Realm of Monsters

Chapter 746: We Need to Talk

“Stryg, we need to talk,” Gale said, arms crossed. Aurelia and Gian stared at him with similar expressions. Only Holo seemed unperturbed.

Stryg slumped back in his chair and sighed. “I know.”

Gale waited until the last guard and councilor had left the inner chamber before continuing. “When were you thinking of telling us about your plan?”

“I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?” Gale’s frown deepened.

“I only decided on leaving this morning,” Stryg admitted.

“If I may ask, what brought this decision about?” Gian asked.

Stryg clasped his hands and laced his fingers together. “Seeing everyone waiting at the gate. They were happy because they were finally safe. But they aren’t. No one is. So long as Caligo is out there and Aleirune is weakening, no one is safe. Not to mention those assassins who tried to kill every titan in this city. We are living on borrowed time. But this time I can actually do something to help.”

“Stryg… It’s not your job to help all the Null Realms,” Gale said.

“I just want to protect the people I care about and this is the best way to do it,” Stryg said.

Gale sighed deeply and hung her head. “Where are we going?”

“What?” Stryg asked.

“I’m going with you, obviously. You and I are bound together, you made sure of that,” Gale held up a lock of her white hair.

“You plan to go after Melantha,” Holo guessed.

“Yeah. That’s a start. If she’s on the trail of Hope then maybe we stand a chance at stopping all of this,” Stryg said.

“I can help you find her,” Holo said. “I can show you the path between realms. It will be dangerous, though I’m sure you two can manage.”

“Thank you,” Stryg said.

Holo waved him off. “Eh, that’s what big sisters are for.”

“So that’s it? You toss me your crown and leave. Just like that?” Aurelia growled.

“For what it’s worth, I think you’ll make a great queen,” Stryg said.

“I disagree. I despise most of these people,” Aurelia said.

Stryg reached out and grabbed her hand. “I think you can make this city what Stryga always dreamed it could be. A place where goblins and the other folks of this realm can intermingle freely.”

“Stryga…? You saw my grandmother’s memories?” Aurelia whispered.

“Not just hers. Nalindra’s too. And yours. And my own… I remember everything. So believe me when I say, I know your mother would be proud of you and the queen you will become,” Stryg said.

Aurelia swallowed the lump in her throat. “Okay,” she said in a quiet voice. “Only until you return.”

“Fair enough.” He gave a half-grin.

“Do not worry, young master. I will keep her safe while you are gone,” Gian assured him.

“Thank you, I know you will. You’re the reason our House still lives.” Stryg’s grin widened.

“What are you going to do about the other lords and ladies? Calantha practically ousted you as a god in front of everyone,” Gale asked.

“No one will believe her,” Stryg said.

“And if they do?” Gale asked.

Stryg shrugged. “Let them think what they want. If they think I'm immortal, good. It’ll keep them from doing anything stupid while I’m away.”

“Says the man who most likely just started a rebellion thanks to all his new decrees,” Gale muttered.

“One thing at a time, Gale. One thing at a time,” Stryg said.

“And what ‘thing’ might you have to deal with at this time?” Gale asked.

