Sylver Seeker

Chapter 148: Tea Or Death

Its a bit like Imagine that youre reading a book and and Chrys trailed off as she attempted to figure out how to continue with the metaphor.

Is what you see in the future affected by other clairvoyants? Sylver asked, after a couple of seconds had passed, during which Chrys only managed to say and over and over again.

It is, yes. The more effect the clairvoyant has on the world, the greater the interference they create, Chrys answered.

Does you seeing the future affect the future? Have you ever seen the exact same future twice? Sylver asked.

Chrys closed her eyes and didnt say anything for a while.

No. The fact that Ive seen the future changes it, she answered.

Whats your range like? Can you see a day into the future? A month? A year? 10 years? Sylver asked as Chrys answered quicker this time.

I have multiple skills for it but the further I look the more interference there is. After two months I cant see anything clearly enough to understand it. But Ive glimpsed as far as 12 years once. They took my arms and legs away by that point, Chrys explained, with a sickening casualness that Sylver decided to play along with.

He sighed as he stood up from his pillow, and stretched his left leg out until it popped.

The machine below us. What does it do exactly? Sylver asked, as he looked down at the bracelet on his hand, and touched a couple of the buttons on it, but it didnt do anything.

You can think of the way I see the future to be flipping ahead in a book. I dont choose the page I end up on, other than that its after the page I was currently reading. The machine reaches out from the page I flipped ahead to, and forces me to read the pages before and after that page, Chrys explained, with a slight amount of emphasis on the forces part.

So it amplifies it Sylver said, mostly to himself.

Other clairvoyants also use it to compare their predictions against, Chrys added.

One of the tablets around Chrys made a beeping noise, and she reached over and picked it up to stare at it. Sylver once again felt a wave of primal energy pass through him and hoped the odd numbness he felt in his left side wasnt indicative of anything.

You think my clairvoyancy is useless, Chrys mumbled while she tapped something out on the tablet in her hand.

I think all clairvoyancy is useless, Sylver explained but didnt garner any reaction from Chrys.

Not useless useless, but What you do is essentially take an educated guess at what could happen in the future. Its just an extrapolation of the present, not to mention the fact that other clairvoyants influence it and get in the way, Sylver explained, as Chrys focused on whatever it was she was doing and peeked into the future three more times before she nodded for Sylver to continue.

The future is malleable, and what ends up happening is that the future that the clairvoyant with the more powerful friends predicted, is the one that comes to pass. More honestly, I simply dont trust it. Ive been burned far too many times because I listened to someones prediction, sometimes literally, Sylver explained.

Chrys put her tablet back into the circle of tablets and crossed her legs and sat up straighter on her pillow.

And yet you trust Kass predictions, Chrys said.

I trust him to find a book. An object that should just be sitting in place, Sylver explained and saw Chrys shoulders shift slightly.

I already know youre not going to tell me why the book is so important But can we leave when you get it? I know youre waiting for the- no, never mind, the probability of success is abysmal if you dont wait for the Dark Year Chrys said, initially somewhat hopeful at the prospect of escaping, but then she went back to quietly mumbling to herself.

How much do you know? About who I am, I mean? Sylver asked, and felt Chrys soul retract into herself slightly.

Thats a hard question to answer. The conversation were having right now; Ive already had it over 200 times. Youre guarded against me, you wont tell me your real name, or what exactly your plan is. I know youre not an elf, I know youre not a high elf, but I know youre not one of the Serpents either. I know youre not doing this because youre attracted to me, I know that you just dont answer, instead of lying, Chrys explained and looked more and more afraid with each sentence.

I know youre hoping Ill be able to help you find somebody, all while knowing theres no chance Ill find them. But how do I explain this? I know that if I trust in you, Ill be freed from the machine downstairs. I cant see the future past a certain point, I can see it clear as day on the paths where I betray you, Chrys said, and Sylver raised an eyebrow.

What do you mean by paths?

Chrys reached down for one of her tablets and tapped on its screen for a few seconds before she turned it over to show Sylver the images on it. It looked like a sideways tree diagram, with the top branches spreading out infinitely, and the very bottom branch stopping at only 3.

Chrys pointed her finger at the top area, where the branches kept going.

If I call for help and tell the Garden what I know about you, theyll kill you, and Ill stay here, and Ill continue seeing the future, for the rest of my life, Chrys said, as she moved her finger across the topmost branches.

If I do everything I can to help you, I cant see what happens past a certain point. Im assuming this is because youre going to shut down the machine before coming to get me, but it could just as easily mean you killed me so quickly that I didnt even realize what happened Or because I helped you something catastrophic happens, and I end up dead Its a win-win either way for me, Chrys explained, as she dragged her finger across the lowest, and shortest branch.

