Chapter 33: Charmed, I'm Sure

With all but one of her Followers in the midst of some form of travel, Sammy checked in on Bast and found him to be in some measure of distress. She tracked a nearby mirror, one she’d not yet accessed, and was greeted by her Follower’s back in a bedroom, as he hugged a woman who was facing it with her eyes closed as she hugged back, tightly and teary-eyed.

She was middle-aged and quite beautiful, still in a kind of ageless prime and the template of queenly feminine nobility.

“I’m sorry, Mother,” Bast whispered, on the verge of tears.

“It’ll be alright, my sweet Sebastion,” she answered softly, “even the most precious birds of the nest must fly away someday. As my own mother warned me.”

They’re so close… oh god, this is so sad…

When the mother opened her eyes, Sammy saw the resemblance in the pale blueness there. But those eyes were dead on the mirror, and the mother’s brow furrowed as there was that ‘click’ of staring right through it that so often signaled one of ‘hers’.

Fuck.

Sammy withdrew, guilty a bit at seeing the private exchange, and not wanting to chance further entanglements with someone Bast might consider off-limits for her safety. It made her wonder, though. Was it just the potentiality, or was she doomed and destined to call Samantha her goddess?

And if that were true, what did it mean about her, or how the System was tied into it?

“Sys, what is with that? Why do some people seem to see something when I’m looking and give off this vibe? Is that tied into an ability or trait?”

The System cannot provide this information.

Frowning, Sammy didn’t bother with any number of choice expressions she wanted to make at that tired old line.

Maybe it just has to do with my primary domain. Mirrors, a reflection of the self. What does someone see? Their own self… but if they are incomplete, in need, perhaps they’re not seeing who they want exactly. Maybe when I’m there they feel the potential beyond the image and some sense of who and what could lead them to that truer reflection...

True or not, it was a hell of a pitch. I need to write that down!

After a while, Bast inserted himself into her perceptions, sending, “You were spying on me.” Annoyance and embarrassment. “During a private interlude where I was dropping the news of my inevitable leavetaking forever from my mother…”

“I’m sorry!” Sammy sent back, with feelings of legitimate apology and some big, placating images of hearts. “I sensed distress, then I checked in and there you were hugging your mom and then she opened her eyes and- sorry!”

He was at least somewhat distracted by the hearts. “Yes, well, she was certainly curious about a sudden odd vibe from the mirror, but at least it vanished quickly. I assured her it was just paranoia and it surely wouldn’t happen again.”

“Right, yes. It certainly won’t.”

“Good. Because we don’t want to endanger her.”

“That’s correct.”

After a pause of relative silence, there was sudden amusement. “And you can make it up to me — console me — so very easily, by posing for some tasteful nude-”

“Fuck off, Bast, that’s not happening! You Perv!”

“-Posing for tasteful, glamorous, non-nude-”

“Still not happening!”

“I merely tease. But at the least, a gift from your boundless heart! A dream, a vision I can paint for you. Bless me with it, so that I can bless you, my goddess. But not now — think on it! Surprise me in the days to come, so I have it to reach toward when I am away from here.”

After taking a deep breath, Sammy sent, “I will, Bast. When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow. There’s only one decent route to take with the troubled waters and the distance around the crescent, and that’s cutting across to Fobent by land and finding a ship to Geirkos. We’ll go from there. I have secured an enchantment for my horse. Endurance. I’ll be able to travel at a high speed, though it will be exhausting and rough for so many days.”

“Understood. I can give you a long-term buff to help with exhaustion. And Orswyth is already headed there. Probably will get there before you but depending on the situation and the ship, you might meet up. He has a pack of military men with him.”

“Ah, safety in numbers! I do like the sound of that.” After a long pause, he sighed grandly. “If only I could take Seria with me… but it's not to be. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“Who’s that? Your mother?”

“What?! No! Bah. Seria is an… on and off lover. A lady of the court.”

