With my perspective altered, the newfound use in our temporary residency allowed me to enjoy it without the sense of complacency and ever-growing anxiety. We spent the next several weeks, truly building our home, adventuring, or overseeing preparations, liaising between guards and our guild mates ensuring everything we had planned for the inevitable battle went smoothly and kept scheduling.
We also organised a welcoming festival nothing particularly extravagant, more like a town wide buffet than anything with a few games and merchants which at short notice was still quite a feat.
It was a dual-purpose affair to honour the soldiers who had been sent from allied lands, the primary goal was simply to make them want to protect Burlot rather than simply following their orders to do so and the second was to ease the community minds, since it is always unsettling to have an armed host of strangers camping outside your home.
One particular day was special though. I had asked Aisha to keep Lia distracted, so I could prepare, as I had done several times since I realised. It was Lia's birthday, her first as my wife and brought the revelation that what I was calling passing weeks was becoming passing months without my noticing.
I had been practicing baking with the lord's head chef, acquired a special cake recipe from Dasan's own head chef, which cost me a trip to Haslon and a three-month loan agreement on a certain book from Storyteller's collection with myself acting as guarantor. Luckily, I was getting better with teleportation magic, mainly thanks to Kipis using me as his own mode of transportation to the goblins.
I was also hunting on the sly as much as possible to get materials for a gift and keep the coffers balanced so your mother wouldn't catch on, though I did cheat and used magic to reform them into what I desired, before enchanting it.
When everything was nearly ready. I lit the fire to warm up the house, a habit I had tried to get into, finished the decorations by hand and sealed the kitchen where the cake and food was waiting, I only had one more quick trip to Haslon to complete.
Within the hour I was back with the most important thing, just in time for me to hear the tell-tale footsteps of the Lords horses and the subtle grinding of carriage wheels, I began to panic that I'd missed some vital detail, but a reassuring hand on my shoulder settled me down.
Then a moment later, Lia opened the door, shadowed by his lordship's family, she smiled wide, then fell to tears as I, along with Storyteller, my sister and her parents, wished her a happy birthday. Aisha called me a jerk before nudging her to see if she was ok and Lia jumped at me hugging me tight, and insisting I should have warned her, then letting me go to embrace the others.
She asked how long I had been planning it, and I admitted I only realised two weeks prior what time of year it was, before I told her all about asking Aisha to keep her distracted and admitted I felt guilty for the deception.
The lord retrieved some gifts from the carriage and between all in attendance, she was practically showered with them, a letter from master included. She cried a lot that night, but they were tears of joy and a beautiful sight to behold.
When the time was right, I used magic to unseal the door and teleport the cake and other food onto the table, though she was crying too much and too shaky to cut it personally, she passed out the pieces as I did. When she had stopped crying long enough to try the cake herself, she nearly started all over again, but instead practically held me at knife point to find out where I got it.
Luckily Almick told her I had been practicing it in his kitchen for almost the whole two weeks and saved me from your mother's crazed sweet tooth, though it took some convincing since I was generally pretty bad at making sweets since I didn't have much stomach for them.
On top of that I struggled to cook using eggs, typically I prepare them with magic, but Lia's mum had told me if I ever cook for someone else, I should put the effort in to do it all by hand. Lia once again kissed me on the cheek publicly and caused some awkwardness, but the lord and his family had grown used to her sudden public affections, so much so that on one occasion Elshia and Almick kissed without realising it and embarrassed themselves to no end.
The awkwardness was soon replaced by nervousness however, when she told us she was glad that eggs were the toughest thing I faced for a while, causing me and his lordship to avert our eyes and almost choke on our food.
Senses ever keen, not that we were particularly subtle, Lia asked us bluntly what we were hiding. Unwilling to lie, and her senses too keen not to hear me try murmuring a response, I chose to answer in the goblin tongue, making Kipis who was himself growing rather proficient, choke on his own mouthful.
Using my name as a demand, in the way every wife instinctively knows how to use to strike terror into the heart of her husband, Lia adopted a tone of displeasure. To prevent any chance of missing the hint, she also adopted an expression that warned compliance was mandatory.
