The Maid and Her Princess

IX. Arrivals

When Madoka woke up, she realized she did not have any of those dark dreams again. No corrupted voices calling for her eyes, no ominous visions of roots. She still checked herself over, before her blurry vision finally cleared. Grey daylight filtering through the tent illuminated the lump clinging to her.

Audrey, unsurprisingly, had latched onto her at some point. Her body was cold to the touch, despite being buried underneath more blankets that have somehow piled on top of her during the night. Wait, something about the princess felt softer than usual. Madoka moved her hand, feeling bare skin— and that unfamiliar faint roughness of scales whenever she brushed against them.

The princess let out a suggestive moan and eased into the maid's wandering hand. Then Madoka realized what she was doing and snapped out of it. A yawn overtook her and broke out into a stretch. Audrey groaned as she was shoved aside by her arms. The little lump rolled into the tent. There were faint noises moving around outside. People were just waking up as well. She glanced at the princess, who was already curling back into a ball, and gave her a squeeze.

"Wah!" She flailed weakly, her eyes wide as she locked onto the maid. "I'm awake. Battle ready, sir!"

The girl flailed and tried to get up, but crumpled back to the ground and instantly fell asleep again. Shameless. Madoka sighed. Inspecting the torn up cloaks hanging nearby off a rack, she realized that their recent journey had taken nearly everything from them. They were truly in a wretched state. Touching the warm talisman strapped to her neck did not make her mind spin. Instead, everything spread out around her like she was surrounded by constellations of randomly assorted items.

Come to think of it, they have not really sorted out everything they currently had inside the Storage Talisman. She did not even know when Audrey got a larger tent, nor who she stole it from. The original tent was on a rack in her mind, like it belonged there the whole time. When they get the chance, she will definitely dump everything out that they could use as a weapon or wear. Madoka found a familiar set of uniforms that put her heart at ease the moment she visualized them.

A full set of maid attire. Yeah, she opened the portal and the uniform fell out. It was behind the massive Crystal Lizard's body. That beast was the largest thing inside of the storage talisman now, since the Guardian was taken. The second was the Goblin King head. And that was if the cube decided to stay the size that it currently settled in. Those Human weapons, a lot of rocks, some useless swords, and maid uniforms. Aside from that, they had two cloaks and nothing else. Not even shoes.

This was no good, she frowned. Those coins and fruits would do well for some clothing, right? They had a surprisingly low amount of things they could wear! How unfitting of her duties to dressing Her Highness!

Audrey yawned, completely unaware of the storm brewing within Madoka's thoughts. Before the princess could question her, she hurled a cloak straight at Her Sleepiness.

"Giddyup!" She yelled. Rags or not, the maid had a new mission in her head. They must get to Ceghinortan and buy new clothes.

After a lot of fussing and packing the tent back inside the storage talisman, Audrey looked a lot better than she previously did when they fought off the Gift Giver, though their appearances were still shabby. A gathering of people were near them, tidying up their things. Madoka caught sight of the Guild Masters speaking with each other amidst a crowd of mages. Tails swished about after the fluttering black cloaks, and a pile of dissolving metal ashes was left at their feet. Golden flakes of Knotting magic lept from the pile, racing along the ground and in the air as if they were desperate to get away from the Sovos ritual. Small cyan strands also hung in the air before dissipating, leaving the field hazy.

Were they speaking with Ceghinort? Madoka frowned. Knotting strands and that strange Mansion magic entwined together. She remembered that to be able to detect the colors of Strand, one must be born with it. Was Mansion magic different somehow? Or did that magic tablet tell them their magical aptitudes were wrong?

Madoka snapped out of it when she saw Eraziror approaching her. Her Sleepiness was still yawning when he came with a grin on his face. She groaned. She was definitely not ready to hear whatever he had to say.

"Yo," Eraziror greeted them. His tone suggested he was over whatever gloominess they had last night. Madoka nodded curtly, dodging Audrey's stretching. "You two have got some freak luck, eh? First an Abyssal Monster and then the Weeping Souls. And that thing you dropped on top of it! That was the Golem that wrecked this whole shop! And you sleep it off and act like nothing's happened! Ceghinort's blood and— ah, you know."

"It called itself a Gift Giver," Madoka murmured. Then she added the other name it labeled itself. "0V174A. Sir Drezgor got pulled away before he could explain more."

Eraziror paused, taking in what she told him. Then he shrugged, rolling his shoulders. Madoka groaned at his lack of profundity.

"Ain't much a Silver like me would know about the specifics. Songs say the Gift Givers are beasts from a forgotten Era. Even the Labyrinths are from that darkness. They don't really appear up on the surface unless a certain someone uses powerful magic to wake it up," He winked at Madoka. "You know, Abyssal things are usually reserved for Gold Adventurers and up—" he poked the maid's shoulder. The tag slung around her neck glinted in the light, and a glare made him withdraw his hand quickly. "—House Dalion will definitely be down and deep inside the Labyrinths' halls soon enough. And me? Well, I'm not the one using powerful magic and slaying mountain sized beasts, you know."

"Fair enough," Madoka muttered. She felt something lean on her. She frowned. Clearly, Audrey had not been sleeping at all last night. They were supposed to be off to the Capital today. "So what are you planning on doing then?"

"Work in the capital, of course," Eraziror pointed at the massive palace. "But between you and me? I'd be happy to show you every bar and tavern around in the living districts."

