Zool

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

"What I am trying to say is... sorry Mac, I fucked up and forgot to warn you"

MacKensie gave James a soft touch on the arm. Her smile was small and did not reach her eyes, but it was heartfelt. "I accept your apology, James. Please... do not punish yourself. Everybody makes mistakes." Even if she felt like holding a grudge - which she did not - there was an existential threat outside the walls of Valhiem. If they were to overcome that, then there was no room for rifts amongst them. "As far as I'm concerned, the matter is resolved."

They parted ways, MacKensie going to her room. On her way, she saw a maid and asked the woman if she would relay a request of some dinner to Frederick, downstairs, to have sent to her room. The R&R of the spa could still be felt all through her body and she enjoyed lounging on her bed while she waited for her food. For the first time since coming to Mytheria, she actually missed her cell phone. This would have been a nice moment to browse her socials. Nonetheless, she was content to stare at the wall and think things through, this time with a more optimistic and resilient spin.

...................................................................................................................

Oh no, she thought, after James informed the group of their duties. She'd forgotten to get her Ranger gear repaired and while it was no bother really to go out, in the morning, and do her stretching exercises in the torn clothing, she really would have rathered be presentable when reporting to military officers. But what could she do? Turn up in her fancy casual olive and black? Or funnier yet; her ditzy floral sundress!? (It was still a mystery as to what on earth had made her buy that one.)

She would have to wear her damaged Ranger gear. So, when Fenna went to get her spear and Zell, his weapons and armour, MacKensie went and got ready herself.

On the way through the city, MacKensie was content to walk in relative silence with her friends. Zell had seemed out of sorts, all morning and she was concerned for him. After hearing the bit of conversation between him and James, two days ago, it was clear that something was wrong. She wondered if it was related, but didn't want to pry.

"Makes sense that they'd spread us out as Captain's of soldiers, rather than let us fight as a party."

As Zell glanced sidelong at her, she looked back with curiosity, waiting for an elaboration. Then, once he explained, she understood. "That is true," she agreed as she remembered the extremely short encounter outside the temple with George and his ambush squad. Since their Ascension, they'd been fighting like superheroes. The power of their weapons, the resilience of their bodies... She just hoped that their were plenty of Source Crystal users in the city. Just the sample size of enemies they'd seen so far told her that their were would be plethora of different powerful types of creatures in the army of Saladin.

"We'll be more useful to the defence, this way. And I know that we have the ability to lead. Each of us can do this job. I believe in you both."

"We can do this," Fenna added.

MacKensie nodded to them both. "We can and we will." Because we must.

She was not so confident in herself to lead as she was in Zell and Fenna. Both of them projected such a strong image, she just knew that soldiers would rally around them. She would have to dig deep and try to do the same. This was now her duty, after all. And she started by giving Zell a little elbow upon entering the Military Centre.

"If something is bothering you, you'll only make it worse by overthinking;" His own advice for her, one time. Now she was giving it him back. Her gaze lingered on his for a moment and she gave him a cocky smirk (a smile of reassurance but in his own language.) Once they had an understanding, she turned her attention to the crowd of gathered adventurers and Vice Commander Jeremiah, who addressed them all a short time later.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

At some point during their conversation, walking the streets of Valhiem, the topic of money and budgetary constraints came up, prompting MacKensie to come to a quick conclusion that she should probably spend some of her money on something that would be useful for the impending assault on the city. "Hmmm... Fenna, might I trouble you to prepare some more enchanted bolts for me? You said that you could make both fire and ice bolts for my crossbow. I still have the ten ice bolts you enchanted for me, but perhaps if I had some ammunition of both elements, I might be more effective in combat." Whatever Fenna's answer, there was a more pressing concern and that was the fact that her crossbow was not powerful enough to harm the larger and tougher foes they were starting to come across. She needed something that hit harder, no matter what ammunition she was firing. "I have just realised that I must double-back to the Bazaar. I will catch up with you later."

She gave Fenna a quick hug and air-kiss before saying her goodbye and turning back toward the market. She should really have thought of this earlier and Fenna could have just come with her - a short stop on the way back the Mended Drum - but now her change of course would mean that getting some dinner would be unnecessarily delayed, so she would not put upon the Ranger to join her.

