Me, My Spirit, And I [Book 1 Complete]

The cleanup of the wyvern corpses and the mercy killing of the injured creatures took longer than both the battle and trip to Ahras combined. Lusha could see the city appear on the horizon on their personal scrying screen. Like most cities on Sierrallas, Ahras had thick walls, and unlike similar cities on old Earth, few if any structures could be seen outside the walls. As the capital of a Wylderfolk Queendom, the nature motif so often seen in Wylderfolk architecture had been taken to extremes. Rather than plain stone, the thick city walls were carved to look like widely spaced tree trunks whose branches formed decorative spikes where crenellations would normally be.

Ahras was a much older city than Westlin, and its population of wealthy and powerful families was much higher. Large nature-themed manors could be seen in the center of the city surrounding the palace district. Looming over everything was the forest of the [Witch Queen], which was made of some exotic black marble with green and silver veins running through it. The forest was round and resembled nothing so much as a crown made of woven branches. Overall, the architecture of the walls and fortress/palace were a bit too spiky for Lusha's taste, but the visuals were nonetheless quite striking.

"Grandmother lives there?" Lusha asked their mother in concern. "Is it meant to look that intimidating and dark?"

Shinobin sighed. "The Queendom's history is a bit dark. The first [Witch Queens] were tyrants and were prone to practicing dark magic to ensure their people's survival. The ancient [Witch Queen]s are both revered and reviled in equal measure. The Dark Crown, the palace of the [Witch Queen], is a legacy of those dark days."

Lusha simply nodded while studying the city. It looked like the only place they could land would be inside the central courtyard. As the Shadow Beast slowed on their final approach to the city, they received a surprising reception. Fireballs began flying from the city walls as long-range artillery mages began targeting the SCSS Shadow Beast.

"Raise the wards!" the captain shouted as soon as they noticed the incoming attacks.

Lusha's face scrunched up in concern and confusion. "Mom? You said you warned your mom that we would be coming via a new Skyship, right?"

Shinobin looked concerned and apologetic. "I may have forgotten to mention the appearance of the skyship. I get nervous when writing to your grandmother..." Shinobin trailed off as she watched more attacks being launched from the walls.

"Captain, let's take evasive maneuvers. Sound the alarms and have everyone brace," Lusha commanded firmly. "Mom, take a seat and strap in."

In moments, the Shadow Beast began to dance through the sky as it dodged one attack after another. The concentrated barrage was too intense to avoid completely, but the shield managed to hold long enough for them to soar over the walls and head for the Dark Crown. The barrage stopped as they glided over the city. The mages on the walls weren't stupid enough to fire artillery spells that might fall on civilians.

"I knew I should have installed a means of announcing ourselves, but I was too focused on other things," Lusha mused to themselves.

"Lusha, dear, I know you are confident in your enchantments and defenses, but maybe we should go higher and circle the palace to show we aren't hostile?" Shinobin said.

"Right, captain, you heard her. Take us higher and circle the palace. Hopefully, someone will notice that we aren't some flying monster soon." Lusha was trying to project confidence but honestly wasn't sure how to resolve this issue.

A protective dome rose above the Dark Crown and prevented the Shadow Beast from considering landing. From the dome, which crackled with power, rose a woman dressed in black and green robes. She wore a crown of obsidian, and her robes seemed to move and billow on their own.

"That's mother. She looks angry," Shinobin said with a shudder.

[Witch Queen] Kiera Aseralis of the Queendom of Gloddus floated like a malevolent spirit in front of the SCSS Shadow Beast. The glare on her face would make even those of strong wills and stern constitutions take a step back. The captain had to issue a series of quick orders to avoid ramming into her and slow the skyship to a stop.

The [Witch Queen] could clearly see that the Shadow Beast was no Beast, but an artificial construct up close. She flew close enough to look into one of the large eye-like windows on the bridge. Shinobin and Lusha both waved with tentative smiles on their faces. The [Witch Queen] was not impressed. She glared at them for several minutes before nodding and coming to a decision. She waved her hand in welcome and began to descend slowly.

"Follow her down, please, captain," Lusha said in a strained voice. The [Witch Queen's] stare had unsettled them more than most things could.

The dome of power surrounding the Dark Crown parted like a soap bubble popping in slow motion, and the SCSS Shadow Beast followed [Queen] Kiera Aseralis down to the massive central courtyard. The skyship was quickly surrounded by guards, mages, and other combatants with weapons and spells at the ready as the [Witch Queen] stood glaring at the mouth of the skyship.

