There would be a probation period for these new arrivals obviously They needed to be taught about the changes that have occurred in their world But Sydney had high hopes
The downsides of this option were that Star Crossing might be better situated to take this path as many of them had the Soulbond Companion Skill and if they both went for the same thing East End would likely lose out
Meanwhile the second option was that one Classer’s random Class had been Elementalist and recently elemental spirits had been spotted in the nearby area They were largely harmless just small sprites with a bit of power but the Elementalist could channel them through her body to great effect Drake theorized that as the Elementalist grew and if there were more of this Class more Elementals would appear and more powerful ones
If the Village became focused on Elementals it would undoubtedly be powerful But it was a much harder sell to the people already here and established If Sydney used her groomed non Classers and the Elementalist plan turned out to be a bust it would be a waste of resources The benefit from Elementals was much more nebulous right now even if the eventual payoff seemed higher
Sighing Sydney turned her attention away from the present issues and to the second bundle of papers the real reason she was exhausted Ace had sent a letter She supposed she should be happy that he had apologized but when Ace apologized it only meant one thing
He was going to do something even more stupid
And based on his request for Coppernicus Sydney could see what he would do He would raise the Hero that misogynistic pig that had tried to get them all killed Coppernicus’ Skill might bring the man back but it was hard to say what sort of Soul would inhabit the raised skeleton Copernicus had been revived by a fluke almost immediately after death and hadn’t really spent any time truly dead
But even in that small shard of time Coppernicus sometimes spoke of a great darkness and an endless desert filled with floating bells It didn’t seem so horrifying an image but the times he spoke of it were the only times she had seen emotions cross his skull As such Sydney was largely inclined to believe Coppernicus when he said it was a good idea not to revive anyone who had been dead for too long
On the other hand the Skill might not work Raise Dead required that the killer be a willing participant in the ritual if the Skill user wasn’t himself the killer Very few people would willingly bring back their enemies
Roy had obviously fallen to the Tribulation but it wasn’t clear whether he truly died Perhaps Ace who went in and was the first person to crush the Dungeon could truly be considered the killer Then if he possessed the skeleton
Sydney shook her head Too many ifs But it wasn’t her problem Their previous relationship was done This apology allowed her to put the negative emotions behind her but she wouldn’t elevate him back to where he was before He would need to earn it
Sighing she sent word to Coppernicus ordering him to assist Ace
Thea had long since ceased crying but she still didn’t know what to do It was a lot like watching a car crash in slow motion she couldn’t look away but she felt her soul being torn in two as the slow progression meant the screams seemed endless That was what Chrysanthemum’s feeble struggles to cheer her up were They were horrifying in a way That even now her sweet partner would
She forced herself to let that train of thought go when her face threatened to split open again Her body didn’t even have any more moisture to force out of her tear ducts but she could sit there and tremble for a while perhaps hoping in some distant way to shake off the constant grip of fear and despair that was on her
There was a part of her that wanted to lay blame at someone’s feet but very quickly Chrysanthemum’s gentle spirit had warned her away from that Even as the fury of Dance of the Ghostbear kept turning her vision red the calm compassion of Chrysanthemum kept her alive
Of course that influence was slowly disappearing
By now Chrysanthemum was almost entirely unconscious Her life was slipping away drifting off of her and into the Earth below Thea knew her mother would probably say something inane about the big bear feeding so many plants which would feed so many animals and people but Thea couldn’t stand that line of thoughts right now It made her want to produce her hammer and crack her own skull open
She was so filled with wild emotions and yet so perfectly empty and hollow just a listless zombie that was watching her partner pass
Around her Simon continued to try and cheer her up but she ignored him Honestly it was growing increasingly infuriating Thea just wanted well she wanted Chrysanthemum to live But the more time passed the more Thea realized it wouldn’t happen There was no one to save Chrysanthemum The injury to her bear was something that no one yet truly understood that vast passage of time was a blow that could even fell entire worlds
What Thea truly wanted now was just to be alone The Ghosthound had understood that which is why he had left her here with her grief The Ghosthound probably had gone through something similar in the past and had learned from experience
Abruptly Simon’s flowers and birds and stars were gone Instead there was a low mist on the ground Thea looked up confused wondering if this was another ploy by the idiot to make her smile or something shitty But instead of Simon she found herself face to face with a female figure
And it was someone she recognized dimly but also by reputation It was the golden angel of Donnyton Lyra The woman who had somehow become a Village Spirit
Thea was shocked enough by her presence here that she momentarily forgot the pain in her heart But all too soon it crashed back in and some surly bitterness crept up What are you doing here Leave me alone
Lyra smiled wider now It doesn’t have to be like this you know
What This time Thea didn’t bother to push back the rising tide of red Furious she stood If I could avoid this don’t you fucking think I would She’s my
Yes she’s a part of you Lyra said her smile never wavering Which means you can save her If you want Chrysanthemum to live take my hand
Lyra extended her hand and it was wreathed in green fire Abruptly Thea realized she recognized the fire it was the same color and consistency of the Skeleton Knight before the Ghosthound defeated him
I Thea’s anger drained away replaced by the crushing sadness and just a small spark of hope I don’t believe you
Lyra snorted her lovely nose wrinkling as she laughed Then what’s the harm in taking the chance
Thea had no answer that made sense to her after two days of crying So she reached out and took Lyra’s hand The other woman laughed watching the flame spread up Thea’s arms to her chest and then rushing up to consume her It hurt but it wasn’t as bad as she was expecting Very quickly she could feel the flames feeding into her chest flowing through the bond between them to Chrysanthemum She felt her own strength decreasing somewhat but she felt Chrysanthemum’s tremble and then start to rise
As Thea made to pull away rushing to Chrysanthemum’s side Lyra’s hand tightened on her own
For where there is Champion The other woman hissed her eyes glowing violet There must be Nemesis Open your eyes girl and understand what you now are
Thea opened her eyes and saw very briefly the fabric of this world and her place in it
Chapter 477
Tanya swept up the shorn off hair into her dustpan trying not to stare at the heavy iron sword the middle aged man was buckling back around his waist It was enough that the people living around here didn’t use electricity and didn’t even seem to want to but it was another thing entirely for Tanya to accept that the people here wore fucking swords