At the Bazaar, she wasted her time with a slew of 2nd-rate shops and stalls, selling little in the way of enticing weaponry. After a couple of hours browsing, she happened upon Gildor Hammerfist's Shop. Now this looked like the place she ought to be. The shop was well-stocked, wares presented beautifully, prices ranging from affordable to sky-high and a shopkeeper who was in the middle of performing some kind of magical process that filled the very air inside the shop with the power of Source.

Gildor noticed and briefly acknowledged her but MacKensie stood patiently and politely until he'd put down his tools and turned to face her properly. "Greetings."

"And a Good Evening to you too, sir. I am a Ranger, looking to upgrade my current weapon in preparation for the upcoming battle. I was hoping to get some advice and prices on one-handed crossbows," she explained. "I have some questions. Namely; is there a way to measure the umm... caliber... or perhaps I should say; the general power and velocity of the crossbow string itself? I need something that packs a bigger punch than this."

She took out her current weapon from her bag and, with an idea of how much money she had left, the two talked business...

She didn't get back to the Mended Drum until late. Gildor had left her a lot to think about and she would make a decision tomorrow. So engrossed in her decision-making process was she, that she completely forgot about dinner and walked straight through the taproom of the Mended Drum without even noticing anyone. It was a big financial decision. As she went up the stairs, she would lament her lack of fiscal responsibility - shopping and spending money being one of her weaknesses, for sure, but what was done was done.

"James," she noticed as she turned the corner at the top of the stairs. Her friend was stood by the door of her room, looking rather apprehensive. "What's wrong?"

"Hey Mac, do you mind if we talk?"

How could she forget? She was mad at him. After spending the afternoon in the bliss of the Mountain Spa, she'd completely put her anger behind her, regarding the two terrorists that had almost sullied her reputation with The Adventurer's Guild. "Of course," she answered. "Co-" She froze in terror as she realised she was just about to invite him into her room to talk, but with all that was going on in her head, with Adam and Zell, she felt it quite possibly the worst idea in the world to have any man in her room. "Let us, ahh," she stalled, her hand recoiling from the doorknob. "Let us go sit at the windowsill on the top floor. I think that will be where we have less chance of being disturbed."

She suspected he was here to apologise. And she would forgive him, of course. They were friends. Close friends, who'd fought unimaginable dangers together and showed trust and care, each in their own way, to a level of family. In some ways they were more than family - uniquely bonded like no one else in this world or the last. They were willing to die for eachother. Kill for eachother. And take on wave upon wave of whatever danger this world could throw at them, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder to meet it.

How could she not forgive the man who'd led them with such care and calculation, for a silly mistake?

But, she would let him say his piece first and then respond.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

lmao Zell's so stupid. His best friend tells him that he's half Zigmund. A couple of drinks later: "Hey, you guys wanna hear a story about how we totally beat the crap out of a guy called Zigmund!"

smh Zell never change xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

It felt very validating to hear Fenna's thoughts on the matter. To know that she wasn't alone or abnormal, to hear that she was not some horrible harlot for having these feelings... it was not a remedy for her problems or that knot in her stomach, but it did make everything feel a little less daunting, a little less like the end of the world.

MacKensie absently stared at her wiggling toes from the foot she had halfway protruding from the misty water, all the while considering Fenna's sister and the information she'd been given about her and projecting some of her own emotions onto her good friend's sister, trying to relate to how the woman might have felt. The uncertainty. The guilt. The bravery to make her decision and move forward through life and accept whatever came next.

Her wandering mind came back to the present moment to listen to Fenna talking about her own experience in romance, the older woman briefly touching on her first love before dreamily recounting anecdotes about her husband. MacKensie was captivated, enjoying this side of Fenna that she'd never seen before. What a difference some relaxation, pampering and privacy could make.

“What makes someone the one is different for everyone, we all look for different things in our partners." MacKensie nodded her understanding and admitted to herself that it was not for Fenna to give her some magical golden answer to her conundrum. She would have to decide what was important to herself and find her own answer from there. "For me, it was the things we could do together and the things we could laugh about.”

"I see," MacKensie acknowledged. Again she considered moments she'd had with Adam and Zell. Both privately and amongst the group. Ones that included interaction with her and ones where she was simply on the edge observing them. After a moment of silence she continued to Fenna. "I am grateful for your insights, Fenna. I believe you have helped me, at least, to get a handle on how to approach this situation." Then she smiled. "I am so glad to have another woman on the team to confide in. You are a rock for me, ma Soeur."

