Chapter 10: Ice Cream is Allowed

Sammy decided to step down from the throne again for a spell, to have a walk around the platform. The marble disk was quite sizable for the action, which she made full use of by strolling along the edge, watching stars twinkle and the endless spinning of her mirrors around it all.

I need an escape from this at some point. But at the very least, not until I check on my peeps. Dax especially.

As time ticked by, she felt the hour of effect for Bast’s status pass, and almost immediately, Lord Bast was praying and singing her praises, intuitively figuring out how he could connive for some more of his new inspiration drug.

He was not finished with his painting… he implored her for guidance… he plucked at a harp and sang to her…

“Samantha! Oh goddess my sweet,
Samantha! To you I entreat,
Samantha! Your face do I seek,
And always, forever, to you I am weak…”

What a nerd. He’s going to end up cursing himself if he isn’t careful.

She found herself groaning and smiling at the same time, shaking her head at his soul hovering above. It was also a bit surreal to be quite literally worshiped, and even feel the energy and emotion of that connection.

Through it, she spoke into his mind, “You can simmer down, loverboy. There’s a cooldown to wait on.”

Bast returned, “Drat! You can hear me, right? Yes. This is not easy, by the way. It’s like… meditation.”

“Just hold your horses. I’ll send it when it’s ready. This isn’t fast food from Mc-... never mind.”

“I’ll merely busy myself dreaming of you in the meantime.”

“Goddamnit, Bast…” She severed the connection and tried to put him out of her mind. She was still vaguely aware of his continued praise.

1 FE obtained from worship.

Sighing, Sammy made her way back to her throne, pausing at the steps. “You know what I could go for right now, Sys? A strawberry milkshake. Is that even possible? Is ice cream allowed?”

Ice cream is allowed, though you do not require food or drink. You may construct an ever-filling receptacle for 1 FE, which can be filled with any food or drink desired. Shape is customizable at will.

“Welp, I’m sold. Make it so!”

A big, beautiful strawberry milkshake materialized in the air, complete with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Sammy could not keep a squeal of delight in as she reached for it and immediately went for the metal straw to suck up that frosty cold, sweet nectar of the gods. And it was. It was absolutely delicious.

The best stress relief that Faith Energy can buy.

Sighing in contentment, Sammy made her way to her throne and sat, continuing her enjoyment of the self-imposed treat instead of anything immediately constructive.

“Maybe I’ll make my holy symbol a milkshake,” she mused aloud, entirely unserious. As she ate the cherry, the Milkshake song popped into her head. “My Milkshake brings all the supplicants to the yard… they’re like… hmm…”

I got nothing. Guess I’m no Bast. Or… who sang that? I forget, but she had one hell of a… euphemism.

She busied herself sifting through the various untouched mirrors, specifically attempting to go south of Estara’s manor in a potential search of the Southlands. She found a more immediate concentration that had to be another important city, but she was certain it was still too close.

Deeper and further down, things got scarce in terms of anchors, and it was much like training one’s head to turn that had been stationary. She’d been more focused on what was assuredly the prosperous Dominion territory, and it had an effect on her passive awareness elsewhere. It had been essentially negligible.

It’s like not being able to see the stars because of city lights. But I still have a telescope.

She found a relative concentration deep in the south that she was pretty sure was Geirkos. Mirrors were decorations inside of several well-off shop fronts: a tailor, a jeweler, a barber. A high-class inn. They were also in feast halls and a castle, and the ruling class had a reasonable share of hand mirrors in addition to the wall-placed variety.

The people were interesting. Many seemed to favor a one-piece garment like the Greeks or Romans, though others kept to sturdier traveler’s garments. Men were clean-shaven or sported big, bushy beards in some mix of cultures. What was more, there was the occasional person with reddish-pink or pale blue skin and little horns, walking around amongst the others.

Whoa! Like Tieflings. I wonder if they’re actually related to demons.

There was a mirror within a shrine, with an altar lit by masses of candles, the room entirely enclosed inside the castle and dark. The shrine had a wooden carving of a long-haired woman with her eyes closed and a serene expression, hands flat together before her in a praying sign. Vines and leaves were wrapped around her and something like a mass of berry plants behind her.

That has to be a nature goddess! If she is even still around, I wonder if I can reach out somehow…

She reluctantly shifted perspective, continuing to poke around. She briefly took a moment to give Bast more inspiration for his painting endeavor, hearing him gush in his thanks before he was absorbed anew in the task.

Sammy more or less people-watched and eavesdropped on idle conversation. She heard a couple of references to a ‘goddess.’ ‘The goddess only knows!’ ‘What in the goddess’s name are you doing, child?’

Okay, but what is her name?!

This quest for identity was interrupted by Dax’s voice speaking into her mirror, “Hey. Samantha, are you there? I’m headed for the courthouse.”

Feeling a bubble of excitement and nervousness, Sammy shifted over to Dax, immediately pulling it into a two-way. “I’m here! Any news?!”

Dax was moving swiftly and looking into the shard at the same time. She appeared to have mounted or glued the shard onto a piece of wood backing. To the question, she nodded, then smiled. “There is news just hitting of the merchant’s arrest. I think my brother is to be released soon.”

Sammy thrust up both her fists in front of her and made a victorious noise. “Yes! Fucking hell yes!”

The lady knight chuckled at the reaction. “Nice crown, by the way. It suits you.”

“Thanks. Sleep okay?”

