43. Aftermath of the Listening Bird

Flames razed what was left of the Screaming Galleries. It turned out that the death of the Listening Bird had no effect on these things. Only the Unlying Tablets disappeared, and when the last Screaming Gallery was slain, silence befell the forest at last following their triumphant cheers and tears of relief.

“It was nothing like the One Thousand Eyed Bird and the Black Forest. Hmm. Are you ok, Frost?” Jury asked, still cupping Frost’s head into her shoulder.

“I’m fine… really. But thank you for always asking.” Frost spoke muffledly before she pulled herself away. “What about you? No, what am I saying. It looked like you had everything under control.” She smiled. “I’ll heal you as soon as my MP returns. Or maybe I can just take a swig of a couple of those MP potions… Jury, they’re coming over now.”

“To thank us?” Jury wondered, as did she.

Frost listened to their footsteps. The Patrons and a small handful of people including Furio and the battle-axe woman approached. All eyes were suddenly fixed on her as the Will of the Amalgam disappeared, as did the pale strands of hair and all one thousand of the glowing eyes.

The forest dimmed. The ever-prevalent fog took over and slowly sealed the gaping hole above.

She did not know how they would react now that things were fine. Would she be called a monster again? Judged and be told to disappear? Be blamed for this unfortunate encounter?

No. That would be unreasonable. This wasn’t fiction.

As bizarre as Frost’s identity was to them it did not change the fact that she saved their lives. And therefore –

“… thank you… you… saved us.” One of the Patrons desperately held back her tears, grateful for Frost’s help as she clutched onto her hands. “I though… we were going to die… I thought I’d never… see anyone again…”

Frost gently gripped onto the woman’s hands and warmly spoke.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to hold back your tears. I’m glad I was of help.”

“Getting emotional isn’t like you. But… what else can we say other than thanks. I’d hate to imagine what would have happened if you didn’t come along…” Another one said, trying to cheer the woman up as their eyes swelled. “Agh. C’mon… let’s go check up on the others. If it’s not a bother –”

“Of course I’m going to heal them. Just gather them somewhere. Away from the bodies. And if you can, give me the mana potions. I’m starved right now.” Frost ordered.

“A-At once! OI! You heard her right!? Gather the potions and bring anyone injured out! Start… start burying the dead!” This man left at once, snatching the teary-eyed woman away.

They seemed rather close.

“A healer…? Frost. Just so you know, no one thinks you’re a healer anymore. I don’t know what you are, who you are, or why you are – but I think it’s safe to assume you’re a big shot from the Nexus.” The battle-axed woman stated. “So what’s a deity like you doing in these parts –!? Ouch!?”

Furio burnt the side of the woman’s shoulder for her dopiness.

“Just state your word of thanks and fuck right back off to the caravan. Know what, come with me.” He spat before taking hold of the woman’s arm and dragging her back before he suddenly spoke with his back turned. “… ‘Healer’. Thank you for putting your faith in me when these low-soul rankers couldn’t. And heal this one when you get the chance.”

What a strange way of saying thanks.

“Frost. On behalf of everyone that stands behind us I… I must thank you. Without you we all would have perished.” Jaris tried to speak clearly.

She could sense the fear in his voice. Not from the ordeal they had just overcome, but from merely standing before her.

“Why are you so afraid of me?” Frost had to ask.

“… afraid? Me? Don’t be a… haagh. Is it that unnatural to be afraid of an unknown power?” He surrendered. “Via. Why of all people do you seem so composed?”

“Me? Oh… I wonder myself.” Via shrugged. “Go back if you don’t have anything else to say. By the way Miss Frost, he means to say you’re strong.”

Before long, it was only Via who remained in front of her. Others could be seen watching from afar, including Calfasio and Hellen who wore relieved faces. Not just because they won, but because their new friends were also ok.

“I think my thanks will end up being wasted. But! I’ll say it anyway! Thank you! Really, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting us!” She threw her head down to the floor again, just how she did the first time they met.

“Please, raise your head. Your gratitude is enough.”

“W-What about payment –!?” She shot back up, revealing a small scratch on her forehead.

“I already received my pay. But if you insist then how about… some coins? If you can spare them, then I’d be glad to take a few.” Frost offered.

It would be helpful to possess at least some currency on their journey.

“… just coins?” Via seemed confused by this for some reason.

“Is it strange?”

“Coins of all things. For defeating a Corrupted. We Patrons can vouch to the lords of towns and cities across Grandis for your good deeds. You’d be given special privileges. Land. Titles. But I guess that’s not a lot for you.”

“It’s a lot. I just can’t see myself staying in one place. I’m afraid Grandis is not a place for me to stay. I have my sights placed elsewhere.” Nothing was going to convince her otherwise. Via knew this and hummed:

“Brandar, right? Probably the Nexus as well. Mm. Jury!” She suddenly yelled.

“Hello? That’s me.” Jury pointed at herself, causing Frost to nearly laugh.

“Thank you as well on behalf of everyone behind me! You… you don’t have to keep wearing that cloak anymore. It’s fine. I think you being a Demi-human or a Demon is the last thing on our mind right now.”

Jury looked down at Frost, wanting her input. With a small now, Jury’s eyes beamed, and she slowly took off the hood that had hidden her head since they first arrived.

“Ahh! Avian? No… you even have a tail like a Dragonkin!? Wait – I’m confused! You have WHITE HAIR AS WELL?! But you’re not a healer yourself!? Ok, that’s another thing on our mind now! Frost, Jury, you two are the walking embodiment of contradiction! Shouldn’t your roles be swapped!?”

This is new. So people with white hair can only be healers? Iscario’s hair was grey, so that rules him out as one. Wait… didn’t those twins that arrested Cer and Ber have white hair as well? They didn’t look like healers at all.

But Jury having white hair… could it mean the Corrupted Juries were based off healers? The crying child from the tale of the Black Forest?

“Your train of thought has arrived at an interesting conclusion. You may be correct.”

Now that she thought about it – the ‘claw’ made sense. The women of the Anid nest asked Frost if she had a claw when she mentioned that she was a healer. She imagined it to be the exact same one that Thras had. The sophisticated prosthesis that had tubes running along like veins.

“However, Inflow Direct did not create those ‘claws’ that far back. They are a rather recent addition.”

Jury’s claw probably symbolizes something else then. But this is rather interesting. One question answered…

“… and another two questions branch out. We’ll have an entire tree at this rate.”

And the one thing that ties it all together is the tale of the Price of Paradise. The princess who ate from the forbidden tree.

“Precisely.”

Frost deeply inhaled.

“It’s best if you don’t try to figure it out.” She said, waving her hand to dismiss Via’s thoughts for her. “Jury. You feeling ok?”

“Much better now. I can finally hear your heartbeat again.” She said. “Badump. Badump. Is it getting faster?”

“That’s just your imagination. Via. Please start preparing to leave. We’ll go as soon as I finish thing up here.” Frost sighed, turning away from Jury.

“You’re still coming with us?”

“Why wouldn’t we? The trip to little Tais isn’t over just yet. And there’s no telling what else is up ahead.” Frost said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And with a bright smile, Via exclaimed:

“Thank you so much!”