Chapter 88: The Relics

  The chaste peck to the cheek was an impulsive act. Eren comes back to herself a second too late to retract it. So she quickly looks away, cursing Ariellia for making such a random request at the end, infecting her conscious thoughts. From the corner of her eye, she can see a faint blush creeping up Rei’s ears, adding an enticing red hue to his fair alabaster skin. She can feel the mood between them shift but neither one of them is brave enough to speak first. As a former member of the opposing team, it was usually Eren’s role to initiate the chase with cheesy lines and dark humor. It feels weird to be the one pursued for the first time, feeling the implied pressure of their budding relationship.  

  “So I take it you’re choosing to stay in that form, despite the sizable amount of mana it takes to maintain outside of combat.” Jasper’s rueful voice cuts through the thick tension between them. It takes a second for both teens to comprehend what he means. Eren vaguely recalls waking up to bright, gold eyes with vertical pupils.  

“You’re still in your half-dragon form?” She’s surprised to see his horns and tail still present. 

Now it’s Rei’s turn to look away, the blush from before spreading to his cheeks.  

“I was so worried when you wouldn’t wake up after two days, that I forgot to revert back I guess,” was his sheepish response before finally dispelling his transformation.  

The two embarrassed teens hear the telltale signs of Jasper’s laughter with the harmonious soft clinking of dragon scales. The older Bastion’s hearty laugh lightens the stiff mood for a moment. Though it may be fun to tease the bashful couple, he knows there are more serious things to be discussed. His forked serpent tongue flicks out as he clears his throat to get the distracted pair’s full attention.  

“After observing the battle between you and the impostor, I have come to the conclusion that I might know what she is after.” 

“Really!” Rei is very eager to know more, probably thinking knowing the fake’s motive might help him kick her out of Anya’s body sooner rather than later.  

“The demon lord’s relics.” 

“The demon lord’s relics? You mean cursed items like Anya’s rose locket?” 

“Yes, based on the abilities she displayed while we were fighting, it’s safe to say she has acquired three out of seven so far.”  

“The Locket, Orb, and Choker, right?” 

“Exactly, each piece represents the demon lord’s dark nature. Envy to poison the mind, a never-ending Gluttony for souls, an avarice Greed for the abilities of others, a dispassionate Slothful attitude towards justice, a Lustful nature constantly seeking to corrupt the body, vengeful Wrath over the slightest grievance, and an arrogant Pride to stand above all things.” 

Ariellia nods her head in understanding. The demon lord’s relics are likely modeled after the biblical seven deadly sins. This is all news to her though, from her recollections of the game, there isn’t a demon lord arc. A player’s main focus is to safely make it to the capital while building their dream team along the way. Could the interference of another foreign soul have changed the script? Is this an early discovery of a hidden boss she didn’t get a chance to fight before the accident? 

“I can smell your brain overheating from here, what’s on your mind dear?” Jasper wouldn’t be Jasper if he didn’t take the chance to land a joke even in troubled times such as this.  

“If she is collecting demon lord’s relics, won’t she come for you next?”  

 Ariellia glances at the sapphire egg nested comfortably between his scaly arms, noticing how the color of the outer shell has become more vibrant. She’s worried her father’s rebirth might fail if a fight breaks out in the nest. The older dragon lord said he can’t stop showering the egg with his mana until it fully hatches. Anya already managed to sneak into the castle once to rob her mother’s tomb. What if she tries again to get the relic Jasper possesses? Arie can’t hide her concern from the two dragon lords, their sharp eyes easily spot her strong grip on the soft silk bedsheets beneath her. 

“Don’t look so glum little moonshine, I welcome her if she dares. In my true form, even without moving from this spot, I can still eviscerate her.” The dragon lord smiles, a vicious show of large razor-sharp teeth.  

“No evisceration, we still need to kick her out of Anya’s body!” Rei panics, very sure his uncle is a hundred percent capable of doing what he says.  

“Relax nephew, that delusional fake won’t be challenging me anytime soon. She’s far too weak to take on my true form, and she knows it. She’ll likely head to the capital to steal the other two relics from Vaiya and Daymon first before returning for me. You may even encounter her on your way there.” 

“What of the seventh relic? Who has it?”  

Ariellia is curious. Jasper says the demon lord’s relics were split among their party members. He often speaks of Rei’s mother Vaiya who sealed them initially, Rei’s father Daymon, her mother Folami, her father David, and Anya’s father Henley, but the last party member was never mentioned. It’s almost like he keeps subconsciously skipping this individual, which is unlike him at all.   

? 

It’s hard to discern the facial expressions of a dragon, but it seems he’s taken aback by her question.  

“The seventh member of our party was...this strange...why can’t I recall the seventh? We travelled together for months!” Jasper’s red scales begin clinking in disharmony, like an agitated twitch, creating an ear-grating cacophony. If he weren’t trying to hatch her father’s egg, he’d likely be pacing the halls trying to recall the name of this missing seventh member.  

“This is not a natural occurrence at all. Our memory might not compare to that of an elf, but dragons do not forget things easily. Something is obstructing me from remembering!” He’s so vexed, he forgets to soften his true voice. Ariellia and Rei wince as they feel it resound in their mind with a touch of scorching heat. If this continues, their brains might melt to mush.  

“What if we try to view your memories through a dream like we did with Queen Meti and Admetus?” Rei suggests while trying to keep the building migraine at bay.  

“That could work, good thinking nephew. Perhaps I was too harsh at the training grounds, there is still hope for you yet.” The older Bastion’s demeanor returns to his usual light, upbeat self, and the effect is almost immediate.  

The harsh clinking of his red scales stops, and his true voice softens. The young couple secretly share a glance, sighing in relief that they managed to avert a full-fledged dragon meltdown. As well-meaning as Jasper may be, his true form can easily overwhelm others, bringing great discomfort if he’s not consciously reining it in all the time.  

“My Lady, Mayor Takao has arrived and requests an audience.” Just as Jasper is about to attempt the memory extraction spell, they are interrupted by Miranda’s voice. Since this is a restricted area, the head maid is unable to appear in person, using a mana stone intercom-like system to convey her message instead.  

“Now of all times! Really, like father like son. Those two must have the worst timing in all Gaea.” Jasper scoffs in exasperation.  

“Calm down uncle, it’s okay. As an acting lord, it would be rude of me to dismiss a faithful vassal. Let us see what he has to say first, while you extract the memories we need. Hopefully, this won’t take long.” Ariellia tries to appease her annoyed godfather, unwilling to suffer the devastating effects of a dragon’s temper for a second time today.