"I've brought your materials." Violet materialized a crate of materials on the kitchen table out of tendrils of her shadow magic.
I tried to look at the crate to see what exactly was stored inside, but all I could catch sight of was a large water jug peering over the edge of the container.
"The druids happened to have a low-grade magnification stone and an intermediate rune wand. Everything else should also be according to your specifications."
She looked at me blankly before continuing. "We're almost through with the beast tide. Should be another day or so before it's all cleaned up. It's still rather dangerous outside, though, so take care. How long do you think it will take you for the water pump and the light devices?"
"Ummm, not really sure how complex they are." I scratched my head. "I imagine the light stones should be fairly straightforward, so probably within a day or so. As for the water pump, I'm really not sure."
Violet nodded.
"What happened with her?" She gestured over her shoulder towards where the head had flown.
'That was a girl!!?' I wanted to shout, but my latent fear of Violet kept me from making any sudden moves. "Um, I told her there were fifty million people like me, and she freaked out saying something about a global conspiracy, and how she didn't want to die."
Am I really just like a caged bird at this point? I thought about my fear of Violet and the violence she'd shown towards the head and the monster she'd slain outside my door. I shook my head. But then again, it's not like she won't let me wander in the area, it's just not super safe right now…I tried to convince myself, but I was definitely starting to feel uneasy.
Violet watched my face flick through several emotions saying nothing. At last she let out a breath, her gaze flickering away. "We knew the Mage Tower was strong. Fifty or fifty million it doesn't matter much. We're already trying to pluck the stars from the sky." Her gaze hardened, and my blood grew cold as fangs elongated from her mouth. After a moment she blinked, and the pressure relented, her fangs slowly retracting.
"Are you…" She paused, looking at me. "Regretting me taking you here?"
I blinked. "Um, you took me here? Wasn't I already here when I woke up?"
She shook her head. "I stole you. I broke into a Mage Tower facility. They were growing dozens and dozens of humanoid constructs. I was confused. I took one with me. Then you woke up." She explained.
"Uhhh," I blinked. This lore was taking a weird turn. Growing chambers? Is this supposed to be, like, the origin of players or something? Is this part of the Mage Tower's secrets? I felt a sharp thrill down my spine at the thought. "No." I shook my head. "Maybe I'm starting to feel a little cooped up now, but you've treated me pretty well, and I'd say all this has been more interesting than anything else. Most of the other people like me don't know anything about this."
Violet nodded and the air around her grew almost…gentle? It almost made me expect to see a smile on her face, but as usual her face remained completely impassive.
"Tomorrow I'll come and bring you to the druids? Would that suit your purpose?"
I blinked. Is this girl actually…a softie? Nah, no way, right? Just trying to keep the runemaster appeased? "Sure!" I replied happily, eager to get the chance to go somewhere else than this damn hut. "Then I can get the chance to look at the well that needs to be pumped as well. Maybe seeing it will help me figure out the best way to make a rune device for it."
She nodded again, content. "Farewell, Star." She wrapped herself in shadow and disappeared.
Was that…? I blinked. The first time she used my name?
***
"I thought you said you'd let me go!? That the debt was repaid!!?" Keravashka, the vampire also known as Violet, narrowed her eyes at the skull spirit. Her killing intent flaring out around her dropping the temperature of the surroundings by several degrees.
"You broke your word Aina." Keravashka's voice came out softly, almost sad. "We made a vow to take down the Mage Tower whatever it took or die trying, what makes you think you can go back on that?" Her eyes glowed crimson, and her voice took on a dangerous tone.
"N-no! Please! I didn't mean to! I HAVEN'T BETRAYED YOU!! PLEASE!" The mouths of the three heads all opened at once crying, but Keravashka's claws only grew longer and sharper.
"You're a danger we can't broker, Aina. We've given up too much to risk it all for your sake." Kera's voice grew husky, a sharp hunger spiking in her aura as her fangs finished elongating, and then in one quick motion she sank her fangs into the ghostly neck of the spirit. With one last wail, Aina the skull spirit disappeared down Kera's mouth like someone pulling the plug on her existence. And soon the forest was quiet again. Kera stood there for a long moment looking off into the trees, a faint melancholy clinging to the edges of her aura. She blinked and with a wave of her hand, shadows consumed her, and she was gone.
***
"Hehe, cheese, jerky, fresh bread, and apples? Violet, you really know how to spoil a girl." I chuckled picking apart the contents of the crate. Setting the food aside to be put away into the kitchen cabinets. "Alright, but here's the real motherload. A bunch of magic stones…ooh a fancy blue pen. Is this the intermediate inscription wand? And…" I wiggled my fingers in anticipation as I reached for the thing at the bottom of the crate. "A magnification stone, kya!" I squealed in delight as I picked it up.
"You're quite the hefty thing aren't you?" I chuckled. "Alright, now let's get you over to my desk to try you out."