Chương 27: 95 - Alabaster Rose

It took most of the next day for Vivi to finish placing warp anchors throughout the mortal lands. With how she could teleport across the human kingdoms, only the demon lands took a particularly long flight over many miles of dark ocean. The dwarven enclaves and the elven forests were trickier and more tedious to navigate, despite being closer in raw distance. Especially the winding underground tunnels and cave systems the dwarves called home. But she'd finished in around twelve hours.

It was an interesting sightseeing expedition, but she didn't make contact with anyone or announce her presence. Simply flitted in, dropped an anchor, and left for the next location. She would need to have conversations with the leadership of the long-lived races sooner rather than later, but now that emergency preparations had been handled, she had a more pressing goal: reuniting Vanguard and completing the second-stage mythical Quest.

To that end, there was a certain famous restaurant in the capital city of the Eastern Kingdom that Vivi wanted to visit. The Alabaster Rose apparently offered the best cuisine found in the human kingdoms, and it was run by none other than Petra, Vanguard's prior cook.

Like with Malach, Rafael had discreetly reached out to the woman, and the cook would have no doubt made her own assumptions about Meridian, the breach, and the Sorceress's alleged involvement—so she probably wouldn't be too surprised when Vivi showed up at her doorstep. Petra would be the last of the easy craftsmen to contact. Rowena and Bram, the leatherworker and woodworker, had passed away long before Vivi had arrived in this world. Laelith the enchanter was missing, beyond even Rafael's ability to track down.

Ulden the jewelcrafter was deep in the dwarven enclaves in some small city Vivi hadn't even recognized the name of. And Eshara, their blacksmith, wasn't missing like Laelith was, but she hid her activities as a matter of habit.

As Rafael had told her, the elf had taken it upon herself to forge a spiritual successor to Vanguard—she and her band of heroes traveled the mortal kingdoms slaying great threats wherever they could find them, which often required a measure of stealth to keep their sometimes-sapient targets from fleeing. Finally finished with the exhausting errand of flying across thousands of miles of terrain, Vivi warped back to her estate in Meridian and dropped into her bed to take a short mental rest.

Maintaining flight and haste spells couldn't be called truly taxing, not to a mage of her strength, but the constant attention had definitely worn at her, especially combined with lingering manaburn. The last of that sickness would be gone by morning, which she was looking forward to. After the quick break, she elbowed up and scooted to the edge of the bed to glance out the window. By the brightness in the sky, she had a few hours till nightfall. Plenty of time to visit Petra's restaurant.

That mission would be easy to handle alone, but firstly she didn't want to, and secondly she had another goal: finalizing the situation with Isabella. Vivi had been filled in that morning by Saffra on where the Caldimore heiress stood on the events that had transpired and what she wanted going forward. The catgirl's confidence that she could pester her friend into honesty hadn't been misplaced. It hadn't even taken a full day for her to accomplish her goal.

As for actually setting Isabella up for a comfortable future at the Institute… Vivi had a few ideas on how to handle that. She [Blinked] over to Aeris's office first, and thankfully he presented himself when she knocked. She wouldn't have been surprised if he'd been occupied. Most important figures had been thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of the void threat. And with my arrival, I suppose, Vivi thought, the idea disorienting.

"Lady Vivisari?" the old archmage asked, bushy white eyebrows pulling together in surprise.

"How can I help you?"

"Are you busy? Can we talk?"

"Of course." He waved her in.

"As for whether I'm busy…" He chuckled.

"Less than you would think. I believe I mentioned it earlier, but I separated myself from politics, even the Institute's, as completely as I could. Should the world ever need my magic for the defense of the public, I will of course respond, but beyond that, I am merely a tenured professor with a smattering of personal projects, and a master to two apprentices—nothing more, and nothing less."

"I see." She supposed that explained his availability despite everything going on.

"You have two apprentices?"

"Between two and five in any given decade," Aeris replied.

"Two right now, yes. You met Tatiana. Quinn, a seventh year, is the other. He's busy studying for exams; I work with Tatiana more frequently this time in the semester." That he had several apprentices boded well for why Vivi had come.

"I have a request, but feel free to decline," she started.

"Please don't just accept because of who I am." Aeris took on a thoughtful expression.