Under such duress I had no choice to admit that I had single handedly slain a bejewelled golem, creatures that were formed of the toughest metals and precious stones. Walking treasure troves with enough power and defensive ability to wipe out the average town and come out scratch free.
Kipis exclaimed that he had wondered how it was beaten before his father could inform the guild, and why he was so secretive on the subject before recounting how Almick claimed it must have been another monster that slayed it. Lia was angry, but only asked why I fought it alone when she could have helped.
"That may be my fault. Unity came to me and asked me what gift is most treasured by a wife on her birthday, Kipis had reported the isolated jewel golem just minutes before, and I said in jest that the stones harvested from them would make a most prized gift, though I was forgetting whose company I was in, and as I laughed he took the report and was gone before I opened my eyes." Lia considered that story as she assessed our joint level of guilt and asked what happened since she found no jewels or precious metals among her gifts.
I answered by saying that, when I got to the goblins and asked for directions, they pointed me in the right direction and found that the cause was actually two of them having a territory dispute, and Lia enquired further as to whether they had killed each other, and I left lord to respond again. "No…" the lord spoke, pulling her attention to him once more.
"He killed them both, handily, whilst Zelith, who had stayed behind to observe the situation and, if necessary, evacuate the goblins, watched dumbfounded. The whole thing lasted less than a minute from what the report said and since he never accepted the job through the guild, he claimed all the materials." Lia's anger was replaced by shock, such greed being entirely uncharacteristic of me, but as she turned, she found me holding one final present.
A mithril chest, embellished with gold and jewels, the sight of which made Lia's eyes sparkle in a way that to me eclipsed what I held. I averted my eyes from hers as I started to blush, glancing at the others out of embarrassment they saw me like that, but they were as enamoured at the chest as Lia was.
No longer able to hold back her excitement, she coyly told me I wasn't off the hook before opening the chest to reveal a set of jewellery and replacement armour. She lumbered over the chest and poked an ear stud of star metal and flawless amber, and the stone glowed at her touch before coming alive and taking its place in her ear where a recently lost stud used to reside.
Storyteller shook his head and asked me if I knew what I had made, to which I replied negatively aside from the obvious armour and jewellery, he then explained I had created extension items.
Rare, requiring a master craftsman also versed in complex magic. Almick took over and further explained that extension items can not only, be worn by none other the intended person but attempted theft results in the extension curse which gives the culprit a day's worth of excruciating pain before death if they fail to return the item and branding them a thief for life.
She touched the rest of the items, which Storyteller explained is what the artisans of such treasures referred to as the completion ceremony, before she asked the women what they thought. When they had all flattered her into letting me off the with a warning not to do something like that again, she then asked her mum, dad, and storyteller how their journey here was causing me to swallow a swig of juice down the wrong hole, cough relentlessly and attempt a most pitiful getaway.
My punishment was promised but deferred for another time, and the young lady asked me why I get in so much trouble and why I never learn. But as I stared into the middle distance focused on the dancing flame of a candle, slowly and silently shaking my head, I could only mouth that I didn't know and take some time to rethink life decisions.
Lia was applauded by Elshia and her mother for her quick learning in the ways of wifehood, Aisha joining in despite lacking any real understanding, and I could see my sister holding back since we still had a habit of treading on eggshells around each other.
As spontaneous as ever, I reached a decision on that matter and asked her to help me carry some empty dishes into the kitchen, before telling her to act freely around me.
Lia wouldn't allow me to harm her lightly, and I admitted I had long since forgotten any ill will towards her regardless, but to express it clearly, I used the old custom of reintroducing myself which is when I realised I had yet to actually bother committing her's to memory.
When she returned the offer and reintroduced herself as Kilemia we rejoined the others, at which point Aisha asked Lia if she ever got jealous when I walked away with other girls, stating that she heard Kipis say that he hoped his fiancé didn't find another man in his absence.