No one besides Lusha and Shinobin were brave enough to venture off the ship. Lusha held their mother's arm like they were escorting them to a ball and did their best to make a graceful exit from the skyship.

At the foot of the ramp, the mother and child duo paused. Shinobin stiffened her spine and bowed her head respectfully. "Hello, mother, may I present your grandchild Lucanarius Intarius Aseralis, also known as Luca or Lusha," she said formally.

The stern-faced and glaring [Witch Queen] briefly turned to Lusha and smiled before returning to looking upset and glaring at Shinobin. "My dearest daughter, it is good to see you, but I must point out that you left a few things out of your correspondence. Like the fact the skyship you would be traveling on would look like a monstrous fish!"

Shinobin actually seemed to flush under her brown skin before bowing again. "Forgive me, mother, it somehow slipped my mind."

Lusha could see Kiera trying not to smile, so decided to step in and break any tension. "Greetings, grandmother!" Lusha said in their most cheerful and formal voice. "Would you care for a tour of the Shadow Beast?"

"I was waiting for you to ask!" The stern-faced [Witch Queen] smiled broadly before taking Shinobin's other arm in hers. A pair of guards followed closely behind as the trio turned to march back up the ramp.

With a flick of her wrist, the [Witch Queen] cast a privacy ward around them before speaking again. "What were you two thinking, flying in like that without warning? You panicked half the city!" she said with a laugh.

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Shinobin and Lusha shared a look before Shinobin spoke. "I don't think we were thinking about how a city might react to our arrival in the SCSS Shadow Beast, mother." Shinobin had the good sense to look chagrined.

Lusha winced at their mother's candor but spoke up in her defense. "We haven't really taken the skyship out far beyond Westlin. I didn't consider how it might look..."

"You actually named this thing the Shadow Beast?" Kiera let out another rich, throaty laugh. "It is truly a marvel. I can feel the enchantments, but I can't identify half of what I am sensing."

Lusha nodded before speaking. "I should hope not, grandmother. Most of the enchantments are Shadow Company originals and have obscuring runes as well."

"So it is true. You both have close ties to the Shadow Company and the mysterious Mr. Shadow?" Kiera asked curiously.

Lusha gave Shinobin a shocked look and stopped in their tracks. An unusually mature look appeared on Lusha's face, and they closed their eyes and facepalmed briefly before looking at both women who were staring at them in concern. "Mom, seriously? You didn't tell her?"

Shinobin flushed again and looked away. "I have been very busy, and I have never been good at writing letters..." she trailed off.

"What was I supposed to be told?" Kiera asked with a frown and her eyebrows creased.

Lusha couldn't help the eyeroll that they gave their mother before turning to grandmother Kiera. "I am Mr. Shadow. The Shadow Company is my company, or rather my other selves' company."

Kiera just looked confused. "Dear child, that makes no sense. The Shadow Company is nearly as old as you are."

"Let's head to the conference room. I will have snacks brought in while I explain," Lusha said with a sigh as they started walking again.

[Witch Queen] Kiera Aseralis was rather bemused by their confident and mature grandchild and didn't quite know what to make of them, so followed along curiously.

A few minutes later, they sat closely together around a small table meant for intimate negotiations. "So, grandmother? What has mother said about me in her letters?" Lusha asked calmly but with a glare of annoyance at their mother.

"I am afraid I have been told very little about you, my dear. I know you were born a little over 13 years ago, recently Awakened, were presented to the trees as is proper, something of a prodigy, and have been well educated. Beyond that, I know nothing."

Lusha gave a long sigh and shook their head. They pulled their long wavy copper-brown hair back to reveal the elven ears they had decided to stop hiding. Kiera gasped out loud in surprise before rounding on Shinobin.

"ShiShi! You never told me Luca was a Half-Elf!" Kiera looked back at Lusha while taking note of the coppery hue of their skin and hair. "Half Wyld Elf?" asked an astounded Kiera.

Shinobin nodded guiltily. It was amazing how even grown adults are reduced to child-like mannerisms when confronted with their parent's displeasure.

"Their father is Theo Drykus of the Drykus Kopara Alfaran, the Copper Elves, or Wyld Elves as you said," Shinobin said.

"My dear child, Luca, do you have any idea how rare and nearly impossible your birth was?" Kiera asked Lusha.

"I am, actually. Also, please call me Lusha. Luca is one of my other selves."

"Other selves? Whatever do you mean?" Kiera asked in clear confusion.