I see Sylver said, as Chrys removed the image and set the tablet back down.

I uh Dont rush this. I can wait for however long it takes, just get me out of here, Chrys pleaded quietly.

And in 9 days, when theres a blackout? Sylver asked.

That was if you said no. Ive waited my whole life for this, I can wait another couple months, Chrys explained.

Sylver stared at her for a while and felt a small part of him die inside.

As an old undead Lich, sometimes caring about people and their problems was difficult to the point it was impossible. Sylver wanted to care, he knew he should care, but they were all so small, and temporary.

Kings and their starving kingdoms, men and women who should have known better, people who seemed to think that all of Eira revolved around them, [Hero]s that were ready to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

It was all so tiresome.

Theres only so many times a person can force two warring kingdoms to make peace, only so many times he can reverse the effect of a curse that could have been easily prevented, only so many times someone can stop a [Hero] from summoning a demon lord to save a loved one.

What made it all the worse was that Sylver couldnt even really blame any of them. He felt no anger, no matter how moronic and preventable a situation was, everyone did what they could with the information and tools they had. He didnt hate them, but he didnt care about them either.

But living as a completely emotionless husk of an undead didnt sit well with Sylver, no matter how many times he had attempted it. It was

Boring

So boring that his options were to kill himself and end his boredom, or go back to caring about people and things. And while there might have been a point where Sylver would have chosen the former, hed learned to enjoy the latter a long time ago, and wasnt going to stop.

He would care about what he wanted to care about, and everything else would have to pray to their god, it didnt get in between him and the things and people he cared about. Even if it was stupid and irrational, it was still infinitely better than the alternative.

It didnt sound right whenever he said it out loud, but unlife really wasnt worth unliving without love.

Ancient lich or not.

Sylver ran his hands over his bald and shiny scalp and looked around the nearly empty room.

There was a lot he wanted to say to Chrys, that everything was going to be alright, that hed get her out no matter what, that she was safe now that he was here.

But when Sylver made a promise to one of his, he kept his word.

And as much as Sylver cared about Chrys and her freedom and future, Edmund came first. Sylver had emotions, sometimes he had more than he wanted, but that didnt mean he was controlled by them. They advised him, they never ordered.

So what now? Laven said you were going to determine how best to put me to use, Sylver asked, as Chrys picked up a different tablet and started looking for something.

Chrys quietly tapped away at her tablet.

Im going to defer my decision. And hopefully, neither of us will be here by the time anyone has a problem with that. Your situation is unusual, to say the least. Ive looked through the records, you are quite literally the first person who managed to make Ladons Wyvern surrender by just threatening it, Chrys explained, as she continued to do something on her tablet.

Rouge said 3 men managed to make it surrender without a fight? Sylver asked.

Yes, but they offered it one of their skills, or in Myrols case, he offered his family blade. You are the first in being able to threaten it into surrendering. The Wyvern isnt weak; it has defeated 5 climbers at the same time in the past. Youre infamous, but at the same time famous, that should be enough to stop Flowers from complaining... Chrys explained as she put her tablet down.

While were on that subject, why is it that some of the monsters were alive, while others were fake? Sylver asked.

Given that he was still wary of saying something that would reveal that he was from another realm, Chrys was the only person he could ask.

They have a way to grow monsters. For food, entertainment, experience, and for experiments, Chrys explained, and Sylver saw that she stopped herself from using her hand to touch her scar-covered stomach.

So they have a machine that can make monsters Is it possible for me to see it? Sylver asked.

Even if Chrys had managed to hide the cold water like splash of fear in her eyes, Sylver felt it in her soul.

You need about 4 years of training before being allowed inside. If you really need to see it, I dont mind wai-

No, no, no, I was curious thats all. Look I cant predict how long its going to take, but we have a deal Chrys. My word is my bond. And the circumstances under which I would break my word are so few and far between that they might as well not exist, Sylver explained and did his best to sound as confident as he wanted to feel.

When Kass tells you where the book is, Im going to pass along all the help I can give you. After that, Im going to incapacitate myself. It will cripple the Gardens clairvoyants, but I dont know how long it will take them to bring me back, Chrys explained.

Sylver mulled over the words over for a couple of seconds.

By incapacitated you mean Sylver asked carefully.

Does it matter? Youre going to have to rip out half of my internal organs to get me out of here anyway, whatever damage I do to myself will pale in comparison to that, Chrys said, and Sylver couldnt help but agree.

When they shook hands, Sylver had sent a pulse of mana through her and found that

There was very little Chrys inside Chrys.

Not counting her head, there was maybe enough of the real her to fill 3 buckets. Sylver already had thoughts as to how to keep her alive during their escape, and for however long it took him to get back to Eira, but as far as solutions went, it wasnt perfect.