Your mother laughed so much I actually checked her cup to ensure she hadn't accidentally drunk wine, and Kilemia explained she was my sibling, which made Aisha reply she thought I hated my family, dealing significant emotional damage until I stated she was the exception.
As the night reached its end, I returned all but my sleeping sister home, and Almick and Elshia along with the boys also retired and left me to make some tea for Lia and Aisha who were chatting at the table.
I then carried Kilemia up to the spare bedroom where she could rest soundly, noticing several old scars as I tucked her in. Partially waking up, she asked me if they looked ugly, which I replied to by stating our shared origins were definitely ugly to put it mildly. I offered to fix them, and she refused, falling back to sleep as she told me she loves me.
I made a bed on the floor, ready for Aisha when she ran out of steam, which happened to be at some point after I came up as she was carried in just as I finished, and then Lia and I returned downstairs to cuddle alone in front of the fire, where we both spent the night until we drifted off in each other's arms.
After a day of much needed rest, we resumed our work. We were in the guild where I was playing the part of court jester to amuse a couple of children who had been brought in by a couple of adventurers but left to their own devices whilst the adults were called into a meeting with the master.
As Lia sat watching me entertain the children, she asked if I noticed that there seemed to be a lot of new adventurers about than there had been. I gave the hall a cursory glance, realising that I had been oblivious to that fact, and as I did, I noticed a group of younger adventurers looking at a job I had eyed myself before being recruited as babysitter.
The group in question wasn't unskilled or weak, I'd hate my next statement to be interpreted as a remark on them but seeing them take that particular task worried me. I had heard nothing but good about them, the job in question though was missing key details, and whilst not lacking in skill or ability, they were new and rising in the ranks quickly, which meant they weren't necessarily as experienced as their rank suggested and their quarry was tricky.
Blue-tails, a breed of venomous lizard, not deadly as a rule and usually just leave you itching and head pounding for a few days. The issue, and reason it caught my attention, is because the area mentioned in the job is far more dangerous than its residents. Loose rocks, quicksand, mud slides, toxic flora and insects known to carry disease.
Your mother needed little convincing, grabbing a job in the same direction that would see our paths cross naturally, and the perfect excuse to stumble across them in their hour of need. I'm sure you're wondering why we wouldn't just warn them, and the answer is simple, adventures only learn from their own mistakes, not their comrades and not a book.
After tailing them at the edge of your mothers' senses for two days, the time finally came for us to happen upon them. Unfortunately, they proved less naïve in believing that narrative, offended by our oversight despite the fact they were covered in a rash and sinking into the gloopy quagmire they had walked into.
"You do see the irony at getting mad at our lack of faith given your current situation, don't you?" Lia's words stung their pride further, and they eventually relented, but by that point they had earned her ire.
Lia confiscated the job listing and sent them home as payment for the medicine and healing I gave them. This wasn't the first time we had done something like this, and every time we did my ever so understanding wife grew increasingly disgruntled with the lack of appreciation.
After two-months, there had still been no sign of monsters acting under the god's manipulation, nor had I been able to bring any others to our side. But we had moved up to gold rank at the guild and we had earned the moniker "Avatars of Kellis" though it was mostly used by people about to ask if we had shaken down any rookies for their livelihoods.
I had also celebrated my birthday, but by my insistence it is not celebrated in earnest. My real birthday an unknown due to my origins, the day a formality to help me track my years, though it was slightly more festive than usual as all the usual faces as well as Palto, from Haslon came by to wish us well.
Palto quickly made it apparent however that his priority was inspecting my work on Lia's birthday presents and requested a report on its crafting, forgetting who I was and almost being offended when I wrote "I thought of Lia and just kind of made it." On a bit of paper and handed it to him.
Personal celebrations done, our focus returned to all the preparations which had been completed on schedule, but this meant that now all the foreign soldiers stationed here caused raised tensions, many for the most part forced to sit idle, twiddling their thumbs whilst waiting for a battle that could have started in a second or a year for all we knew.
As a result, an emergency meeting was called between all involved Lords to address the issue, where I suggested a series of tournaments, and although there was initially some trepidation as it could birth grudges, I managed to ease their concerns.
