"Listenia?!" I called as I walked in.
I closed the door and looked around the shop, but nothing looked out of place.
"I am upstairs."
I looked behind the counter and smiled. Maybe Listenia was hoping to have some fun before I was gone for the night. I wouldn't say no to that.
I headed around and jogged up the stairs to find Listenia's kitchen also empty. Another good sign.
"I am in my room."
I headed over to the closed door and opened it up, walking in to find Listenia sitting on the edge of her bed in a cute green night dress. Another great sign, but then I saw the look on her face, and I felt the tension in the air. I hadn't noticed it when I came in, but now I did.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I walked over and went down on one knee before Listenia.
"Do you mind laying down with me for a bit? I don't like to be like this, but it has been a long day," Listenia said, looking off to the side, and I nodded and stepped back.
"I'll keep my clothes on, but just give me a minute. I will get clean with magic!" I said, hoping that this might cheer her up.
"You are going to use magic to clean up? There is even magic for that?!" Listenia asked, seemingly pulled out of her thoughts by my impossible comment.
"Oh yes, just watch!" I laughed and pulled in some magic.
At this point, I could do this with my own Mana reserve, but it was easier just to use the magic around me.
First, I summoned an air bubble around myself, and that made Listenia sit up in shock. Then I started to fill it with water. Once it was half full, I whipped the water into a frenzy and half-drowned myself. After the water was drained by using an earth spell to absorb it into the wood below, I used the wind to dry myself off with hurricane-force winds.
"There!" I said as the air bubble popped, and Listenia started to giggle at me. "What?!"
"Your hair is... everywhere. Come get into bed with me now if you are actually dry. That was relatively quick to get completely dried off," Listenia said with a small smile as she laid down and rolled over to face the wall.
"You weren't in there! I am squeaky clean and dry now!" I laughed as I crawled on the bed and to her into my arms, kissing her cheek.
"Sorry for asking you to do this, but there is something about being in your arms that helps calm me down," Listenia said, and I kissed her neck.
"I don't mind, but what happened?" I asked. "You don't seem like the type to get worked up like this."
"My mother came looking for you," Listenia said.
"Oh, her. Silvy told me that she was going to talk to her, but I guess that never happened," I said, thinking about when I was on the wall.
"No one can tell my mother anything. She is rude and disrespectful to everyone that she meets! She is looking for you to tell you what you need to do. We all told her that she was asking for trouble, but all she did was insult Tallia and me!" Listenia growled, tensing up in my arms, so I pulled her closer.
"I feel like there is a lot that I am missing here. What is your connection to Tallia if she was insulting the two of you?" I asked, trying to figure out what had happened.
Listenia explained everything, and I let out a long sigh.
This woman sounds similar to how Listenia had been when I first met her, but on a whole other level.
Elfinia was considered the strongest Goddess, but she had a superiority complex. The problem for everyone was that she could put her money where her mouth was because she had the fists to back it up. I mean, against everyone else.
Looks like I might have to have a talk with this woman. I was getting no feelings of dread for that thought. That must mean I was free to act in accordance with how I wanted.
"Well, it looks like I will have a talk with her, but I will have to get her out of the city. Do you mind if I call Tallia here?" I asked, but then I felt the portal open. "You are supposed to wait until I call you!"
"I am sure that Listenia doesn't mind. What is it that you want?" Tallia said, but I didn't roll over.
"Where is Elfinia?" I asked.
"I am not talking to your back. You can at least show me that much respect," Tallia said, and I could feel her arms cross and Listenia smile.
I rolled my eyes as I rolled over and sat up.
Tallia was standing with her arms crossed.
"So?" I asked, keeping things neutral.
"I sent her off the island. The woman has no respect. Tomorrow I will set up a time for you two to meet. Goldy would also like some of your time," Tallia explained, and I nodded.
"Sure, set it up for lunchtime tomorrow and out in the blasted lands to the south, beyond the wall," I replied, and Tallia nodded and then left.
"Something happened between the two of you. Do you want to talk about it?" Listenia asked as she pressed into my back, but I shook my head.
"Things between us just changed, and there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to take things one step at a time. For now, that means not trying to force her into something that only one of us feels," I said, and Listenia pressed her head into my back.
"I am sorry. That must be hard," Listenia said, and I nodded.
"It is, but like she said, there are much more important things in this world right now that need my attention. Tallia isn't going anywhere, and if she has been helping you, then the person that I knew is really in there somewhere," I said with a sigh, but hearing Listenia's story made me feel better.
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