"I feel like I'm witnessing history."
"Shut up." Jezabel Barks.
After Inari rescued me, I explained the situation to her and she easily agreed to the meeting. We head to the forest after dark. She must have excellent vision because she doesn't even bring a light orb and makes me put mine away. I follow her by the sound of her heavy footfall.
"Where is she?" Jezabel asks, impatiently.
"The fairies always seem to know we're here. She's either on her way or observing us, I'd imagine." I shrug.
We stand amongst the the glowing fungi and glance around at any motion that seen out of the edges of our vision. I thought I would feel tense but the sight of the forest is so strange that it's oddly peaceful.
Whap
A glowing ball slaps onto the side of my face and a white feathered wing blocks the vision of my right eye.
"Woohee? I that you?" I poke the tumor now growing out of my cheek.
"Is Nick Okay?" She asks.
"I'm fine, thank you for worrying about me."
She pulls back to get a better look at me and I rub her head with one finger.
"I see you all are getting along well." Inari says as she appears above us. Woohee giggles and flutters around us excitedly.
"Took you long enough." Jezabel complains.
"A flame that burns twice as hot, burns half as long." Inari smiles mysteriously.
Jezabel gasps lightly at the phrase before closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths.
"Who told you that?"
"It's an idiom you humans created, I first heard it from someone many thousands of years ago. You just reminded me of him."
I can feel my heart rate increase as a thick silence hangs between the two mountains before me. Inari smiles ever so softly while Jezabel sizes her up.
"I-"
"Yes, I'm fine with that. Although I suspect you'll want something in return." Inari interrupts Jezabel before she can even begin asking her question.
Jezabel swallows if gulping down her own words. It's the first time I've seen her nervous.
"I don't know about that." she eventually responds. Inari wipes the smile off her face and narrows her eyes.
"I don't trust humans who don't ask for payment up front, and I'm not interested in helping you with your revenge."
The flames in Jezabel's eyes reignite. Her discomfort now covered in a hot layer of rage. Again, she closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths.
"Fine, I'd like access to the forest."
"You're welcome to enter whenever you see fit, the these woods belong to no one."
"You know what I mean." Jezabel spits.
Inari leans back and crosses her arms, her eyes far off into a distance that may no longer exist. I notice myself holding my breath as I wait for her to respond.
"I'll start with this one, though your friend may not appreciate such an arrangement."
"He's-"
"Spare me, please. It was only a joke." Jezabel frowns and Inari covers her mouth when she sees the reaction. "Ever so serious, aren't you?"
I have absolutely no idea what they're talking about but it feels like Inari is playing with her food even though she seems to have immediately conceded her position. It's not a dialectic I've seen before.
"I wish you'd take this more seriously." Jezabel sighs.
"And I'd wish you'd less. We all have such little time on this planet, why don't you try enjoying it more. I'm sure there are those around you who would respond to that."
It's odd hearing someone thousands of years old describe the impermanence of life. I feel like I'm being told again that money doesn't buy happiness, while I lay in bed without having eaten that day.
"I'm trying to help you win this war."
"And I'm saying we can't."
"You're going to lose?" I ask without thinking. The thought hadn't yet occurred to me but what happens to all the fairies I've met if they lose this war. Knowing the results of the previous conflicts I felt this whole thing was an exercise in futility.
"Eventually," Inari replies casually as she looks down at me. She seems so unreachable event though she's only a few feet above our heads. "We can't hold out forever. They will inevitably win, it's only a matter of time."
"Then, why keep fighting?"
"I don't know, why do you bother to eat every day." She says as she tilts her head.
"No, I mean why don't you leave?" I swallow as the words leave my lips; I already know her answer. She looks directly into my eyes as she speaks.
"Because, this is our home."
I feel a weight in my chest as I imagine what fate these tiny people may face in the future.
"That's very sweet," Inari flies closer, which causes me to flinch. "You are such a pathetic thing; why worry about the stars in the sky?"
I notice Jezabel nodding and I shoot her a glare.
"Don't just nod along."
"What? Do you want me to disagree with her?" Jezabel says with an unusual smile.
"I see we've lightened up a bit. I'll play along for now though I'm sure you are aware-"
"Spare me." Jezabel smiles fiercely.
"No promises." Inari says, enigmatically as she vanishes. Woohee is also gone when I look around.
Jezabel's smile turns to a bitter frown as she turns back the way we came. I follow her out of the woods where a group of men in armor seem to be waiting for us atop long, eight legged beasts. They look like short rhinos with spiked scales and several eyes. The beasts huff and hiss as they are made to stay in place.
"I figured you would try something stupid like this." The Duke says.
"..."
"As tight lipped as ever, no matter. I've already sent word to the guild headquarters. They'll be sending an inquisition at my behest. Good luck."