“So you have a lover, huh? Or maybe a few, I bet.”

“I have one… briefly. And then I won’t. Why? Don’t you have one?” So very teasing.

“Well… no. Look, forget it. I’m sorry you have to leave her.”

“That’s quite alright… but yes, she’s going to make it particularly difficult tonight, considering she wants to… bid me farewell, shall we say.” He suddenly had that amusement again, which immediately put Sammy’s guard up, being the equivalent of a mental leer. “You know, you can spy tonight if you like. I’ll ask, but I know her well enough to say she’d be more than fine-”

“Go fuck yourself, Bast! Lecher!” She sent the mental image of thwacking him on the head with a rolled-up newspaper, then withdrew, to his great, great amusement.

Shaking her head at him as she sat on her throne, Sammy blew an annoyed breath out of her nose.

Insufferable bastard. ‘Merely tease’ my ass! The instant I agreed he’d be all for it. Certainly not going to reveal myself to a new person just for that. Who even knows what kind of stuff- Why is this still in my head?! Out, damn you! Time for meditations!

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

1 FE (Mirrors, Illusion) obtained from [Devout] worship. Converted to Illusion FE.

Thank you, Azure, you absolute doll…

The rest of the mortal world’s daylight hours passed by in runic meditation and general relaxation, with Sammy intent on ensuring her current Followers and their goals remained her focus. The best solution to not getting dragged into additional crises was ‘tuning shit out’ for the time being. She couldn’t save everyone, and growth had to be upward to some degree, not just outward.

Evening came.

1 FE (Mirrors, Illusion) obtained from [Devout] worship. Converted to Illusion FE.

1 FE (Mirrors, Illusion) obtained from worship. Converted to Illusion FE.

14 Daily FE gained.

Orswyth over here cutting it close with Canmore, but they got it done.

She had to temper the tremendous bubble of excitement she had at being so close to domain unlock… just a matter of everyone finishing the next stage of prayer. But the two big groups were both just pausing in their travels. Orswyth for the night, assuredly, and Carlisle’s group, as she understood it, would push into the night after a short rest.

Fortunately, the frogger group finally slowed down from an initial breakneck pace and had stopped hours before. She imagined they’d make use of the night for travel again at some point.

Orswyth still needed to have the dinner with Canmore and the other… Meanwhile, Dax and Merril were meeting with Estara. Dax broke out her mirror shard and set it on a nearby rock in a hilly grassland with scattered trees about, camp activities commencing in the background and the sun just setting.

Estara was doing a curtsy in her riding skirts. She seemed quite haggard by the hard travel and poor sleep of the night before. Sammy had gathered she wasn't exactly the most experienced rider either, by her aches and pains. But she was somehow still upbeat. “Pleased to make your acquaintance fully, Daxerris and Merril! I’m Estara Nightsong. An honor! I’ve heard a story or two of your adventures, as my lord has told them over the years to others in the household.”

“Just Dax is fine,” Dax said, crossing her arms and appraising the servant girl. “I’ve been told to train you in fighting. Have you had any as a servant under Lord Carlisle?”

“Oh, yes, very rudimentary! Spear and dagger use. As the lord would say, ‘enough for a backbone, at least.’ I was instructed to focus more on becoming a healer due to my penchant, so not as much as some servants.”

“Spear-use. Good. The best thing for you is probably a quarterstaff. You can stall and frustrate even skilled swordsmen with blocks, and the right-sized spear is just a quarterstaff with a pointy end. If you ever level in Brute, well, then you can use whatever you want.”

Estara’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. “That would be most agreeable, Dame Daxerris!”

“Just Dax, I told you! I am no dame.”

Estara’s hands briefly clasped over her mouth as she reddened in embarrassment. She nodded, then managed to breathe through her fingers, “My heartfelt apologies, Dax!”

Merril snickered with an amused grin but said nothing as he watched.

