[Omen of the Witchblade] Chapter 114 - Loyalties

“Mel, there’s something else you need to understand about your rival,” Gwen said, frowning. “She’s an Asleton. Highborn. And from the main house, like Sylvie and Hal. Except she’s technically older, being their father’s sister, so she holds more authority.”

“Wait, how old does that make her?” Heath asked.

“Our age,” Gwen explained. “She’s Disjoined, like me. Except from 90s California, instead of 800s Northern Europe.”

Heath took a little to process that. “What about the highborn thing, then?”

“Charlotte is basically the modern equivalent of a princess to us Magi. She’s been raised to rule by two Magi parents. That’s part of why she’s one of the worst ones to be up against. The other is that she has loyalty and favor.” Gwen looked around nervously. “Something happened around the uplift that I don’t know about or remember. She got…furious when I was confused that Mel was missing on day one. Like she thought I was being cruel? Most Magi didn’t seem convinced when I promised I would find Mel.”

Mel kept a straight face, but inwardly she was finding it hard to deny the mounting evidence. Sooner rather than later, she would have to face the truth about her lack of memories.

But not now, Mel told herself.

“Okay,” Mel said. “The reason I wanted to speak with you all–give me that, Heath–was because we need to come up with a plan for me to win over the rest of the Magi.” Mel set the Syndicate’s basket of goodies down.

One of the main reasons she hadn’t gone through it yet was because she didn’t want to get attached to it. She clearly saw a few training manuals, embers, and pearls, among other goodies.

It was a gift basket for the enterprising competitor. The Syndicate knew their stuff.

So far, both of the Grand Orders had played to their strengths. The Holy See healed Mel and her friend, paying special attention to them. While the Syndicate plied them with valuable loot where every other inn, tavern, or merchant wouldn’t dare offer anything for free that would be seen as garnering favor. Which, unfortunately, meant that getting free elixirs and the like was out of the question.

The Syndicate was big enough that those rules didn’t apply. Which meant that Mel could use their gifts to smooth things over with the other Magi.

Magi were fickle creatures, even more than most people. Winning would look good for Mel, especially since she wore the hat. Charlie didn’t win, which was a point in Mel’s favor.

However, the Magi immediately came to Mel’s defense when the Covenants attacked. Which was a point against her, but it was also what the Magi did, so she considered it more like a half-point.

Technically, Charlie turned away from trying to win in order to save Thomas. There was also the class difference too, but it was hard to tell whether the Magi would particularly care about their leader being a healer or a fighter.

And then there were the mysterious circumstances of the uplift that Mel was beginning to believe were far more complicated than she first thought.

A Magi who won, and then shared the spoils, would at least be seen in a positive light. If Mel could spin it as a thank you for coming to her aid, then it would be a subtle reminder of Magi solidarity under Mel and an excuse to accept a gift from somebody who had beaten them.

“We have a home,” Gwen said gently, studying the forest. “At least, for now. I’m not sure how long this Starling Tower will be reserved for us. I know Shrubley and Jacob hold a lot of sway, though for different reasons.”

“Why would they ever kick us out?” Heath asked. “From what Elian said–”

Mel shook her head, sorting through the loot. She separated it into piles of money, items too valuable to be used as bribes without insulting the person with their obvious purpose, potential bribes, and things she didn’t want to give up.

“Elian doesn’t really know what’s going on,” Mel said distractedly. “I still haven’t figured him out yet, but I wouldn’t trust what he says at face value. Besides, the last Convocation was supposedly a long time ago. Things change.”

“It’s still not the same,” Gwen pointed out. “We don’t own this tower. As Magi, we’ve lost a lot during the uplift. It’s strange and alien to be locked out of Brookmoors.”

Heath frowned. “But if we could just quit right now and be set for life, why wouldn’t we be even better off staying competitors?”

“Because we’ll need to pick a side eventually,” Mel explained. “Listen, it’s very simple. Up until the point that we’re entertaining offers and are seen as ‘useful’ to all parties, we’re safe. Nobody is going to make a move on potential assets. That window, however, is going to rapidly close.”

“Which is made worse by the presence of other First Champions,” Gwen added.

“My guess is we’ll be welcome here up until the next Convocation trial,” Mel said. “If we choose to skip it, you can bet your ass they’ll be quick to ask for some money.”

Heath leaned back and looked up at the branches decorating the ceiling. “Is that…the night sky up there?”

“It’s just a simulation,” Gwen said. “A simple glamour. Looks real though. Think it even has some night mana too.”

“It really does,” Heath agreed. “Even the branches sway a little like there’s wind.”

Mel looked up. “My amnesia is working against me. I don’t really know anything about…anybody. However, just to be sure…” She looked at Gwen. “Before I go through the bother of butting heads with the Princess, do you want me in charge?”

It was the first time Mel had ever let herself be vulnerable with Gwen. She suspected the woman would support her, but she needed it explicitly spoken.

Gwen’s silver eyes widened with true surprise. “Of course I do, Mel. You have my friendship and loyalty. And have for a while now.”

“And Thomas?” Mel pressed.

She grew thoughtful at that. “Probably. Especially after the trial together. I’m not going to lie, he didn’t seem too keen on finding you at first, but he warmed up over time.” She looked away. “I think I could convince him if he’s on the fence.”

“I know you won’t ask me,” Heath said, “but you have my support!” He gave her two thumbs up. “Being that I’m not a Magi and all.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Heath,” Gwen said. “Your opinion matters to Magi now. You fought with us at the top.”