He waves behind him as he leaves and his retinue fall in line behind him.
"That sounds bad. Is that bad?"
"..."
"I guess that's bad." We have an uncomfortably quiet walk back to town. I still have no idea what was discussed or what is to be expected of me. She doesn't say anything until we're all the way back in her office.
"I haven't been entirely honest with you." She begins. My breath catches in my throat. "I allowed you to keep that dungeon a secret as recompense for manipulating you into feeding the fairies information."
"Okay." She raises an eyebrow at my response. "It sounds like you were doing what you thought was best and you were trying to help the fairies so I'm fine with that."
"It seems my our deal wasn't necessary."
"Hey! A deal's a deal." I snap.
"Indeed, a deal's a deal."
"So, what's my role in all this? I wasn't really sure what you guys were talking about."
"You are to feed information to the fairies that I collect while helping the Duke manage his army."
"Wait, whoa, what? Doesn't he know you're in cahoots with the fairies? How is he going to let you-"
"Shut up. As the leader of this branch, it is my duty to aid passing armies. This is one of the reasons the guild has been allowed to take root in almost every country in the world. I will help build temporary housing for his troops and provide provisions. The guild has a non interference policy to international disputes such as these, at least on the surface."
"Wow, that sounds expensive."
"Yes, which is why we will be sending his house an itemized bill whether he survives this campaign or not. Either way, my personal feelings on the matter don't out weigh my duty."
"So, he knows that you're basically spying on him and he's okay with that?"
"Yes, he's correctly predicted everything up to this point."
"Which means he is confident he can win even if the fairies know what he's doing."
"It is frustrating, but we'll have to follow the script as he's written it, or we'll be leaving your friends out there at a disadvantage."
"So, why are you helping them anyway? Doesn't this cause a bunch of problems for you?"
"From my perspective it's no different than if two human nations were at war; the guild would provide aid to both sides equally."
"But, it's not two human nations." I say, quizzically.
"True, but I'd like to prevent the fairies from seeking retribution on the town or the guild should they win. Also, it would be beneficial for us to have easier access to the depths of the forest."
"So, that somehow involves me?" I turn my head to the side as I struggle to piece together the conversation that took place earlier.
"Essentially. I'm not sure exactly what she plans to do but you'll be the guinea pigs for the future cooperation between the guild and the fairies."
"Wow, okay." I suddenly realize the gravity of my situation. "Hey, what was that inquisition stuff about anyway?"
"Out!" She says as she points at the door.
I dart away as quickly as I can. Our interactions recently have been pleasantly less draconian and I'd like to keep it that way.
The guild hall is packed again just like it was during the Manka war before the strom. I can feel the latent discontent in the air. Several pairs of eyes follow me along my path. The room suddenly feels foreign, hostile even.
Once outside, I take a moment to think over all the stuff that happened today.
"What do you think?"
'I don't know. It all happened so fast.' Nick replies.
"Yeah, same here. I guess we'll have some company while we explore the forest so that sounds cool, yeah?"
'Yeah!'
The air is growing cold but it can't break through to the warm feeling in my chest.
"Hey, what's up little guy?" A man says as he drapes his arm around my neck. Instinctively, I reach for the dagger at my side. "Whoa, no need for that; I just wanted to chat."
I stop and turn my head to look him in the eyes. He's an average size man with darkish hair and raggedy armor. He looks like an average adventurer I'd seen at this guild and he has smug, patronizing smile on his face. Beside him are two women who are wearing similar expressions. I hold my gaze until he continues. Seemingly emboldened by my silence, he tightens his grip with his forearm.
"Me and my friends here were just noticing you running around and we thought we'd give you some advice."
"What do you want?"
"Hey, we're just talking, is all."
"You're touching me, which means you want something."
The man withdraws his arm and frowns.
"Stuck up brat, we were only trying to help." He says with a look of disgust on his face.
"I seriously doubt that." I scoff.
"Whatever, screw you. You're just like all those other shitty Nobles. I'm glad Jezabel kicks your ass everyday, you deserve it."
"Yeah, you're probably right." I sigh as I head towards my house.
'I think those people were just trying to help.'
"Highly unlikely. Look, I've dealt with their kind before. They start off by asking small favors and you help them thinking it's no big deal, and then they start pushing your boundaries, guilting you into doing things for them in the name of friendship or whatever. Never trust anyone that starts off a conversation by invading your personal space like that; they were fishing for weakness."
'I don't know. What if they were nice people?'
"Hmm." I think back to the glares I was receiving at the guild earlier. Whatever my position, it wouldn't do to foment ire against me. "Okay, here's what we'll do. I'll talk to the kids about inviting another party along with us on our patrols. That way we can help the other adventurers who are probably struggling right now due to the escalating conflict."
'Yeah, let's do it! It feels good to help people!'
"Yeah, it does." I smile.