The Homeseeker: Elemental Adventurer LitRPG [Isekai] (Series Complete!)

Ma's main room sat in tense silence as Zalan's eyes darted across the scene. Oshrad rotated to Ma, looking for instruction. Ma's fury ebbed away slowly, and her lips gradually turned upward. Glancing down at Captain Buttonwillow, she waved her hand at him dismissively and he was released by the four guards pinning him down. The darkness surrounding the room dissipated, Ma stopping her use of Elemental Shadow Power.

"Rep! Zalan! What a wonderful surprise! Come in, make yourselves comfortable!" Ma said, inviting them in with a twist of her hands.

Captain Buttonwillow was forcefully dragged out of the way to make room for two chairs swiftly placed ahead of Ma's desk at the head of the room. Rep and Zalan made their way inside, not wanting to offend her with any hesitant confusion. Taking their seats, Rep looked back at Captain Buttonwillow and his crew pinned against the wall, and Zalan looked at Ma pleasantly.

"Good to see you, Ma," Zalan said cordially. "We were wondering if you had any time to talk."

"But of course. I am very pleased so see you. McKittrick had just told me that he lost you out at sea and it was likely you had both perished," Ma explained.

"Oh." Zalan joined Rep in taking a glance at the four held at the wall. "No, Rep and I are fine. All thanks to Captain Buttonwillow and his crew, actually." Zalan added in earnest.

"He seemed to believe the opposite," Ma said.

"Perhaps he was being modest," Rep suggested.

"We both know McKittrick does not know the meaning of the word," Ma said.

Rep looked away uncomfortably and Ma's lip quirked up in amusement.

"Very well, let them go!" Ma waved her hand, and her guards released Captain Buttonwillow and his crew immediately.

"But Mother of the Port, I can not go! I have done you the disservice of having destroyed the table you granted me for the captain's quarters!" Captain Buttonwillow protested boldly.

"Save it, McKittrick." Ma said, closing her eyes to retain some patience. "I offered you the table because I was planning to toss it out."

"And it was such a lavish gift," Captain Buttonwillow agreed.

"It was not a gift! It was trash you insisted upon taking from me before I had it destroyed. Do not refer to it as something more. You are trying my patience!" Ma snapped.

Captain Buttonwillow opened his mouth, but was met with the eyes of a dozen guards staring at him, waiting for him to annoy their beloved Ma. Captain Buttonwillow closed his mouth and smiled at Ma graciously.

"You are dismissed," Ma said flatly.

"If it would not displease you, could we remain behind to hear how Rep and Zalan escaped from the Island of Remains?" Captain Buttonwillow asked hopefully.

"It would displease me. Leave."

Captain Buttonwillow visibly pouted, but had no more protests. With long steps, he strode out of the room, followed closely behind by his crew. They gave Rep and Zalan one last glance before leaving, Oshrad slamming the door behind them. Once out of sight, Ma's face grew a maternal expression, looking over Rep and Zalan.

"Have you seen the Nightbloom? It grows well," Ma said, presenting the flower Rep and Zalan brought her.

"It is very beautiful," Rep acknowledged.

"Unmatched. And I remember granting you a ship as a reward. But you gave that ship away to McKittrick? Within days, at that," Ma said, a shift in her tone.

Rep and Zalan went stiff. Zalan realized just how ungrateful it sounded to regift something given to him so quickly.

"It was a great ship!" Zalan said.

"One of the best," Rep corroborated quickly.

"But we don't need to be out at sea anymore," Zalan improvised.

"Such a burden to maintain a ship when you are not around to use it," Rep agreed, adding a light laugh.

"I granted you a burden, then?" Ma asked, tilting her head slightly with an impossible to read face.

"No!" Zalan blurted immediately.

"Of course not!" Rep gripped the ends of the chair tightly.

Ma sat back in her chair, her eyes slowly scanning the pair. Zalan shifted in place uncomfortably and Rep's eyes went to the floor. Gradually, Ma's eyes landed back on the Nightbloom flower and she smiled pleasantly.