"I am not just a Half-Elf. I'm..." Lusha trailed off as the words got stuck. Apparently they couldn't even name what they were anymore. "I have more exotic origins I am geas-bound not to speak of. Though..." They looked at Shinobin for help.

"Lusha is a Blessed child. The Goddess Sierra herself intervened in their conception and birth. They were given Traits from a long-dead race known only as the Precursors. This..." she pointed at Lusha's current form. "Is just how they choose to appear to blend in, as their natural form is a bit more, umm, eye-catching..." she trailed off as she tried to think of how Luca had looked at birth, let alone after the Awakening Ceremony.

"It's alright, I can just show her. When I was born, I looked like this..." Lusha shifted their coloring to match the appearance they had before the intercession of the Precursor had changed it. They sat looking at the [Witch Queen] with bright blue eyes, snow white hair and skin, and glowing blue Wylderfolk spots while being surrounded by a halo of soft light.

[Witch Queen] Kiera Aseralis stood and approached their grandchild with curiosity and confusion on her face. She tentatively reached out a hand and touched Lusha's face before jerking back suddenly. "That's not an illusion!"

"No, I have a Trait that grants me innate Shapeshifting abilities," Lusha said with a shrug.

"How is that possible? I mean, the only natural shapeshifters I know are all Beasts or Monsters that evolved sapience and were granted the Skill to be able to interact with civilization better. Are you some sort of Beast?" Kiera asked in clear concern.

Lusha actually laughed at this question. "Not at all. I am a Half-Elf with a rather unique bloodline granted by the Goddess Sierra. No Beast parts included. At least, not in this form."

"And just how many forms do you have, child?"

Lusha shrugged nonchalantly. "As many as I want. I usually appear as you first saw me; this," Lusha gestured at themselves, "was my true form until after my Awakening Ceremony, but that changed after an encounter with...one of the original owners of this bloodline."

After that, Lusha's hair disappeared into their skull. Their skin turned translucent and bioluminescent, and their two blue eyes were replaced with three eyes that were a solid pearlescent silver white. Their facial features and ears remained the same, but the addition of two fleshy bioluminescent antennae gave them an exotic and alien appearance. When they had first looked at their new form, they had somehow overlooked the antennae, but they were part and parcel of their enhanced Essence Perception in this form. The translucent wings emerging from hidden slits in their uniform added to the strangeness of their appearance. They were still beautiful, but it was in an exotic and alien way instead of the more angelic fae appearance they had been born with.

"By the Elder Tree!" Kiera gasped.

Shinobin gave Lusha an encouraging smile. Lusha smiled back and returned to their default copper-brown Half-Elven form.

"I have another important form. Remember I said call me Lusha? Well, it is because I am the gestalt of two personalities: one Luca, my physical self and one Shada, my spirit self." With that bare-bones explanation, Lusha closed their eyes and used Split Mind. Shada used Spirit Walking to manifest behind Luca's seat.

"Mother, may I introduce you to Luca," Shinobin pointed at the cheerful-looking teen whose mannerisms had shifted in subtle but profound ways and then to the spirit floating behind him, "and Shada."

"What in the Abyss is going on here?" Kiera was beginning to look a bit frazzled, so Luca, Shada, and Shinobin launched into a more detailed explanation of why Kiera had three grandchildren instead of one even if all three were still the same person.

"ShiShi, my dear, I think I see why you left this out of your letters. I think I may have sent Mind Healers to check on you if I had read about this!" Kiera said seriously.

"It is a lot to take in," Shinobin agreed.

A startled look appeared on Kiera's face as she looked between Luca and Shada. "Wait, that means you two are partly responsible for the System being fixed and this damn voice my Guide now has?" Kiera asked sharply.

Luca and Shada looked at each other in shared pain. "Yes, though at least you can change the settings and the Guide's personality protocols. I can't, and mine is particularly obnoxious for reasons I can't explain."

Kiera and Shinobin looked at the duo in surprise. "There are settings?" they asked simultaneously.

It was Shada that answered. "Of course? Didn't either of you check with your Guides about commands, help files, and settings?"

The looks the two women gave Shada said very clearly they had not. What followed was Shada giving his mother and grandmother a crash course in how to use their own Guides. Apparently, very little knowledge of the inner workings of the Guide and possible customizations had survived the hundreds of years since the Guideless Day.

While Shada talked about the Guide, Luca was taking notes and writing down things that they needed to make sure were distributed. Not knowing how to properly interact with and use their Guides meant that there were a lot of people missing out. Luca and Shada would be doing their best to fix that as quickly as possible.