Mel shook her index finger in his direction. “No, no, that’s good. Magi usually judge each other based on how much we can help sad sacks like him.”

“Aw, c’mon, Mel.”

Mel winked at him, then looked at Gwen. “Seriously though, I do appreciate it. Both of you.” She rubbed her hands briskly together. “Okay let’s–urk!”

Gwen smiled, then squeezed the both of them into a warm hug.

“Is this how I die?” Heath whispered breathlessly. “Death by snu snu.”

“Do you want to die, boy?” Gwen asked bluntly. When he couldn’t answer, she let go.

He rubbed his throat. “No,” he whispered hoarsely.

“You need to meditate to rank up to High Copper. You must have a colossal amount of latent runes.”

“Focus up, people,” Mel chided. “Excluding Heath, sorry buddy, we’ve got ten other Magi to worry about. Charlie’s group was a three-man setup, so that removes a further three. There’s no way they won’t stay loyal to her.”

“Don’t forget the exchange students,” Gwen pointed out. “They have a surprising amount of influence. Most Magi like Shrubley even more than they like me. Maybe more than Komachi.”

“Bullshit,” Mel said. “Nobody bamboozles like Komachi when affection is on the line.”

“You’ll see. Shrubley is an extremely lovable, cute, and wholesome monster hero.”

“Okay so, that’s Shrubley, Miranda, Cal, and Smudge, right? What the hell is a Smudge?”

“Cute little slime.” Gwen made a gesture to approximate his size. “He’s usually following Shrubley around like a lost, dumb puppy.”

Mel tapped her chin thoughtfully with a [Tarikan Claw] from the pile of loot. “Hmm. Okay, I can work with that. So our three versus Charlie’s three makes seven Magi and four exchange students.”

“Also Fenris, Sose, and Komachi,” Gwen pointed out. “Though they’re soul aeder–”

“Yeah,” Mel said. “I know how Magi feel about soul aeder.”

“Fenris is special. Even for a soul aeder,” Gwen said. “He’s the Fire Oppa.”

“Sose is whose soul aeder?” Mel asked.

Gwen looked away, trying to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks. “Miranda Haalften’s, the vampyr.”

“And Fenris?”

Heath was staring at Gwen with his mouth open. “Wait, the Fire Oppa? From the myth? I thought that was just a…story!”

Gwen glanced at Heath. “Yeah, the very one. Fenris is Jacob Windsor’s soul aeder. That’s part of why I said the Golden Boy holds a lot of sway.”

Mel pinched the bridge of her nose. “Break me.” She looked up at Gwen. “I wouldn’t stand a chance if Jacob got a hat, would I?”

“Nope. If I got a hat, I’d probably give you trouble. But at least you’d have a chance against me. Ain’t nobody got a chance against Jacob Windsor.”

“That’s just because you want to bang me,” Mel said dismissively.

Gwen stared, hands on her wide hips. “You really oughta stop saying that, unless you wanna get me killed. Maybe even killed, turned undead, then killed again.”

Mel laughed. A full-on belly laugh. It felt good. “Yeah, you’re right.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “Though that’d probably be a good way to reveal anybody who has the hots for me. Y’know, since I don’t remember anything.”

Gwen stared at Mel. “You mean like your Necromancer ex?”

Mel held up a finger. “One. Stop calling her that. Two, I think we’re all caught up that she was my ex. That’s been covered. I mean anybody else.”

“I bet everybody wants a piece of Mel,” Heath said confidently. “Look at her! She’s awesome.”

“Thank you, Heath.” Mel looked at the claw in her hand. It made her think of a certain Beastborne. “You mentioned Sylvie and Hal. Tell me about them. How do they get along with Charlie? I know I could get to Komachi and turn her pretty easily, which means Sylvie might be a simple affair. And I feel like I’ve got a good shot with Hal…probably.”

Really depends on whether he’s my Hal or…a Kinslayer. Boy howdy, that’d be awkward.

For the next few hours, Mel, Gwen, and Heath talked over their plan. They needed to rally the Magi around Mel, or at the very least, prevent Charlie from having full control.

Heath might help sway some people, but at the end of the day his vote didn’t carry much weight. The Magi were the most important members, and there were 13 of them.

Three were locked in for Mel, but technically only two were locked in for Charlie since her team was made up of an Archivist and a Magi. Unless things were different here than Mel remembered, Archivists were an entirely separate group at Brookmoors. Different training, classes, ranking, the whole shebang. There was even a subtle rivalry between Archivists and Magi.

That meant eight were unaccounted for. Depending on how the soul aeder and exchange students split their loyalties, there could still be an even split between Charlie and Mel.

Adding in all the other people and the soul aeder quickly ballooned the number of people Mel might have to bribe or coerce.

I don’t have nearly enough loot!

The Asletons got along well with each other most of the time. Sylvie could be unruly, childish, and extremely fickle, as Mel already knew. She ultimately tolerated being looked after by Charlie, who was technically her aunt, but behaved more like an older sister and made sure the needs of both Hal and Sylvie were tended to.

In general, Mel got the vibe that Charlie was protective of the Magi. Not quite on the territorial level that Gwen was, but in the way an actual leader was.

In short, the Princess was a responsible woman who had her shit together and could be relied upon to intervene when someone needed it. Plus, she possessed the social savvy and magical aptitude to get the job done.

Mel didn’t come across as any of that.

“Great, she’s my friggin’ opposite.”

No wonder you like her, came an unbidden thought. Mel snarled in the back of her throat. Shut up!