"It would be difficult to divorce the request from the one who makes it, no matter what I promise. I owe you more than I could ever repay. All of mortalkind does." Vivi fought the urge to shift uncomfortably at that.

"Regardless, I don't think it would be good for her unless you're fully supportive of the idea. Isabella Caldimore will return to the Institute soon, and I want someone watching over her—and teaching her. Maybe more importantly, I want to continue making it clear to society that she has our protection, and your reputation will help send that signal. Rafael impressed on me how… disliked… the Caldimores are right now." Which the Duke deserved, but his family by extension didn't.

She had considered making this request of Lysander, but she didn't know whether the man had a good temperament for a master-apprentice relationship. Plus, for all that Lysander was one of only a few human archmages, he was still much weaker than Aeris. Lysander might be more talented—as Aeris himself had admitted—but hundreds of years of experience went a long way. Further than natural skill, in this case.

"But choosing an apprentice isn't some small favor," Vivi finished.

"Which is why I want you to actually be certain you're okay with it." After a long moment of contemplation, Aeris said, "It's less significant of a request for me than most other Titled. I've spent the past century doing little but teaching others—it's what gives me purpose in these twilight years. And not every apprentice did I choose purely for my own reasons. I've taught for the Institute's sake, the crown's, humanity's, and other motives besides. I wouldn't even say I've liked all of my apprentices.

Lysander was one, for half a decade, you know. In his grand magus years." Aeris cleared his throat and seemed to grow abashed.

"Perhaps I shouldn't be quite so frank. It is unbecoming for a master to express dislike of a past apprentice. I've always found them worth teaching, no matter the personal foibles between us. All that to say, you are correct: it is not a small favor, but not a monumental one either as it might be to some." This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He stroked his white beard.

"Isabella Caldimore," he said.

"I teach the upper years, so I haven't had her in a class of mine. But her admirable actions in this debacle, the tragedy of her circumstances, and your implicit endorsement—each of those alone would have been reason enough to take interest in teaching her. Perhaps in another life, I would have protected her myself as you have." He nodded firmly.

"Until the end of the semester would be no favor at all, and tensions should settle as the truth becomes common knowledge—that she is not her father. We can reevaluate a longer-term apprenticeship then?" Almost apologetically, he added, "I have not properly met the girl, so overcommitting seems unwise."

"No, that's perfect." More than she'd hoped for. Aeris's explanations and the confidence he spoke with had also convinced her that he wasn't just saying yes to placate the Sorceress, though she doubted that didn't play some role in his thought process.

"And speaking of meeting her—I was going to take her and Saffra to Petra's restaurant, and wanted to invite you as well. And Tatiana." At the confusion on his face, Vivi corrected, "The Alabaster Rose. Rafael told me Petra runs it. Vanguard's prior cook." His confusion disappeared, though his eyebrows crept up his forehead as he responded.

"Petra Cooper. Of course, yes, I didn't make the connection. I've intended to make the trip myself for some time. Simply found it difficult to tear myself away from the comfort of my office and familiar surroundings." He considered Vivi.

"If you are offering such a privilege, of course I accept."

"Perfect. I haven't spoken to Isabella about this yet, so we can broach the idea over dinner."

"You wish for Tatiana to come as well, you said?"

"I still feel guilty for stranding her at Prismarche. I want to treat her." Aeris laughed, though he tried to mask the outburst by clearing his throat. She felt a heat grow on her cheeks, though she knew it was only in her head.

"Plus she'll be Isabella's co-apprentice," Vivi added.

"And they're both still students. Seems like them meeting is worth something."

"I completely agree." He nodded.

"When?"

"Half an hour or so?" Aeris started at the response, but recovered quickly. He shook his head in wry amusement.

"I was expecting a response of 'a week or two,' perhaps. It really isn't something I should keep forgetting, that you can warp across the world on a whim, and with passengers in tow. But it's truly… difficult to digest, that level of freedom." He chuckled.

"Half an hour. I'll need to send a message to Tatiana, but that shouldn't be an issue. Classes are over for the day, so she should be available."

"No problems if you're late, or if she can't make it. I wanted to take a look at the place myself—I'm going to warp there with Isabella and Saffra first. Maybe get a table in advance. So take your time. I'll meet you back here in thirty minutes? No more than an hour."

"Of course, Lady Vivisari."