When their time was up, MacKensie begrudingly left the hotspring to go and get dressed. If only we could have booked another hour... or six, she thought bittersweetly.

The establishment-provided hairpins meant that she'd not need dry her hair, so it was simply a matter of a quick comb through and replacement of her headband. After giving herself a look in the mirror, she left the changing rooms.

"All set?" she asked the other Ranger.

“I know I already said this, but thanks for this. I needed it." MacKensie gave Fenna a hug and replied that it was her pleasure. "And you’re always welcome to talk about anything that is troubling you, okay?”

Releasing the other woman, MacKensie nodded gratefully. "Thank you. The same goes for you, from me. I will likely take you up on that offer, with the amount of troubles this world throws at me."

With a chuckle, the two women exited the area, thanked the attendants for their service and found their way back to the surface and the outside, met with a darkened sky. The afternoon had passed them by, but it was the best afternoon MacKensie had enjoyed since landing in Hommas and climbing out of the coffin. In fact, it may have been the best afternoon MacKensie had enjoyed for a long time, going back even further than that.

To the northeast, the fire in the sky was always that constant reminder of the siege, but it was not enough to remove all the good feeling from the Spa. "Shall we go back to The Mended Drum and see what Frederick is cooking for dinner, or if there was somewhere you wanted to go first, I would gladly tag along."

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

I'm working on my post. I have an idea for what I want and if the words would come out the way I want them, that'd be great.

@Loksfjoer

I'll go straight afterwards.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

MacKensie was overjoyed to see Fenna's shoulders free of weight, even if it was only temporary. As they shared amiable conversation and fond memories, the frenchwoman was positively giggly with good vibes. They talked about things that they valued a lot; treasured times and moments of their lives. They talked about things Mytherian and magical; the best moments of their combat experience, the coolest things they could remember themselves doing. And threaded through these topics were tangeants that were so incredibley normal; favourite way to have one's eggs with toast, the woes of public transportation in European cities. These small things that were so boring and regular, no longer taken for granted, were probably where the most animated excitement exuded from the low-energy duo who were so engulfed with the heavenly comfort, that even their laughs came out in a relaxed cadence.

Fenna's story about how she met her husband had MacKensie fawning throughout. "That is so romantic," she commented at one point.

The topic of 'new love' turned MacKensie's mind onto her own potientally romantic situation. It seemed both women's minds had gone to the exact same thing because Fenna was the one to bring it up.

"I noticed how some of the members of our party act around you. You don't have to answer this, of course, but I was wondering how you feel about the members of the party and if you perhaps like a little more?"

There, it appeared - that knot in her stomach. That bright red face. And of course; Fenna was talking about Adam and Zell, she didn't have to say their names. Here, in the paradise of the hotspring and with it 'just between the girls,' it lessened the embarassment. Nonetheless, Fenna was still met with a flustered MacKensie Trydant. There was a moment of stalling from the younger woman, but then she found her words. "Sacre bleu, Fenna," was her intial response. "It is chaos in my mind to think of this question. I don't know how it has come to this, I wish it never would have happened. Before this, it was perfect, I..." Her mind was thinking a million things per second, she wasn't sure which thought to voice. "I feel so connected with everyone here, in Second Chance. So deeply connected for everything we have been through together. But with those two...? Things have become - maybe - something more and I feel like... this is a decision I must make, which rests so heavy on me. Fear to hurt someone, fear of getting hurt, fear of creating a rift in Second Chance." Fear of an adult relationship. She would not voice this one, even for the woman she trusted more than anything these days. That was too pathetic and embarassing to even say out loud whilst alone.

MacKensie laid out her mass of thoughts with such disorganisation, that it would have been understandable if Fenna struggled to keep up. Eventually, and in random pieces; she'd confided all of her specific feelings regarding Adam and Zell, conceding how difficult it was to have these very real kinds of emotions towards two men at once. It didn't comport with her sense of honour as an individual. It didn't make sense to her simplistic 'everyone has a type' narrative, when these two men were so utterly worlds apart in personality. Somewhere in the mix of sentences, she admitted that the easiest decision would be to shut down all advances, make it clear that she was firmly committed to friendship and balance with both. This would put everything right. But she would lose out on her chance for that special someone - her 'Monsieur Postma.' And she may have let slip that she already felt something stronger with one man more than the other. Even if she didn't quite understand it or want to admit it to herself, when so many thoughts come out, Fenna could likely surmise through the clues, which of the two men her heart leaned towards. Would she regret it if she just shut them both down and rid everyone of the conundrum? She could not see the answer. And; even if she did regret, did that change what was the correct decision?

