Chapter 23: Her Majesty's Chameleon

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

Azure squeezed her eyes shut, head bowing downward, crying and overcome with emotion for the words delivered to her, awed and unable to speak.

To Sammy, they had been quite a bit beyond her as well, spoken from a place of what she wanted to be, or an ideal of the ‘goddess’ whose shoes she filled so to speak, more than just her. It was an unusual feeling ticking a bit closer to that obviously greater thing, reaching and perhaps becoming it a little more. And she found she was okay with that. She wanted it… she thought. Even as she still feared it.

It suddenly made her think of that shop owner that had given her the token. A big smile on his face as he said, ‘May you be granted what you desire.’ Maybe it was just a marketing spiel from an out-of-touch, transdimensional weirdo. Choose your class! Right.

Or maybe I’m supposed to be here? Maybe this is where I belong. Would I lose myself in the process of this transformation? Would I care?

Finally, Azure opened her eyes and raised her head. “Thank you, Your Majesty… from the bottom of my heart. I wish to seek you and follow you.”

“Then speak the words.” Sammy placed her hand palm out and reached out with her psyche. And quickly double-checked the conversion buff, editing it to ‘peaceful, hopeful feelings, without drowsiness’ just in time…

Azure spoke the words with conviction, their hands in some measure touching palm to palm.

Follower conversion successful. 1 FE gained. 1 Daily FE gained (total: 6).

Taking a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly to enjoy the serenity effect with a faint smile, Azure asked, “Did I really touch your hand, Goddess? It felt…” she trailed off, not completing the thought.

“More or less,” Sammy said. “Not exactly in the flesh, as my realm is not of the flesh.”

Gleaming purple eyes met hers in the gloom of the crate. The glyph on her forehead gleamed too. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

“How are you holding up in there? It looks cramped. Are you okay on ships, I hope?”

“On a ship?” She had a lop-sided grin. “I’ve sailed all over, Your Majesty. First as a hand in my youth on pirate vessels, then with my former lord and lover.”

Sammy was dumbfounded. “You? You were a pirate?”

Azure chuckled. “Yes. More or less. A hand, a mate. Unfortunately, I… blossomed problematically as I aged.”

“Ah.” She was too hot to be a pirate. Relatable! “So what happened? How’d you become a concubine to the rich lord?”

“At first I just disguised myself as, hmm. Less desirable? And changed ships a lot. It worked well enough. I got stronger, more capable, a little better at disguise. And then someone that knew me from before figured me out and set me up. My crew tried to sell me to Lord Andemen, whom at the time all sorts of rumors swirled, about his wealth and lust. Not really understanding that selling me to him wouldn’t work…”

“Those rat bastards! So, he didn’t play ball with that? Has a code? I must admit, I am not an expert in societal norms in… these parts.”

“It’s technically illegal for a third party to sell or trade someone, by any major land’s laws at the moment. The Dominion hasn’t allowed it, the Southlands despise it, and the Land of Naug has revolutionized rapidly in a generation thanks to the reforms of Zadkiel and his Church of the Endless Rise. A new empire led by them. Kind of theocratic.”

Azure sighed and shrugged. “It used to just be chaos and anything goes, though. Bickering, feuding clans, shifting territories. Now there is an enforced code of laws. Rights and the concept of citizenship, modeled after the original city-state of Geirkos.”

“I suppose those are good things. So, Andemen doesn’t commit illegal things, is what you’re telling me?” She felt rather doubtful.

It got a cough of sardonic laughter from Azure. “Oh, a few, Your Majesty. At least by other lands’ standards. But not slavery or trafficking. For trade relations, and… he doesn’t need to. He seized the ship, freed me, then sent them off with a warning and message not to try such stunts again. He required only one thing for their freedom: the one that betrayed me to be tossed overboard in chains. They happily complied.”

“I’m sure they did, though he was no doubt less happy about the arrangement. Alright, so you were free, but he… still played you?”

Azure’s eyes drifted downward. “He offered to take me anywhere, and with a little coin to help me, so I told him Geirkos. He took me on the most lavish ship imaginable, with every amenity, and had me waited on hand and foot like I’d been swept into some dream of royalty. And he was even more charming than that, showering me with attention. Conversation. The occasional compliment, gradually growing into more. I was bewildered, and could even feel the trap before it closed, I think. I prayed to the goddess for guidance, but…”

She trailed off, shaking her head. “I fell for him, that much I can say. If it was just riches, that I could’ve resisted at arm’s length. But ultimately I didn’t resist his advances. I didn’t care that he had some old royal wife, I didn’t care that he had other women, I was the one he wanted to be with, it was so clear! Well. That was true. For a while.”

“So you agreed to some insane contract… after you fell in love.”

With a bitter laugh at herself, Azure nodded. “Yes, a so very special contract. He offered it at the docks of Geirkos, saying he had to return, that he wanted me to go with him, but that he would not take the choice away. I was free to do as I wished. And so I turned my back on my freedom, swore the oaths required, and signed it because he was what I wanted. Because I was a fool, and it seemed like what he offered was the true freedom.”

Sammy frowned. “One day I may well have the capacity to burn things through mirrors. When I do, I’ll fry his ass for you.” Not a serious statement, naturally.