Stryg stared out the window. “Home.”

~~~

Rhiannon was waiting for Stryg at the entrance of the Veres manor. She didn’t even wait for Stryg to reach the door before she rushed to him and swept him up in a tight embrace. “You did it! You actually did it!”

Stryg returned the embrace and laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”

“I didn’t know if you’d keep your promise,” said a familiar voice from the shadows of the doorway. Lysaila slithered outside.

Rhian placed Stryg down and stepped back.

“Lysaila… You’re here,” Stryg said.

“I’ve been around. News of your ‘decree’ has spread throughout the city like wildfire. I had to make sure for myself. Is it true? Are the beast-kin free?” Lysaila asked.

“From the laws of this place? Yeah. Hopefully. It might cause problems with the nobility for a while, but we’ll give them no choice,” Stryg said.

Lysaila took a deep, shaky breath and smiled, tears in her eyes. “...Thank you, Stryg. It means a lot.”

“It’s not enough. The magic that binds you to me still exists. I will find a way to change that. I promise,” Stryg said.

Lysaila wiped the tears from her eyes. “For the first time in a long while, I’m believing words that sound too good to be true. Thank you.”

“You’re a part of my tribe. I will always try to help you,” Stryg said.

“...I am grateful to have met you, Stryg Mortem. If you’ll excuse me, I have preparations to make.” Lysaila glanced at Rhian, “See you later tonight at the Merry Crescent?”

“Yeah, definitely,” Rhian said.

Lysaila nodded to the two of them, then slithered away.

“Rhian, I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” Stryg said.

“Oh?” She glanced back at him. “What is it?”

“I’m leaving—the realm, I mean. For a while.”

“I heard about that too. Didn’t know if it was real or not, though.”

“It is. I, uh, I was wondering if you’d like to come with Gale and me? It could sort of be like old times. You and I, traveling across the realm again. This time it’d be a different realm.”

Rhian smiled bitterly. “I’d love that, but I can’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ever since I met you, I’ve been free to go wherever I wish, but the others of my kind have only just gotten that chance. There will be lots of bad, powerful people who will try to stop them from getting that chance. I guess what I’m saying is, I need to help my kin.”

“I see.” Stryg forced a smile. “If anyone can help, I know it’ll be the Spear of the Ebon Tribe.”

“Hehe, you know it.” Rhian beamed.

“Do you need supplies? Coin? You know House Veres will always support you. Whatever you do.”

“Maximus, Lysaila, and I have already talked it over. We’re going to meet at the tavern later tonight to talk about the details. And yeah, Elise is already writing up a charter for us. She also insisted that we take a battalion of Veres soldiers and a Gale swordsmaster with us. Lysaila didn’t like the Gale bit, she’s already a grand swordmaster, after all.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Stryg imagined Lysaila would challenge to a duel whoever was unlucky enough to be stuck being her escort, all so she could point out how useless they were at their job.

Stryg cleared his throat, “I can’t say I won’t miss you, but I’m happy you’re doing what you want.”

“Aw, don’t say it like that. You’re going to make me cry,” Rhian hugged him again. “We’ll see each other again. Real soon. I promise.”

He hoped so. He really did. But he didn’t want to say that part out loud, lest it throw into doubt her words.

“Stryg.” Tauri stood in the gateway, out of breath, hands on her knees, and beads of sweat on her scarlet face. “Is it true?” she demanded angrily. “Are you leaving?”

Rhian dropped Stryg and gave him a sympathetic look. “I’ll, uh, be inside. Nice to see you, Tauri!” She gave a wave and hurried back into the safety of the manor.

“Coward,” Stryg called out playfully before turning back to Tauri. His smile died as he met her amber eyes.

Tauri marched down the long pathway right up to him and poked him in the chest. “Is it true or not? Are you leaving?”

“...I am.”

She scoffed. “Unbelievable. What was your plan, huh? Just let the whole world find out before telling me?”

“To be fair, I didn’t tell anyone before that council meeting.” And as soon as he said those words, he knew they were the wrong ones.

She slapped him on the face, not caring if it hurt her more than it did him. “You fucking asshole.”

This time, Stryg knew it was best not to say anything.

“Where exactly are you going?” Tauri asked.

“I’m not sure. I’m going to meet up with Melantha, but I don’t know which realm she’s in.”

“Why?”

Stryg met her angry gaze. “Because I want to protect the people I’ve come to love.”

Tauri ran a hand across her face and groaned. “So that’s it? You just go fuck off somewhere across the realms for our sakes without even asking us how it might affect us?”

“I didn’t—”

“You didn’t think about that. I know. You never think about how your consequences affect others, Stryg. You do whatever you want, destroy whatever you want, and always leave us to pick up the pieces. Did the thought even cross your mind that we’re supposed to be getting married soon?”

The look on Stryg’s face ousted him before he could lie.

Tauri rolled her eyes. “No, of course it didn’t. Such mere events are far too beneath the interests of a god.”

“I’m sorry,” he said in a quiet voice.

“Ever since Undergrowth, I’ve stuck by your side through everything. I’m the only one who has stuck by your side through every single shitty problem, most of which you put us through. And now you’re going to—what? Just leave? How long are you even going to be gone?”

“I… It’s a long journey. I have to first find Melantha and then try to find Hope…”

“You don’t get it, do you?” She half cried, half laughed and shook her head. “I’ve always supported your decisions, even if I didn’t agree with them. But I can’t do this. I can’t just smile and wish you a safe journey like some good little wife.”

“...You could come with me?” Stryg ventured. “I had hoped you would.”

“What? Go to a different realm with you? Stryg, I’m a daughter of House Katag. My place is here—in this city. You're the Ebon King of Hollow Shade. Your place is here. Your people need you, now more than ever. Those decrees of yours won’t simply be followed, they’ll have to be enforced. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know, but I trust my tribe. They can do this without me. They’ll stop whatever opposition arises. Our tribe is strong. They’ll be fine.” He offered her his hand. “So, will you come with me?”

Tauri stared at his hand and took a step back. “I don’t… You’re asking me to leave everyone and everything behind for what could be years. I don’t know if I can do that.”

Stryg lowered his arm. She was right. He had promised her a different life and he had thrown it all aside, and now, he was asking her to jump first without looking down. “I understand. I’m asking a lot and I know this isn’t the future you imagined with me… I’m sorry for doing this to you.”

Tauri stepped closer and leaned her forehead against his. “Please, don’t go.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “It’s because I love you that I have to.”

Tauri kissed him softly on his lips, then stepped back, and walked away. He watched her go, uncertain if she’d return.

~~~

Stryg walked into his bedroom with a heavy gait. Blossom unclasped itself from his shoulders and fell to the ground in a pile of white petals. He kicked off his boots and wiggled his clawed toes, happy to feel the smooth, cold touch of the stone beneath him. He grabbed a bottle of wine and was about to sink into bed to rest for the first time in several days when he noticed Feli watching him from the balcony of their room. She was reclining on a divan, basking in the late afternoon sunlight. In her hand, she held a ledger of the mercantile ventures she shared with Maeve.

“Hello, love,” she said without getting up.

“Hi.” He gave a tired smile.

“Busy day I see.”

“Yeah, you could say that. Can we talk?”

She lowered her reading glasses and put her book down. “Always.”