The idea was simple enough, each army would independently run a tournament to find the cream of the crop and the winner of each of these would be given a purse and promotion, pending any necessary tutelage. Then all semi-finalists from each of the armies would take part in a subsequent tournament to decide the best of the best.
The semi-finalists of that tournament would receive a purse also, as well as the choice to join the vanguard regardless of rank or status, an honour usually out of reach to the rank and file. Then the champion given a larger purse and a plot of land in their home nation, I was essentially akin to landless noble, but as I remained a commoner it could have been taken as insult for me to openly suggest such a prize.
They took their turns showering me with unwanted flattery, my chest still burning anytime I was forced to attend such meetings, particularly on occasions like this when Lia abstained in favour of other matters, and I wondered why such things were never avoidable for me. Especially with one noble, who walked a fine line between flattery and outright pageantry.
"An Avatar Of Kellis, Truth be told I thought the name a childish boast. Don't mistake me, I know your strength, but there is anger around you boy, and I believed you running from it. You are worthy of the name. I apologise for my dishonour omitted though it was. With your gift, I'm sure you knew yet you never cared, you want only to do the best you can. You are a true Kellisan and in my kingdom you and your wife will be heralded as the myth made real." The apology section accompanied by him kneeling before me, exceeded my tolerance for the setting.
Stuttering briefly as I tried to talk my way out of staying even a second longer, I looked to everyone for help, but they just smiled and knelt as well. Completely overwhelmed, I panicked and teleported myself away, flustered I landed in the courtyard and had to defend against two training swords I found myself between.
Lia shouted my name in surprise, asking what I was doing there as she chuckled guiltily, and I turned to see Aisha of all people holding the other training sword.
It finally happened and we reached a time where I wasn't the one in trouble. Eager to make the most of it, and with a smug exaggeration, I sarcastically suggested that I merely sought a brief respite before asking what I had stumbled into. Lia's reply however was simply to point out a fact that I had overlooked, that being the banked lecture from her birthday, and she looked even smugger than I had a moment before.
Instantly and utterly defeated, I admitted as much whilst making for my escape. Suggesting that they should consider making moves to hide their activities now the meeting was adjourned as I left to grab Muchin for our training session. I used mind link to tell Almick the rest was on them, they could send a draft of the plans to the cottage for me and Lia to look over later, but trying to bring me back would be a bad idea.
As I was training Muchin, the boy was showing incredible improvement, whilst in possession of different abilities, he may well have been at a similar level that Lia was at his age. Shadow fusion being his latest talent and only defendable because I was able to sense his use of magic from below me.
As I ripped him from the shadow, I declared the match was over, taking a step back and running him through a basic strength and flexibility exercise instead, before Almick appeared with Lia and apologised for keeping us. Acknowledging his awareness of my distaste for those meetings before asking for a progress report on Muchin, thrilled when I told him of the comparison between his progress and Lia's I had made just before they arrived.
He then revealed that he was aware of Aisha's secret lessons as well and asked for a report on that front. Lia looked at me and asked me to reveal the truth about elevations first, making me wary, it was a secret I divulged to her years ago when I explained using mine to see the future, but I had held closely due to its potential for further trouble with the church. I knew if Lia was asking me though it was important, so I erected a multi-layered concealment barrier and began to explain.
"Elevations with a name are adaptable. They change with how the holder defines them, for instance when I used creation and magic at the gifting, I didn't mean to, but I accidentally unified the two powers whereas before they repelled one another."
Almick was shocked already, then Lia added that Aisha had changed her own elevation, Lady, and could now surpass human limits because her definition of the word means having the ability to defend her land from any threat. Lia took a deep breath and told me to apologise with her, she then bowed and told the lord that Aisha told her she has to defend the land from the gods and given enough time would meet that goal.
Almick told us to stand, that we had no need to apologise as it was his own fault for being so open with them on such things, but there was clearly the concern a father feels for his children in his eyes.