"Okay. Thank you again. I'll see you then." She [Blinked] back to her estate and tracked down Saffra and Isabella. The two were in one of the sitting rooms, which came as no surprise. The girls had been effectively glued into a single unit since Vivi had returned. Isabella seemed to be recovering fantastically. She had looked… not great… during that first meeting at the library, and through their adventure in the void realm.

Not only was the hollow gauntness in her features filling out, no doubt thanks to Saffra's insistent urging to eat three full meals a day, but a general glow of actual happiness seemed to be returning. Or if not happiness—because Vivi didn't know Isabella well, all things considered—then at least that weight hunching her shoulders down had lifted.

The two girls hastily rose from their chairs when Vivi arrived, a reaction she wasn't the biggest fan of, but they seemed to be getting less nervous around her as time passed. Saffra, at least, usually relaxed after a few minutes of being in each other's company, though Isabella almost never lost her overly respectful behavior.

"Are you two hungry?" Vivi asked without preamble. Saffra shared a look with Isabella.

"We haven't eaten, no. So… sure?"

"I've finished dropping anchors everywhere I need to. Things should start calming down now. I wanted to take you two somewhere special in celebration." She addressed the following question to Isabella, since Saffra's answer would obviously be that she hadn't: "Have you ever been to the Alabaster Rose?" Blue eyes widened.

"I—have not, Lady Vivisari. Perhaps my father at some point, but me?" She shook her head, and the response clearly implied an 'of course I haven't.' Vivi supposed the Eastern Kingdom was a fair distance away when a person didn't have access to teleportation magic. There was the Convoy, but that would still be a multi-day, expensive trip that came with the implied danger of traveling through monster-infested territory.

Duke Caldimore also didn't seem to be the kind of person who would spoil his daughter, Vivi thought, mood souring at the idea. She shook the anger away. That problem wasn't fully solved, but it mostly was.

"The Alabaster Rose?" Saffra hedged, looking between Isabella and Vivi.

"Should I know what that is?" Isabella turned to her with an almost offended look appearing on her face.

"Only the most famous restaurant in all the kingdoms, quite literally. How can you not have—" The blonde cut herself off, paused, and visibly grew embarrassed.

"Though I suppose it isn't common knowledge to everyone, just in certain circles."

"Only to people with gold pouring out of their ears, you mean," Saffra said dryly.

"My bad I'm not cultured enough for you." Though Isabella had clearly regretted the outburst, she lifted her chin and sniffed.

"Well, you said it, not me." Saffra poked her in the side, and Isabella twisted away with a "Hey!" Vivi could see where the 'frenemy' accusations Tatiana had relayed to her came from, though she assumed Saffra and Isabella's previous dynamic had cooled off thanks to events they'd both been through—from what Vivi had seen, they seemed much more on the friend side than enemy. It probably hadn't been that way a year ago.

Before they could continue their bickering, Vivi said, "I need to see Petra anyway, so we're going there with a side mission in mind. But it's also to treat us all to somewhere nice, since the disaster and its aftermath is… not over, but contained. Which we're all glad for, I'm sure."

"Petra?" Isabella asked.

"Petra Cooper, the owner? You know her?" She twitched as she clearly realized something.

"Wait, she was Vanguard's cook, that's right. I'm an idiot."

"Even I knew who Petra Cooper was," Saffra said.

"Did you?" Isabella dubiously sniped back." Vanguard's craftsmen? What kind of adventurer wouldn't?"

"Why didn't you know about her restaurant, then?"

"I know her name, not exactly what she's been up to!"

"We'll be leaving now, if you two aren't busy with something," Vivi told them. Unsurprisingly, trying to keep hold of a conversation with two teenage girls wasn't the easiest thing. Saffra and Isabella shared a look.

"Could I… freshen up, briefly?" Isabella ventured politely.

"I'd like to be a little more presentable for the Alabaster Rose, of all places. If that's fine with you, Lady Vivisari," she hurried to clarify. Vivi paused, then suppressed the urge to look down at herself. She'd intended on going in her usual comfy robes, an [Illusion] cast on them to hide their true nature. Should she go 'freshen up' too? Change her clothes, even? She honestly couldn't be bothered.

"Feel free," Vivi said.

"Though we're going with two other people, so don't take long. Don't want to make them wait."

"Who?" Saffra asked curiously.

"It's a surprise. Go on, then. I'll give you ten minutes."