Grub woke the next morning to a sharp sting.
His arms throbbed before he even opened his eyes. The burns from last night's procedure had settled into his skin overnight, red and raw along both forearms. The cut on his left arm where he had slid the cable in was ugly, but the electricity had cauterized the wound shut, which was the only reason he wasn't still bleeding.
Still, as Grub inspected the injuries, he found himself unimpressed.
Compared to the broken ribs the Leviathan had given him and the festering burn left by the giant Grub, or being stabbed through the gut by Tre'yon, this was almost laughable.
Pain was pain. And Grub had experienced far worse
He reached into the small collection of supplies he had bought alongside the Jangushut materials. Herbs and ointment. He rubbed both onto his arms carefully, hissing slightly as the ointment touched the raw skin. Then he wrapped both forearms in the bandages he had picked up from the front desk at the inn.
He rolled his wrists a few times. They hurt a little, but it was good enough.
Then he smiled.
He couldn't help it. Despite the pain and the burns and the weight of everything sitting on his shoulders, today was a good day.
Today he was going to the library with Orobas.
There was so much to learn. So many shelves he hadn't touched yet. So many books he hadn't opened. His notebook was going to be full by the end of the day if everything went well, and Grub intended for everything to go well.
Grub pulled on his clothes, slipped into his white coat, and made sure the sleeves fully concealed the fresh bandages. Once he was satisfied, he tucked his notebook into an inner pocket then he headed for the door.
As he stepped outside, a thought crossed his mind.
Should I invite Luthiel?
He paused for a moment, considering it.
She had paid for his room. She had fed him. She had shown him around the village. She had taught him the fundamentals of Anima. And she had defended him during his trial. The least he could do was offer. Besides, she might enjoy it.
He still had her remaining Bells to return, and it wasn't like there was any harm in bringing her along. It might even be fun. Well, fun for him. He wasn't sure Luthiel was the type to get excited about a library, especially given how she felt about the classroom.
But that was because of her classmates, right? Not the learning itself.
Grub redirected himself toward Morrigan's house. He knew Luthiel lived with the chief and the place wasn't hard to find.
The chief's home was easy enough to find. It was one of the larger houses in the village.
As he walked, he started second-guessing himself. Would Luthiel even want to spend the day studying? She didn't seem like the academic type. Maybe he was better off just going alone and—He stopped suddenly.
Up ahead, Morrigan was walking toward her house. The old turtle shuffled along at her usual pace, staff tapping the ground with each step, the basin of water on her head barely rippling.
Something in Grub's body told him to watch.
He didn't question it. He slid behind a nearby tree and pressed himself flat against the bark, peeking out carefully.
Morrigan reached the front door and stepped inside. Behind her walked Luthiel.
Grub's eyes narrowed slightly. Luthiel looked different. Her bangs had fallen forward, covering her eyes completely, and streaks of blue ran through her hair. Her expression was blank and emotionless. She moved quietly, almost mechanically, without any of the warmth or energy of her golden-eyed form.
Behind Luthiel came the horned man from before. The one Grub had bumped into outside the library. Up close like this, his build was even more imposing—thick, scarred, forward-angled horns, dark hair, a warrior's frame packed into grey skin. He ducked through the doorway without issue.
Then came the green giant. He did not fit.
The massive creature—green-skinned, arms like tree trunks, shoulders wider than the doorframe—tried to push through and immediately got stuck. What followed was an awkward struggle of shoving, adjusting, and the distinct sound of wood cracking as the doorframe gave slightly under the pressure. Eventually, with one final push that splintered the frame just a little more, he squeezed through.
How did someone that size live indoors?
After those four, a whole gaggle of unfamiliar faces filed in. Grub didn't recognize a single one of them, but he noticed something they all had in common. The horned man, the green giant, and every person in the group wore the same outfit. White vestments with ripped sleeves and an emblem stitched onto the front.
Guardians, the emblem read. Grub filed that away immediately.
Once the last person entered and the door shut, Grub moved from the tree to a nearby bush beneath one of the windows. He crouched low, then slowly raised his head until he could see inside.
The room was modest. Morrigan stood in the center with one hand behind her back and the other holding a jug of what was clearly alcohol. She took a long drink from it, wiped her beak with the back of her hand, and then screamed.
"Alright, fuckers! Time for the meeting of the Guardians to commence!"
Grub's eyebrows went up.
Meeting of the Guardians?
Luthiel sat in the corner of the room behind Morrigan, still in her seemingly emotionless form. Her expression hadn't changed. Everyone else in the room seemed to either ignore her entirely or shoot annoyed glances in her direction. Luthiel, however, remained perfectly still, her hidden eyes fixed on nothing.
The green giant, who was squeezed tightly into the opposite corner of the room, slowly raised his pinky.
Morrigan gave him a sideways glance and took another drink.
"Fuck you want?"
The giant stuttered for a moment as every eye in the room turned toward him. His green skin seemed to flush slightly.