“It’s alright,” Dax replied with a mild grumble. “Honestly, I’m probably rather snappy. Hard travel, poor rest, and more bloody poor rest ahead. Can’t both sides just agree to a full night’s sleep? Is that so difficult? Who wants to fight while yawning?”

“Well, I would suppose such agreements would need a parley first…”

Dax smirked at her. “Right. At any rate, despite our mutual benefactor’s desires, we don’t have much time or energy for training tonight. We’ll see about another time. I can at least discuss principles on the road when the horses aren’t being pushed. And they can’t be pushed much.”

“Thank you, Dax, I will be forever grateful!”

“Don’t mention it. Do you have any ranged weapons?”

“No, I really don’t have any train-”

“Find some big rocks and put ‘em in a sack on your horse. If you get a moment, train at throwing them. A rock can do surprising damage. Not one damn person should be without a ranged weapon. That’s my feeling, anyway. A day will come for every unranged soul, they’ll be in a pickle and think, ‘damn, I wish I had a rock right now.’ Mark my words.”

“I will do as you instruct, instructor!” After a pause, and a look of hesitation, she added, “N-no stones about it!”

For a brief moment in time, there was utter silence, Dax just staring at her, while Estara’s face began to wince in disappointment. Then Dax snorted and began to laugh, and Estara joined in, in relief. Merril’s lips just twisted as he squinted, but he didn’t quite scowl at least.

Well, I think she’s charmed Dax as well. Glad I’m not the only one.

They parted immediately after, someone calling Estara’s name for assistance. Dax turned to Merril and said, “Nothing to say that whole time, eh?”

The feline’s ears twitched, but he shrugged in utter nonchalance, then yawned. “I’m too tired.”

“Hmph.”

Sammy just sent a brief thanks to them, otherwise withdrawing. She was glad she got to catch their meeting. It felt special, somehow. Like distant stars aligning.

When she switched over to Orswyth, he was seated on a cushion eating something hot and porridge-looking from a wooden bowl, the staff in his lap. He was in a triangle positioning with two others also partaking of the food, one being Canmore.

The other man — Tashome, obviously — was a dark-haired, smallish, wiry sort, looking possibly in his forties with a face that seemed to be calmly, continuously deducing the world, searching for hidden things with eyes like dark augers. It was for mere moments she observed him before his eyes focused right in on hers and he paused mid-chew.

Staring without otherwise reacting as Canmore was chattering about horse health, he finished chewing, swallowed, then said, “So, she’s here, then.”

Orswyth coughed slightly. “Pardon?”

Tashome nodded slightly to the staff head, then set his bowl down. He touched a necklace of vibrant little talismans and bones, then put his hands together in front of him with fingers interlocking. He gestured forward, then opened the hands into a prayer sign, as his eyes lowered and his head bowed slightly in respect. “Welcome, Spirit of the Mirror. We honor you.”

1 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: not yet a Follower.

Whoa. He doesn’t even know my name. It’s like he did that as a conscious offering.

Canmore blurted, “I see it too — I saw it before! I-” He cut himself off, embarrassed.

As Orswyth glared, Tashome sniffed in humor and said, “So she got him, too, mm? Figured. Knew Galynth was ensnared. I heard him mutter something like, ‘she is so beautiful’ to himself, with eyes haunted by the uncanny. Without any ladies around, and him so changed after the supernatural incident, I understood the likely cause: a feminine-aspecting spirit.”

Welp, so much for playing hard to get.

« Chapter 32 | Table of Contents | Chapter 34: Will the Tenth Be Illusive? »

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Samantha, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors
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Goddess Level 1; Fledgling Deity

Domains (1/2): Mirrors
Faith Energy: 523/1000
FE (Illusion): 19
Followers: 9 (Daily FE Gain: 13 [14])

Brute: 0
Rogue: 0
Wizard: 0 [8/10]
Bard: 0

Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Priestly Ordination

Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith

Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Mirror Sense (at will), Mirror Communication (at will)

Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (3/30), New Deity Grace Period (3/7)