He needed his workshop, he needed Lola, he needed a competent healer, and above all else, he needed somewhere safe to keep her while she recovered.

Once they left the Garden, there was no coming back.

Hes going to give you the information in a sealed letter. 5 seconds before you unseal it, Im going to put the Gardens clairvoyancy based defenses out of commission. Because if I dont, the Garden will immediately try to kill you. Only open it when youre ready to find the book, and if you can, save me, Chrys explained calmly.

Even if her soul was more or less weeping with fear.

Alright Im Im sorry if things dont turn out the way you hoped, Sylver said, as Chrys just silently nodded along.

A downside of being alive long enough to see the consequences of your actions is that you learned just how harmful even a comforting lie could be. It led to doubt, which led to mistrust, which led to hesitation, which eventually showed its ugly face at a critical moment.

A small amount of liquid piled up on Chrys left eye, even as her face remained completely blank.

I dont want to die, Chrys whispered as if afraid Sylver would hear the words.

I

Sylver felt his arm almost go numb from the sudden pressure around it.

Im staying with her, Ria said sternly into Sylvers ear.

No, were going to need your help, staying here wont do her any good, Spring told Ria before Sylver even had a chance to respond.

Shes a child! We cant just leave her-

Do you think just because he isnt screaming and shouting he isnt as angry as you are? We know what were doing, Ria. This isnt how you help her. This is surgery, you have to suck up whatever it is you feel, and cut her open, Spring argued, better than Sylver would have.

What did you just do? Chrys asked, with a genuinely puzzled look on her face, and a matching reaction in her soul.

What do you mean? Sylver asked, after a few seconds of silence, as Ria refrained from saying anything.

Just now. Whatever you were doing before was creating interference, but I could still see what you were doing in the next 10 seconds. You were going to say I know, but you didnt, what did you do? Chrys asked as Sylver felt Ria flow down his arm into his hand.

Sylver lifted the liquid gold creature so Chrys could see her.

Where did you get this much Mangolium? Chrys asked.

In the dungeon that exploded. I found her, and she saved me and showed me the way out. Her name is Ria, Sylver explained, as Ria extended a short metallic tendril out towards Chrys.

Chrys reached out with her finger towards the metal and looked even more confused than before as they touched.

No wonder youve got 4 points of deviations, you have a piece of Mangolium that can actually think and make suggestions that pushed you further and further away from the median prediction. Im Chrysanthemum, Chrys for short, its very nice to meet you, Ria, Chrys said, and sort of shook/wagged her finger along with Rias tendril.

You have my word well save you Chrys, Ria swore, and under different circumstances, Sylver would have flung her at a wall for doing that.

Sylver was fairly certain he didnt react with his face or body language, but Chrys knew.

Sylver chose not to voice the fact that the meaning of the word save could be interpreted in different ways, because he didnt want to have to say it, and because both he and Chrys knew Ria would immediately make the situation worse than it already was.

To her credit, Chrys knew exactly what to say.

Thank you. You cant stay with me, hell need your help, theyll find you and dismantle you if you stay here, I wont be able to hide or protect you, Chrys explained, even as she reluctantly pulled her hand away from the warm liquid metal.

No, I can-

Chrys interrupted with a single fake sob and spoke before Ria could.

Please dont make this more difficult than it already is, you can help me by helping him, Chrys explained, as tears leaked out of both of her eyes.

Sylver could tell she was over exaggerating.

Or, more accurately, she was pretending to over exaggerate, when this was how she actually felt on the inside. She was a frightened child that had no choice but to grow up or die, but she was still a child.

Fine, Ria said quietly, as she slithered back into Sylvers sleeve, and wrapped herself snuggly around his bicep.

It took Chrys a couple of moments to compose herself again, her left eye was red, while her right remained crystal clear white. She used the collar of her shirt to wipe them before she spoke.

The house Ive put you in is as close to the Tower as I could find. The magical interference should make any kind of drones and other surveillance equipment ineffective, but I cant say for certain youll be free to do whatever you want Chrys explained, as one of the tablets near her pillow made a sound, and she glanced over at it.

Alright Ill be fine, be careful, dont worry about me and thank you. In case there wont be time for me to say it, Chrys explained.

In case you have to kill me. Sylver added to himself, as he straightened his back.

He was taller than Chrys, but now that hes had a chance to get a closer look at her, she wasnt supposed to be this tall. Her shoulders were the wrong shape for how long her arms were, but there was no point asking about it.

Uncertain as to what to say, Sylver simply nodded. Chrys reached down for a different tablet, and in a few taps, Sylver teleported away.

*

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*

The Flower area was

There wasnt really a good word to describe it.