"Is any of this normal?" MacKensie moaned to Fenna. "I am so frustrated that I cannot tell."

She would ask Fenna more about her husband and how it was for her, how he could make her feel, how she knew that he was the one, MacKensie seeking to understand someone who had been through this kind of thing and actually come away with the man of her destiny. This whole topic had been a moment to truly appreciate Fenna being Fenna. The conundrum of Adam and Zell was something MacKensie thought she was stuck all alone with, but Fenna was here for her. It meant a lot.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Got my post in, just in time. @xenon I stayed up past 2am for you. Goodnight xD

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Lucy and Terence had MacKensie on a fishing line, reeling her every way they wanted. Even at the best of times, MacKensie's proclivity to take herself a tad too seriously, made her an easy target for a bit of light teasing. But here? Now? With her reputation on the line, she was the perfect foil for two people looking to have a little fun at her expense.

"I..." She managed at one point. "But..." was her only rebuttal for Terence.

She looked between the two, on the edge of her seat for their verdict. And then they started laughing and she was still confused, even unsure if Lucy actually believed her or just didn't care, which was also annoying. She was innocent!

"Is there anything else we can do for you, or was it just your stained reputation that you needed sorting out?"

"Ummm..." she tucked an apparently-invisible lock of hair behind her ear, trying to collect herself. "No, that is everything, I think." She stood there like an idiot, for a moment, while they patiently waited for her to leave. Then she suddenly realised how stupid she looked and straightened her posture. "Thank you for hearing me, Lucy. I appreciate your time and will not take anymore of it. Good day to you both."

She bobbed her head to both of them and left. Once outside there was a well-earned face-palm. This whole thing had been embarrassing from start to finish - from last night when she found out she was being unbanned, all the way until some future moment in time when she would finally forget that this ever happened.

"I am going to kill those two," she grumbled as she walked off.

Later on, after taking her packed lunch to Golden Tree Park, she went and took a wander in the beautiful greenery until she found a bench to eat at. Knees together with her unwrapped sandwiches on her lap, she ate and let her mind do a little wandering of it's own. The threat of mass murder was right there, in the sky to the east, constantly. It weighed the heaviest among all of her thoughts, making itself known every thirty seconds as she thought about other things.

She missed her family. She tried to timeline her most recent memories of her old life. She stood between a murderous horde of all of kinds of monsters and an entire city of men, women and children. She wondered what the Witch Queen - what Melina - looked like. Was she scary and monstrous? Or just a regular looking and talking woman? Zell and James were terrorists. She imagined herself holding of them by an ear and squeezing painfully. One slip at The Temple of Hades would have meant her end, sure, but another more suitable Adventurer Party would have hopefully taken the job and saved the Temple Hill region. But there was only one chance to save Valhiem's citizens. She wondered what Fenna's children looked like. Her husband too. How was her fellow Ranger doing? Zell and Adam... her recent dream of them flashed through her mind and a knot formed in her stomach. Barracker - this was his home. His people. As scared as she was to die, she'd done it before and was lucky enough to get another go at life. But Valhiem would not get a second chance.

"Fenna," she muttered, snapping back to reality when she saw her friend walking along the path. "Fenna," she called louder, waving a hello when the other woman looked over. She smiled as Fenna came over. "You needed some relaxation too, hmm?"

She asked Fenna how she was holding up and listened to the response, giving an 'I have been better' if the question was returned. She offered to share some of the cashew-like nuts she'd bought, and thought about how best to get into a conversation where she could be there for her friend as a good ear to listen and shoulder to support, but then she suddenly remembered something she'd seen days ago, when they all first arrived in Valhiem. A place that was beautifully advertised at the Bazaar. A place that MacKensie was suddenly pining for more than anything.

'Valhiem's Famous Moutain Spa.'