“Like a log. How is progress?”

“Steady. Another Follower gained. He’s quite a character. And I took a look at these Southlands you spoke of, even Geirkos. Actually, I was curious-”

The quest “Justice Begets Faith” is complete. 5 FE gained. 6 exp gained in… please select [Wizard] or [Bard] (within the next 4 hours) due to intellectual problem-solving and social engineering.

Follower conversion successful. 1 FE gained. 1 Daily FE gained (total: 3).

The quest “Fledgling Deity: The Inner Circle” is complete. 110 FE gained.

New Quest unlocked: “Fledgling Deity: The Holy Seven” — Reach 7 total Followers.
● Rewards: +200 FE. Priestly Ordination unlocked. 1 free Ordination granted.

“We did it!” Sammy exclaimed even as the info flooded into her head.

Meanwhile, Dax missed a step from the blast of status effects. “Hrrn!” She had to stop and collect herself, hand to her heart. “Damn, didn’t expect that. Heh, feels pretty good… like the Southern swampleaf… kind of antsy, too, though. Feel like I should be… executing new fighting techniques? What the blazes?”

“Er, sorry about that,” Sammy said while rubbing her neck and wincing. “I’ll fix it later.”

Fixing things ‘later’ is my specialty, after all.

“Well, it’s not- ha, there he is!” The perspective from the mirror suddenly was disorienting as Dax was running, then there were some boisterous noises and calls from her, and something that could only be called exasperation from him, though the mirror showed only fabric blurs.

“P-put me down, Sis! Stop that! I’ll kill you!” It was a younger voice than she would have figured. And rather petulant.

But Dax only laughed it all off. “Aw, my little brother’s gonna kill? So cute! He’s so cute, ain’t he?”

The mirror flashed back into some more useful view, just catching Dax’s hand scruffing up the hair of a scrawny, boyish figure who was not enjoying it at all, glaring murder at her and soundlessly snarling with teeth bared of somewhat-too-prominent fangs.

His eyes were blatantly those of a cat, his features vaguely feline, though he was otherwise like a tan human — if tan humans also had slightly pointed ears and an unruly, orange-and-white, veritable mane of hair.

“Oh my god, he is cute! Adorable!” Sammy couldn’t help but blurt out.

Ears twitched and those slit eyes turned to the mirror that was being held out by Dax, as though taking a selfie of them. Though the figure stopped snarling, he still scowled instead of looking surprised. “I’ll destroy you, witch! Just come out of there and try me!”

I think I’m beginning to see why he gets into trouble.

“Hey, hey, enough of that, little brother!” Dax admonished. “This here is the one that saved your scrawny little butt. Samantha.” She looked around to make sure no one was nearby. “Goddess of Mirrors. Samantha: my brother, Merril.”

Merril’s ears twitched again. “Tch!” He knocked his sister’s hand that had been on his shoulder away, then straightened his tunic testily. Brushed off some non-existent dust. “Gods and spirits that stick their noses in Dominion business are fools.”

Somewhat annoyed, Sammy smiled tolerantly — perhaps giving allowances to felines is innate to humans… — and replied, “I’m rather new I’m afraid, so being foolish is probably inevitable. Still, this fool did save your ass.”

His chin raised slightly, and it seemed for a moment he might say something befitting his ill mood, but he sniffed mildly and said, “The timing was more favorable than my inevitable escape during transport. If only because my sister is too impatient and would have charged in like a boar and made security double or triple.”

Dax put a hand on her hip and gave him a look. “And…?”

“And what?”

“I don’t know, gratitude for once…?”

Merril gave Dax a rather deadpan look, then Samantha. Then he began walking away. Despite this, Dax grinned rather smugly as she appeared to follow behind.

Sammy scrunched up her face. “I doubt that one will ever be a follower of mine, Dax.”

“I have no idea on that front.” She lifted a hand to her mouth to call, “Merril, we can’t go back to the place I mentioned!”

An annoyed sound ahead. “What the hell did you do this time?”

“Broke a mirror!”

“You are a clumsy oaf!”

“This oaf can punt your little ass a league away!”

“Just try it! You’re lucky I went easy on you for manhandling me!”

Dax snickered and said more to Sammy, “All bluster. Though he sure got his claws into me when we were younger.”

Reducing her voice to a whisper, Sammy replied, “He looks almost half your age. He’s… adopted?”

“Well, yes. But he isn’t really as much younger as you think, in literal years. Whatever mixture of blood is in him has him age a lot slower. I don’t even have much of a story on that, by the way. Don’t know for sure the details on why we took the little hellcat in, but he’s always been my brother.”

“Where are we even going then?” Merril again.

“You tell me, if you’re leading ahead.”

A sigh that could have probably been heard a block away. “Fine. I’ll follow you. I need my stuff.”

Dax didn’t say anything, just continued wearing a smug grin.

“Before I forget, Dax,” Sammy offered, “the goddess of the South? A nature goddess? Do you know of her?”

“Definitely. Thinking of seeking her? Good luck. She’s pretty elusive in this day and age, even for her followers. Probably since the war, it's been worse, but one of her things is solitude. Anyway… Redberry. That’s what they call her. You’ll never hear that used much, and certainly not for any food, not in the Southlands. It’s reserved for prayer.”

Redberry. I wonder if I could meet her. Another like me. But probably not at all, right? Still, it would be pretty dope. Or terrifying…

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