Azure had a scandalized look for her goddess to say such a thing, but then she laughed delightedly, shaking her head. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but I would ask that you not. I regret my decision and I resent him greatly, but I don’t even wish him harm. I just want to… to move on. In my heart, I had already left years ago. After I passed beyond the sense of abandonment.”

“Fair enough. But don’t others among the concubines want to leave, too?”

“Of course. Many say so, and perhaps some legitimately do. Would they? Doubtful. I was surely the most adventurous of them. A woman of rough background, something that shocked most of them, and offended many. I required education when I arrived, to become like them, which was not forgotten though I adapted well. I counted only a few as friends. The rest looked down on me.”

“Nonetheless, I hope to help any that want it, one day. I don’t like any of that. Especially the runes and bracelet garbage.”

“Yes, he preferred to always keep tabs on us… required approval to leave and so on. For our protection, no? Which hardly matters for whoever his favorite is.”

“I have to ask this… is the curse bad? Does it hurt?”

“Well, it isn’t fun, that’s for sure, Your Majesty. And I’ll have to keep it covered wherever I go.”

“I’d guess you’re headed to Geirkos?”

Azure nodded, a slight smile on her lips. “Picking up where I left off.”

“Not thinking of being a pirate again, I hope.”

She laughed. “It’s not a terrible angle! But no. Bobba- that is, Terrance, gave me a reference, a contact to help. I’m not exactly sure yet what I’m going to do, honestly.”

“Will he hunt you down?”

Azure had a pause, a hesitation, but shook her head. “I don’t think so. I betrayed him, betrayed the contract. Surely I am dead to him.”

“Azure, I really don’t think you should bank on that. This man is obviously obsessively possessive.”

The former concubine appeared to have quite mixed feelings cross over her features. “I planned on disguising myself, in any case.”

“That’s good. Just assume he’ll come for you, and — eventually — that can be proven right or wrong in time. You have a potential spy in me, I will note.”

Azure bowed her head. “Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

“I should let you rest. You’ve been up a while, and you didn’t even take that powder stuff.”

“The ‘blue companion’ it’s called. Alchemical. One of his important exports. But I think you are right. I could use sleep.” After a hesitation, she continued, “Your Majesty? If I may be so bold, you are a new entity, aren’t you?”

“Something like that. Why?”

“I just wanted to say I’m honored to be chosen… and I’ll learn all I can of your ways and principles. I will make your goals mine. Perhaps in time, I can be more for your cause. For your expansion.”

Sammy couldn’t help but smile. I guess this is what’s called a ‘go-getter.’ “An inner circle will be needed. I have no doubt your skills and knowledge will be invaluable, Azure. Seek me and you will find what you are called to be.”

Gesturing grandly and making her appearance in the mirror shift to look something like Azure on the throne, scepter in hand, Sammy continued, “And know this! I can show you in time how to do more than just dress your face for a disguise. Imagine no one seeing you as you are but as you will and conjure it. For I am the Goddess of Illusion as well! Pray to that end with diligence and patience, Azure, and the goddess within you will shine. Shine and cast shadows outward.”

Awed, Azure nonetheless studied the figure in the mirror, in fascination, eyes perhaps seeing beyond. Imagining things of the future. “Yes! I will be whatever you want me to be in the land, Goddess,” she said in breathless conviction. “I so swear. I will be your chameleon.”

Follower has obtained quality grade [Devout] and provides 1 additional FE per day.

Sammy blinked slightly at that but nodded. Perhaps it made sense generally, but clearly it especially made sense to Azure. “So you will.”

After a moment, they said their goodbyes/goodnights, and Sammy disconnected. Immediately, she could feel Azure praying quite diligently. She was rather pious… she’d been praying to a goddess that had her on mute for years!

Sammy decided to immediately begin cramming in the runebook before daybreak, keeping her perceptions primed for whenever Dax woke up.

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

Excellent! But I will not be distracted from my studies!

Finishing up another rune in something less than 3 hours, Sammy felt that she had gotten a little faster once more. 3 down, 3 to go.

Before she got far into the next, she sensed Dax awakening, getting up in grogginess. She sent her a little ‘ping’ to let her know to communicate through the mirror when she was ready.

Not long after, Dax made a long grunt that might’ve been ‘goddess’ to her mirror shard, and a very bed-headed, red-headed, grumpy-faced lady was yawning the size of the whole world, as Sammy pulled the portal into view. The light was dim, mostly provided by a lantern.

“Well, you certainly know how to greet your deity,” Sammy teased with a smirk. “I think a fly was vortexed into your gut just now, poor thing.”

Dax twisted her body with some sort of popping sound and shrugged. “A little extra breakfast protein.” She glanced upward then said, “Oh. By the way. The scrawny cat wants to do the swearing thing. Be a Follower. Go figure.”

“What?!”

Somewhat muted, she heard an annoyed, “Don’t call me a cat! I’m a grown-ass man!”

Dax made a mocking face, miming ‘I’m a grown-ass man,’ followed by an eye roll and a head shake. She was not a morning person. But then, she’d had some tough days.

Sammy just shook her head in disbelief. “Why would he agree to such a thing!? The first thing he said to me was he was going to destroy me!”

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