"Oh, nothing, it's just, well… Your Great Highness, Chief of this Village, Great Sage Equal to Heaven… I was wondering… I have been here for a while now. Why is there still no accommodations for my size?"
Dead silence. Grub could practically feel the collective horror.
Everyone stared at him in shock. It seemed that questioning the chief was considered something close to taboo around here. The giant's green skin had turned closer to a shade of red as the silence stretched.
Morrigan didn't even look at him.
"Sorry, Orgack," she said, waving her jug lazily. "I fucking forgot. My bad."
The giant—Orgack—bowed as deeply as the cramped room would allow.
"I AM NOT WORTHY OF YOUR APOLOGY, OH GREAT SAGE!"
Morrigan had already turned away. She faced the horned man and spoke.
"Hey, Pazuzu. What's the current location of the Dundun Ile?"
Grub's ears perked.
Dundun Ile? What is that?
The horned man—Pazuzu—reached into his vest and pulled out a folded report. He opened it with practiced hands and spoke clearly.
"It is located underneath the Great Library right now, Your Holiness. I personally verified the status of the watch and security yesterday."
Grub's mind raced. That's where he was in a hurry to get to. That's why he was near the library when I bumped into him.
Morrigan nodded slowly. "Good. Keep moving it regularly. If anyone gets their hands on that thing, we're all fucked."
The room answered in unison.
"YES, YOUR GREATNESS!"
Everyone except Luthiel and Morrigan.
Morrigan sighed, took another drink, and then shifted the conversation.
"Now then. What do y'all think of that Sky-Fallen boy?"
Grub's heart froze. His jaw clenched as he pressed himself lower against the window.
Pazuzu was the first to speak. He coughed under his breath, barely hiding his disgust.
"My lady, I cannot trust that boy. He looks strange and unpleasant and seems to know nothing of this world." He paused. "But if it is your will, and he truly is one of the Sky-Fallen predicted by the Great Baba, then your wish is my command."
Most murmured their agreement while several others voiced similar concerns. Grub swallowed. They were right. He was hiding things. And he had every intention of continuing to do so.
They only had reluctant obedience only because Morrigan had willed it.
Then Luthiel spoke. Her voice was calm and monotone.
"I trust him."
Every eye in the room turned toward her.
"He is not telling us everything," she continued. "But I do not believe he means us harm."
Grub stared at her.
Why would she say that? I wouldn't even trust myself. So why does she trust me?
Morrigan turned to look at Luthiel and smiled. The others did not.
Whispers immediately broke out among the Guardians.
"This girl should learn her place."
"An ingrate defends an ingrate."
"Why is that cursed girl allowed around the Great Sage?"
Morrigan's expression dropped. She let out a slow, deliberate sound.
"Tsk… tsk… tsk."
The room went silent instantly. Then Luthiel spoke again.
"Master Morrigan, Your Greatness. I want to once again propose that you train both me and him."
This time, the room erupted.
"HOW DARE YOU ASK THAT OF THE MASTER OF THE MILLION FISTS!"
"THE CHIEF TRAINING TWO INGRATES? RIDICULOUS!"
"INSANITY! THAT BOY IS NOT TO BE TRUSTED! SHALL WE GO OVER TO THE NEXT LACERT WE SEE AND TRAIN THEM AS WELL?"
Luthiel frowned slightly but remained emotionless. She didn't flinch or look away.
Morrigan just laughed.
She shook her head, took another long swig from her jug, and sighed.
"I suppose I may have some time coming up. So sure."
The room went dead silent.
Luthiel gave a small bow. "Thank you, Master."
Morrigan drained the rest of her jug and handed it to Luthiel, who accepted it gracefully. Then she clapped her hands once.
"Everyone. Our top priority is protecting the innocents of this village and maintaining order. Do that as best as you fucking can. Dismissed."
People began to stand. Grub immediately ducked low and dove deeper into the bushes. He pressed himself flat against the dirt and held his breath as footsteps began filing out of the house. Voices grumbled as they passed, most of them still muttering about Luthiel.
He didn't move or breathe loudly. He waited until the last footsteps faded. Then he heard Morrigan's voice, distant now, as she and Luthiel exited the house together.
"I'll be free soon enough," Morrigan said casually. "Bring that cutie around when I am."
"Yes, Master!"
Then Grub heard her say to herself,
"Speaking of Mister Grub, I wonder what he is doing today."
The sound of light footsteps skipping down the street followed. Then silence.
Grub waited another long moment before crawling out of the bush. He brushed the dirt off his coat and stood up slowly as he digested the recent revelations.
Dundun Ile was hidden beneath the Great Library. The Guardians distrusted him. Luthiel had defended him. Morrigan had agreed to train him. And, perhaps most importantly of all, Luthiel truly believed in him.
Grub looked toward the distant library. He had not even arrived yet, and he already felt like he had learned more than he had in days. A small smile spread across his face.
Today was shaping up to be a very productive day.