The Roots and Trunk had at least some cohesion, there was a consistency to them, the Flowers area looked like someone had picked up mansions from all over Eira and plopped them down next to each other.

Some had a small garden with flowers growing in it, some had fruit trees, some were made entirely out of metal, or cement, sandstone, wood, one looked like an enormous hide tent, another looked like someone fused a bunch of Dandy-Lyons together.

If not for the fact that every single one looked like it was made by a team of masters, Sylver would have thought the whole area looked like a garbage dump.

The only consistent thing about all the buildings was the fact that every single one reached the glass ceiling. It gave the area the appearance of a maze, there were no roofs anywhere, everything looked like a giant well-crafted pillar.

Sylver followed the floating image on his bracelet and found that his house looked like a wooden hut that had been burned down but remained standing, and was rebuilt with more burned wood. It was dark, shiny charcoal, but it wasnt real wood.

The lawn covered in weeds outside the house was real, as was the bright green vegetation growing out of it, but the sun wasnt its usual interfering self, it almost felt like it was twice as strong, without being twice as bright.

Sylver struggled to move his shadow around using [Deadly Darkness] if he tried to materialize a shade here, itd burn to death in seconds.

Youll need to hire help from the Roots or the Trunk. For cooks you should only use Branches, they cost a lot more, but theyre worth it, Rouge explained, as Sylver approached his house and saw her leaning against his doorframe.

Rouge looked

Almost exactly the same as her floating illusion. Her hair was a little longer, her eyes were a little beadier, but it was so subtle it could easily have been a trick of the light.

She was dressed in her signature bright red suit, except it wasnt anywhere near as immaculate as it was when she appeared as an illusion.

Ill get right on that, thank you, Sylver said, as he crouched down to touch some of the weeds in his lawn, and added them to [Seed Store].

I could get one of mine to recommend someone if you want. Krill is a trustworthy man, with trustworthy friends. For cooks, it comes down to personal preference, but I-

That wont be necessary, but thank you for the offer, Sylver interrupted, with a politely raised hand. Rouge got up from leaning on the doorframe and stood close enough to Sylver that some of her hair was touching him.

Youre in a bad mood. I take it Chrysanthemum told you something you didnt want to hear? She thinks shes hot shit just because both of her parents are high-ranking Flowers, and that her predictions are the ones the others use to compare against. Now, you didnt hear it from me, but Vala told me that-

I am grateful for the warm welcome, but I need to be alone for a while, Sylver interrupted.

Ria had turned into something close to a scalpel, and very nearly cut through Sylvers skin from how angry she was. After her outburst, Sylver realized that despite how she felt, sounded, and sort of looked, in some ways she was a child.

She made the promise to Chrys without any malice, but that didnt mean she wasnt wrong for doing so.

As Sylver tried to walk past Rouge to place his bracelet against the locking thing, she grabbed him by the back of his robe and all but yanked it.

If she told you how youre going to die, she lied. She-

Only the fact that Spring reminded Sylver 4 times over that Rouge likely had some sort of connection to Demor, stopped him from saying what he wanted to say. Instead, he smiled as gently and politely as he could.

Im terribly sorry, but Ive had a very long day, Im going to shower, and then Im going to sleep, please excuse me, Sylver said, as his semi limp robe pulled itself out of Rouges grasp, and Sylver managed to get his door open.

Rouge followed Sylver inside, and since he couldnt shove her out of the way, he stopped her from coming any further inside by holding onto his door and used his other hand to touch the doorframe

Ive had a change of heart regarding what youve done during the Gold Giers Trials. And I know I said I would think about it, but Id like to invite you to my home for dinner, Rouge explained, as she tapped her bracelet against Sylvers and both of them made a sound.

Im glad to hear that, but I need some time to unwind from everything, Sylver explained and did his best to sound as exhausted as he could manage without overplaying it.

Rouge leaned towards him until her chest was pressing up against Sylvers, and she whispered in his ear.

Im sure I could help with that tomorrow night, Rouge whispered, as Sylver had to force his heart to beat slower to lower his blood pressure so that he remained cool and calm.

On Springs suggestion, Sylver used his other hand and slightly raised Rouges chin so that she looked up at Sylver.

Why wait? Im fairly certain the shower here is big enough for two people. And if its not, Im sure well find a way to squeeze into it, Sylver purred at the woman, and could both see her cheeks reddening, even as her soul recoiled from him, and the womans body followed after.

She stepped out of the doorway and pretended to straighten out her jacket to give herself a moment to think and collect her thoughts.

Youre being rather forward for a-

Sylver didnt hear the rest of her bullshit as the door had quietly clicked shut and he went to find something to take his mind off his repressed anger.