"Fenna, do you have any plans for this afternoon?" she asked, her hand suddenly on Fenna's, eyes alight with excitement. "Come." She got up. "I know the perfect way to spend the rest of today. A place out of sight of that dreaded artillery fire, where we can actually unwind from this rollercoaster of The Wraith, Zigmund and The Witch Queen... even if just for a moment or two." She beckoned Fenna like her life depended on it, trying to create some suspense before she finally said. "There is a Spa place, on the road to the guildhouse. We simply must go, today." She could already see some concern on Fenna's face. "I will not take no for an answer, my friend. You deserve it. Come."

She practically dragged Fenna to this Spa, who was trying to be fiscally responsible, but MacKensie would not hear it. "Consider it, my treat." There was a chance she would die, next week - she'd blown money on clothes, jewelry, hair and make up, all with much worse excuses than that! Caution had offically been thrown to the wind.

They followed the directions on the billboard at the Bazaar and found the place, the entrance of was built into the Citadel Mountain, and took them down some beautifully lit steps and opened into a large, fancy reception area. MacKensie was gooey-eyed, hands clasped together as she looked around. The stone of the cave, the wooden beams, the paneled walls, the lighting... it was everything she was hoping for.
Then a woman came over to greet them.

MacKensie requested the very best and most expensive treatments, paying whatever it costed for Fenna and herself. There were massages, oils, face mask treatments, lovely ASMR sounds, great service... roughly a few hours of the very best relaxation... and it all ended with Fenna and MacKensie enjoying a privately booked hour in the hotspring deep under the mountain.

"Aaaahhhh," MacKensie was almost falling asleep the moment she settled into the spring. She smiled over at Fenna. "This was so worth it, Fenna. I regret nothing."

MacKensie had spent a fortune.

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

Zell! Tell him! Don't be stupid!!!!!!

THE WAR FOR MYTHERIA - Isekai Adventure

After sleeping in a little later than usual and taking breakfast in her room, MacKensie got herself ready for the day. After a shower, she combed her hair out and creamed her face, then put on her casual outfit of olive and black with a black headband to match. Her damaged Ranger gear was thrown into her rucksack, then after a moment of hesitation, she decided to throw her one-handed crossbow and bolts into the bag aswell. Seeing as the city was under siege, it was probably safer to keep her weapon within reach at all times.

Downstairs, she said her 'Good Mornings' and 'Goodbyes' to the all of the guys in the taproom and left The Mended Drum. However, her demeanour was bright and friendly to Adam and Adam only. For James and Zell, she flashed a stormy expression. Whilst eating in bed, going over last night's events, the matter of Lucy's mysterious unbanning had come up. Zell and James' reaction to it all, plus her memory of James' first-time experiment of Syllagy's blessing had made everything suddenly make sense. And she was furious.

So, the first errand on the list, for the day, was a walk to the Adventurer's Guild. On the way, she bought a couple of sandwiches, some nuts that looked similar to cashews and a bottled fruit drink that she could have for lunch later. The overall feeling in the streets was confusing. For one thing, all of the shops in the Bazaar were open and citizens were walking the streets with places to be. This was all completely unexpected, the only thing unsurprising; the fear in the air - heavy and unsettling. But none of this was enough to get MacKensie distracted for more than a moment. Right now, she was laser-focused, her mouth a firm line, fire in her eyes. She WOULD be exonerated.

Inside the Adventurer's Guild, she found Lucy Bottrill at the bar, talking to the barman. Marching up with her back straight, chin raised enough to show confidence and match her indignation, but not so high as to be arrogant, she appeared next to Lucy and put a hand on the bar as she faced the elf.

"Lucy, I must speak with you about last night," she said firmly. "I know that you said you will not relitigate whatever happened that had me banned from guildhouse, but I insist that you hear me out." And so she professed her innocence, claiming that she would never do anything to cause trouble at the guild and didn't even know what on earth had gone on as she was too angry with the true perpetrators to find out. "But that is none of my business. I only know that my reputation, as a Trydant, is very important to me, and I have not forgotten the face of my father. You may scan my crystal, if there is any way that your computer can exonerate me. Or if you have... a lie-detector in this world, or something like this, I don't know but I will do it gladly. She looked at the barman and back at Lucy, conviction of the truth in her eyes. But I will not be happy until my good name is cleared."