He took a deep breath and promised not to divulge what we said, asking only that we continue to guide his children, which is when I chose to suggest that they join the guild, such power sitting idle would have been both a waste and dangerous, adventuring experience would teach them their limits and give their power purpose. Using myself hunting the goblin king to vent as an example.
Almick registered my concern but seemed nervous, so I suggested we put a party together for them and recommended he send a retainer with them, the offer and final suggestion seemed to sway him, and he called for his daughter and asked me to lower the barrier.
When Aisha arrived, he told them we recommended they become adventurers and didn't need to ask what they thought as they lit up with excitement. He then asked us to take them to get registered with the chosen retainer the next day, stating one final condition which was that they go on their first job with us.
As gold ranks, we could still go on dangerous missions with them and he asked us to pick the worst we could, I am not ashamed to admit that we both adopted a maniacal expression as we turned to our proteges and snickered because we wanted them scared. Fear after all is the most basic reaction to danger and the best thing to keep people alive.
The next day was promised to be undeniably fun, we went to deal with some lamias, a job I had wanted to take for some time, but Lia had resisted. Lamias were human from the waste up and serpent from the waist down, all female and known to abduct men for reproduction, Lia was uncharacteristically jealous of my enthusiasm regardless of the fact I just like reptilian creatures.
When we arrived, we spent a good amount of time trying to convince and pressure Aisha and Muchin to go in alone, a test of course to make sure they valued their lives more than other's opinions, one they passed with flying colours. I then went to enter the lair, but Lia pulled me back and took the lead, and we had barely entered when the lamias showed themselves.
Lia moved into stance, but one of them spoke and she begrudgingly took a step back to let me talk to them, I stepped forward and introduced myself and they chuckled calling me brave.
I sighed and created a chilling aura with magic briefly, "I'm not brave, I could freeze this mountain and kill you all if I wanted, but people deserve to live free and happy, and I would rather be friends if possible. Besides I doubt you have need of a boy who hasn't entered manhood."
The lamias considered my threat and words, deciding them honest they told me a similar story as the goblins, and I gave them the same reply. Muchin, Aisha and the retainer were astounded, though Aisha was blushing, and I got struck from behind by Lia for mentioning such things in front of her. One of the lamias introduced herself as Parseia and confirmed I was correct that they have no need of one who hasn't entered manhood.
We were led into the den and had a productive meeting, at the end of which I laid out similar guidelines as I gave the goblins, though things nearly fell apart when the matriarch, Bamam, implied a fondness for me and Lia got defensive resulting in each taking a hit before I used magic to restrain the matriarch and told Lia to leave if she was in such a sensitive mood.
I then became myself for a brief moment and glared at the Bamam, telling her the consequences of trying to attack Lia, or even attempting to come between us, sharing a memory of me destroying the divine elevation as I spoke.
I released her immediately after and she was shaking in fear, when I asked if she wished to befriend humans still, she apologised to both of us and swore to serve us forever, but I told her friends don't serve each other. She approached Lia and shook her hand, instead of mine and we were escorted out by the same two who led us in.
On the way out, I asked our three charges a question. "What is a good reason to fight?" and as we reached the end, I threw up over the edge of the mountain path, waving the four others away as they came to my aid. I then sat down and told them the answer.
"Right and wrong are points of view, whatever you think is right is. For me though, there is no good reason, making friends is always better than killing enemies. That said I still think there are people that deserve to die, and pleasantries with one who hurt Lia is too much, so tell your father to send some female officials to meet with that one, I might just kill her."
The two who escorted us were in ear shot still, but that was good. With the goblins I had the loyalty that came from being integrated into the top of their hierarchy, but I didn't have that luxury with the lamia, so I had to use my head. As though rehearsed, Lia slapped me and called me an idiot, claiming it was just a squabble that didn't require thinking about and that she would deal with them as the envoys leader until we left.
When we were finally alone at home, Lia told me I didn't need to put on a show like that, but I told her it wasn't, I simply showed my true feelings knowing that her honest reaction would be a useful display. She called me an idiot for the millionth time, and then I fell asleep on the divan.