"Well, it seems I have not paid you back with an appropriate gift. Something you would not think to give away. What can I do for you boys in that case?" Ma asked, carefreeness in her voice.

Zalan exhaled shakily, hoping not to say anything to harm his relationship with Ma any further. Around her, it always felt like things could go sideways in a matter of sentences. His eyes flitted to Oshrad, who remained expressionless at Ma's side.

"We were wondering if you knew anything about the Dark Elemental that gave you your Elemental Shadow Power," Zalan said.

"You are interested in finding it before that Morloch fellow hunts it down?" Ma asked.

"No. But how did you know it's Morloch that's after them?" Zalan asked.

"I make an effort to keep track of all of the fellow Ascended Beings," Ma replied.

Zalan blinked in shock and Rep's face went slack. They turned to one another then back to Ma.

"You are an Ascended Being, as well?" Rep asked.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"You have five Elemental Powers?" Zalan asked.

"Careful," Oshrad said firmly. "Do not speak lowly of Ma. She has more than five."

"Which ones?" Rep asked, stunned.

Ma smiled simply, her secret safeguarded. Zalan squirmed in place uncomfortably. He also wanted to know how many, but now felt like it was an inappropriate question. All this time he thought Oshrad was the muscle of the operation, but Ma must have been the most powerful person in the room. Maybe even in the realm.

"What did you want the Dark Elemental for if not for its power?" Ma pressed on.

"We were hoping it would know something about Aetheria," Zalan answered.

"The city in the sky? You believe in it?" Ma challenged, amused.

Rep and Zalan suddenly felt like they were being scolded for having the thought. Reluctantly, Zalan nodded his head in affirmation, and Rep followed as well.

"Good. It is real." Ma nodded.

Oshrad looked at her with raised eyebrows but didn't say anything. Clearly he had never believed in it before she said it existed.

"Why are you interested in searching for Aetheria?"

"We know Morloch lives there and wish to stop him from killing any more Elementals," Rep explained.

Ma glanced between the two friends, assessing them for some unknown quality. To their surprise, she nodded with respect.

"A worthy cause. My ships on the docks can only be operated by Elemental Air and Elemental Water users. They should be a growing population, not a shrinking one. Otherwise my fleet can only get smaller. Very well, what do you need to know about Aetheria?"

Zalan raised his eyebrows, not having expected her to offer direct answers.

"Do you know where it is, exactly? What part of the realm would it be in where we just need to look up and spot it?" Zalan asked.

"That is impossible to know. For it is always moving on the back of a cloud. Because of this, Aetheria can not be seen from below. One must be at the same height or above," Ma answered.

"It's constantly on the move?"

Ma nodded. Zalan felt vindicated, having been right about one of his theories.

"What mountain does one need to climb in order to see the city?" Rep asked.

"I do not know. I was only told of it through a former resident of the city who left on the back of a flying monster. A good friend of mine who started my operation with me. This was years ago, and he has since passed away," Ma replied, a look of pleasant nostalgia in her eyes.

"Then… Do you know how we can find it?" Zalan asked.

"How should I know? Do I look as though I live with my head in the clouds?" Ma asked sternly.

"No!" Zalan responded immediately.

"Of course not!" Rep instinctively added.

Ma's face softened a fraction, nodding at their panicked replies. Zalan could never tell if she was messing with them or not. He looked at Rep who met his gaze and shrugged.

"I believe that is all we came to discuss," Rep declared.

"Surely that is not all," Ma said. "I still do not feel as though I have repaid you for achieving what my men could not." She indicated to the Nightbloom.

"Thank you Ma, but you have been more than gracious with your limited time," Rep said.

Zalan suddenly leaned back in his chair in thought. Ma picked up on his expression and leaned forward eagerly.

"You have a gift in mind, Zalan?" Ma asked.

"We were just leaving, right Zalan?" Rep said, a hint of urgency. "We do not want to overstay our welcome," he added insistently.

