Chapter Text
With Baam and Lillial
A question popped into Lillial's head after his words.
"How are you even here?"
Baam wasn't sure how to answer that question. The story of how he ended up in this situation was long, and he didn't trust her to tell her much of anything. So he chose the very condensed version.
"I went to save my master, Jinsung Ha, everything was going well until Traumerei showed up."
She looked at Baam like he was crazy.
"Are you insane? You actually went into that deathtrap and you're still alive?"
Deathtrap was a good description of it.
"I wasn't alone, and I couldn't just leave my master to a fate like that."
This was my only shot, no matter how slim the chances were.
With her question answered and knowing she would do the same for people who were important to her, she chose to not ask any other questions.
"So. What now?" Baam asked aloud.
"Our Lord's will can't just be ignored. But if I'm really going to go through with this, I need to see something. Fight me."
I need to see what is special about you for myself to fully believe it. This is a major decision after all.
"There isn't a way I can talk you out of this right?"
Baam said and sighed.
"That's right. Do you know if there are any places here where we could have a fight? I am not familiar with the Lord's private chambers."
"We can just do it here."
"Here?"
Does he not realize where we are? If we damage something here, we will be punished.
"Yes, that's right. If you can get out of this, then we can look for a location to fight in."
"What do yo-"
Reverse Flow Control
Lillial froze.
I can't move at all, he is using reverse flor control on me at a distance and I can't move a muscle even with my shinsu resistance? I can't defend against it with my control over shinsu either.
"As you can see, if this was a fight, I would be able to swiftly take care of you with just this."
This was the fastest way for me to do this without hurting her.
"This should be enough right?" Baam said as he released her.
It hurts my pride to be beaten like this, but I can't deny that his shinsu control is leagues above mine.
Lillial snorted.
I'm really just accepting this. Well, It's not like I can kill him, nor do I think I can get out of this easily with Father taking an interest in him. Looking at him, he doesn't look bad, and he is also strong. Could be worse.
"Yes. Alright then. I can accept that you are a good match for me."
They stared at each other.
"Well, say something to that! You have the opportunity of a lifetime here!"
"I'm not really a willing participant here, neither are you. I will also be able to choose someone else, so you don't have to make yourself accept this. Let's just be civil with each other for this next month."
What Baam said now rattled her pride.
Do you think there is someone in this family who is a better match for you than me? I'll show you. Our Lord nor Father won't let us go our separate ways, you haven't dealt with him enough to know, but you thinking there is someone better is laughable. I'm Lillial Zahard! I'll charm you so hard you will beg me to stay with you.
"If you think that we will get out of this so easily, sure let's just be civil to each other. As you know, I am Lillial Zahard. You may call me Lillial. I called you Baam before, but to make sure. How should I call you? Baam, or Jue Viole Grace?"
"Just call me Baam, Jue Viole Grace is a name FUG gave me."
"If we are being civil, I want to ask, how is it that you joined that criminal organization anyway?"
He is somehow involved with my father, yet is in FUG.
"I don't want to share the exact reason but know that I didn't do it by choice. I also left the organization years ago, they just won't let me go."
Of course, the one thing those criminals were missing was an irregular. Without someone on the level of the family heads they aren't a threat. It's good to know he didn't join them willingly.
"I see."
Running out of things to talk about once again, they started looking around the throne room.
"Do you not come here often?" Baam asked.
"No. Even someone like me doesn't get to come here or see the Lord often. Our Lord is a very private person."
I can believe that.
"So. What now?" Lillial asked.
"We could explore this place more."
Lillial looked at him scandalized, but her curiosity got the better of her.
"He did say I would be staying here, so it's only natural for me to want to look around right?"
She said as she started moving to the entrance to Traumerei's private chambers.
Before that though.
"Maybe we should change and meet here again? I don't feel like going around in this suit the whole day, and that dress seems expensive."
Lillial looked down at her dress and started thinking.
I also need to tell someone to get my things to this place. Lillial turned to Baam.
"Alright. Let's meet back here in half an hour." She said as she walked out from where she came in.
"Sure."
Time to go get out of this thing. Even if it fits me, it will get stuffy after a while.
As Baam went back to his room, he thought about his first meeting with Lillial.
She is taking this thing very well after her first freak-out.
