl looked down.

"I think the markets would be closed anyway."

"Look, I can mention something to the Serpent and see if it helps, I'm going to go see her later. I gotta find someone first though."

"Okay." Atzi tried to move, but the girl still clung onto her.

"Alright, alright, come on." The girl smiled and followed her. She was clearly playing it up, talking and acting younger than she really was - Atzi had seen the behavior before from people looking to play on other's sympathy. But also, she really did look hungry and poor, so Atzi still felt a bit bad for her. Atzi headed towards the city gate with the girl and Vance in tow, ready to find the Ancestor's camp.