Zalan pursed his lips and leaned forward, meeting Ma's energetic gaze. He weighed his words carefully and Rep watched, his knuckles whitening on the chair.

"I might have something," Zalan mused.

"We do not need to ask anything more from someone that has been so generous," Rep said loudly, getting up to leave, looking at Zalan with pleading eyes.

"Rep. Sit," Ma ordered. Rep complied quickly, swallowing hard. "Zalan, do not be shy. What can I do for you?"

"Well, not for me, exactly," Zalan turned to Rep with a friendly grin on his face. "But there's this girl…"

Rep's face went a deep red, his eyes growing twice their size. He shook his head slightly.

"A girl you wish to court?" Ma asked eagerly.

"Not me, but Rep," Zalan said, turning back to Ma. "She and her family seem somewhat open to it, but need someone to put in a good word for him. They want him to stop adventuring with the guild as part of the agreement for marriage, but Rep is so responsible. I don't think they need to go that far."

"Zalan, you do not need to do this," Rep murmured through grit teeth.

"Silence, Rep!" Ma snapped, causing him to sit straight in his chair. She turned back to Zalan. "The name of the girl?"

"Junill, the…"

"The swordsmith! Daughter of Valens, the forgemaster. They are a good family. Valens forges all the blades my guards carry. I can certainly put in a good word. And I am certain we can convince them to accept different terms regarding the guild. If you wish for me to involve myself." Ma shifted her gaze back to Rep.

He remained frozen, seated upright with his lips tight. His mouth was locked and his face warm.

"You may speak now, Rep," Ma allowed. "Would you like me to speak to her family?"

Rep bit the inside of his lip, the color in his cheeks rivaling a rose.

"I… I suppose you…"

"Oshrad!" Ma snapped her fingers.

"It will be done immediately," Oshrad replied, straightening his back.

"And cover the dower," Ma ordered.

"As you wish."

"That is not necessary, I have the money for the dower, I need only have someone speak to her and her father. It would be wrong for anyone but the husband to pay the dower," Rep said quickly.

"Well said. Then I will pay for the feast for the wedding if she agrees. All of Oriton shall be invited," Ma said, opening her arms.

"I thank you, but that is far too much for me," Rep said modestly.

"You are rejecting yet another gift of mine?" Ma asked, her tone turning sour.

"No, no!" Rep waved his hands in front of him.

"Excellent!" Ma said, standing up rapidly. She began pointing to different guards and shouting orders. "Gather the food! Get a decent cook to make the food! Set up decorations! Be on your toes to invite the town!"

Her guards saluted her then scrambled out the door one by one, several other instructions following them outside. When Ma ran out of things to shout out, she sat back down in her chair, looking pleased with herself.

"Are you ready to be wed?" Ma asked.

"If she will have me," Rep said, his voice small.

"Come on, Rep, you're great. I'm sure it'll work out," Zalan said, a wide smile on his face.

"More than great, you achieved what all of my men with a wealth of power and experience could not," Ma said.

Rep smiled slightly. He couldn't ignore the praise when it came directly from Ma.

"I just hope we can gather enough food for tomorrow," Ma said.

"Tomorrow?" Zalan's eyes narrowed. "What's tomorrow?"

"The wedding day!" Ma exclaimed.

"Tomorrow?" Zalan repeated.

"Why should we delay it if both parties are pleased with the union? The realm feels as though it is in turmoil. The Beasts of Slumber threaten to wake. What better reason to bring a good event to the people of the city?" Ma asked.

Zalan turned to Rep and was surprised to see his expression was unsurprised.

"You're good with tomorrow?" Zalan asked.

"It is as Ma said," Rep nodded. "What reason is there to delay a good day?"

"I uhhh… I dunno, I just thought these things take longer," Zalan said, scratching the back of his head.

Ma suddenly leaned forward on her table, a youthful smile stretching over her face. Rep and Zalan leaned back slightly, perturbed by the look in her eyes.

"Now, Rep, tell me," she began, sounding as though she was fishing for gossip. "What is it that you like about Junill?"