With Kirin
Kirin dutifully waited for his Lord to show up to where he was. This was a rather secluded part of the mothership, not part of his Lord's private quarters, but one his Lord liked to walk through, and thus, almost always empty. After the servants noticed Traumerei taking a liking to the place, they adjusted the lighting to match what he found most comfortable, even though he could do so himself. No one knew why Traumerei liked to stroll through this place, but some servants had theories. Most notably, the place had a view of the mothership a rare few places could match.
Kirin looked through the window.
Lord Gustang, my Lord and King Zahard. Will they really throw this tower into a war? Is there really no other way?
Kirin was thrown out of his thoughts as the door opened. The moment he saw his Lord, he bowed.
"My Lord."
"Kirin. Order the commencing operations concerning Gustang to cease."
"Yes My Lord."
Though Kirin tried to hide it, Traumerei could still feel his shock.
"You have questions?"
"If I may, why stop now? Does it have something to do with the irregular?"
"Yes, Zahard has deemed it unnecessary to further the rift for now. According to Zahard, If the irregular continues to cooperate, there is a possibility to not plunge our family into war."
So the King considers him to be that important.
Kirin wanted to ask more, but he knew that even if his Lord gave him the privilege of asking some questions, private talks between the King and him were off-limits. He was lucky enough to have been given this much information.
Still, he visibly relaxed.
"Then I will do my best to make the heir comfortable."
Traumerei just nodded.
"Now, you may leave, you have much to do."
"If I may my Lord, there are two important pieces of news you might have not had the time to find out that are important."
Traumerei looked down at Kirin with a raised eyebrow.
"Do tell."
"Jinsung Ha was not sealed in the suspensdium. Pudidy informed me of the fact after coming back, and I also know that the suspension itself collapsed. That means that Leviathan is somewhere in the tower."
Kirin knew that his Lord decided to not use Jinsung Ha as a hostage, but keeping him sealed was something that could always be used to keep Baam in check. And the less said about Leviathan the better.
"I see. Thank you, Kirin."
Knowing a dismissal when he heard one, Kirin left the hallway.
Left alone, Traumerei looked at the mothership through the giant window.
I wonder. Why does that child look so familiar? Why does Zahard find him to be so important? He was uncharacteristically evasive when asked. If the prevailing issues calm down, I will have the chance to find out. I can't risk the memories I put into Leviathan making me unstable. Gustang, why must you bring so much trouble?
With Khun Aguero Agnis
After being taken by the head of the Po Bidau family, Aguero woke up in an unfamiliar room, alone. He couldn't really complain, while he didn't have freedom, the room itself looked nice enough, with its own bathroom and shower. Though food was a concern, he wasn't starving yet. He spent his time reviewing what happened in the last battle.
In the end, I can't decide if helping White was a mistake or not. I don't know how else we could have dealt with Kallawan, but the fact of the matter is he became a threat to Baam himself later on.
Aguero sighed.
Thinking of that battle, Baam became someone who could beat even a legendary slayer like White in such a short amount of time.
He clenched his fists. That wasn't a train of thought he wanted to go to.
I would have called him but I don't have access to my pocket. I don't even know what they want with us.
He had a certain amount of self-importance, but he wasn't someone a great family would need for something.
Unless they know I am friends with Baam, and of course, they do. But would the head of the Po Bidau family try to threaten Baam into doing something? Last time he was willing to do a favor for Baam when he wanted him to collect the item.
As it was the only thing he could do, he started from the beginning once again. The Battle, why he was here, and what they wanted from him. Then, something unexpected happened. The door that wouldn't budge no matter what he did, opened.
So it's finally time to go into the snake's den?
With no information, no power, and no way to look anything up, he was at the mercy of his captors. But he would have to face his captors in such a condition to even begin really understanding what he would have to do. He could conjure theories until he starved, but it wouldn't change anything. So he got off of the bed he was sitting on and went towards the door with a confident smirk on his face.
He stepped into a hallway. His room wasn't the only one in it, the hallway was lined with doors. He tried opening a few of them, but his attempts yielded no results. He shrugged and went toward the end of the hallway.
This door, thankfully could be opened.
He was faced with a normal-looking living room with a table, some chairs around it, and a couch on the side. Most importantly, a person was sitting on that couch.
Aguero tried to appear perfectly calm.
But seriously, why am I facing Po Bidau Gustang drinking from a cup and reading something?
He watched as he put the cup down and faced him.
"Now, son of Khun, let's talk."