That suggestion nearly made Madoka slap her forehead. Of course he remembered what trouble she had caused while she was drunk. She was about to drag Audrey away when Eraziror slapped his forehead in an exaggerated fashion.

"Right, I was here to tell you Luxgor has requested House Dalion's presence," he waved. "What's next and maybe a bit of 'What in the Abyss have you two gone through!' mixed in there. Best not keep him waiting. I'll be uh, with the Discount Truth Guild over there. Those ladies are very good at digging up gossip, you know."

Madoka followed where he was pointing. A group of Sovos women were gossipping and whispering amongst each other. They giggled as he walked towards them. The lyre was already out. She held her hips and frowned at him. Just what exactly was he up to? Did he not love Kanys?

"Geez, he really is a bard," Audrey muttered.

"A bard?"

"Yeah, he plays an instrument, has high charisma and has many people he— you know what? Nevermind," she trailed off. "Thank goodness you're not straight, right? Though if we ever run into a girl bard I'll— nae waah. I don't even want to think about that!"

Madoka gave Her Highness a strange look, realizing she was pouting over something she was not aware of. Based off of the strange things Audrey was spouting, she determined that she was fully awake now. The princess's beautiful face was no longer scrunched with tiredness and her eyes were wide open. At least she did not have to worry about holding her as they walked.

"Shall we see Master Luxgor?" She asked.

"The GM? He wants to see us?" Audrey frowned. "What for?"

Madoka groaned. The princess clearly missed everything Eraziror just said to them. It was truly going to be a long morning.

"The scouts have come back with good news," Luxgor finally spoke after glancing between the princess and Madoka several times like a confused bird.

His language switched from Reverent Noble to Commoner, to Noble, back to Reverent Noble, like he was unsure of who exactly he was dealing with. It was secretly amusing to Madoka, but after she glanced at Audrey's confused face she fixed him with a stare that strongly suggested he should choose one language to stay on. Luxgor looked like he swallowed a fuzzy bug, eventually deciding on using Reverent Noble.

"No barriers left by the Abyss," he told them. "Now, we're off. When we arrive, we will be off to take you to see the Ceghinortan Adventurer Guild Master. I think you'll quite like what the Capital has to offer besides… wings."

"The Guild Master isn't the God King, huh?" Audrey scribbled something in her notes. Madoka ignored whatever he was insinuating, figuring he was trying to get under their skin because their dismissive behaviors offended him somehow. "Strange that it isn't Ceghinort himself, but I guess it makes sense. Guy is busy after all."

The Livertorjan Guild Master looked at her and frowned.

"What about Drezgor?" Madoka interjected before Luxgor could say whatever stern warning he had on his tongue. He paused, then looked helpless.

"He is off to assist Lady Fate," he motioned to the soldiers and adventurers that had gathered around. He knew he could not get any answer out of House Dalion if they did not feel like giving one. Why Audrey had chosen to keep her lips sealed about their power was a mystery, one she could not afford to disobey. "Well, we're off now. Get going everyone!"

Everyone hollered and cheered. Feet marched on soft shaken up dirt, leaving the cratered remains of whatever number this Petal was. Scattered thoughts of birds were filtering through the sky like light raindrops. Wait, something splotched Madoka's wrist. A fat, warm droplet had splashed upon her skin.

"I've been thinking," Audrey spoke. They once again were trailing behind everyone. The sky had open up and let out more of those big raindrops, so Madoka took the opportunity to use her Crystal as a thin disk to block it from disturbing her princess's thoughts. "A lot of people died in the Guardian's attack, right? I hope those Truth Guild members were able to escape. I haven't seen Arudite or her cat follower among these people."

The purple haired researcher, Madoka mused to herself. She had forgotten all about the Truth Guild during their recent struggles. For some reason, the image of Lady Eena appeared in her mind. A sinking feeling settled on her skin, like weeds splitting soil. Did she not make it out of the battle? Was she one of those spirits floating up to the great Void above?

"Lady Eena," she nearly broke out into a gasp. Madoka could not help it, but looked to her feet in shame when she felt the princess furrow her brows the moment she heard that Noble's name. "She probably did not make it either."

"Hmph! N-Not like I care either way," Audrey scoffed. Then she said softly, almost like she was apologizing. "Just kidding."

What would she have to apologize for? For it was heretical to even think of such things towards another as a slave. Even thinking of Audrey as someone more than her master was somewhat difficult to get used to. It has been a lot easier, but still foreign to her. But here Madoka was, caring a bit more and more about her own thoughts and heart every moment spent walking with her.

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"Honestly, I don't really mind if you think of Lady Eena," Audrey pursed her lips. "She helped us a lot while we were up on the Uracksheegal. It'd be ungrateful of me to tell you to stop."

Right as she said stop, her foot landed on something hard poking out of the dirt. Stone? Madoka scraped the ground with her boot. Everyone else seemed like they were slowing down to inspect the new surroundings.

"Huh, well, this is new," Audrey's face paled for a moment, then she dashed towards an opening in the crowd.

"Audrey, wait!" Madoka chased after Her Slipperyness, but she was already lost in the crowd. She scolded no one in particular, but channeled magic in her eyes. "You won't get away from me."

The Shared Vision revealed what the princess was looking at ahead. It was a fallen structure of some kind, resembling a part of one of the Gift Giver's tale segments, arched over a massive pit of darkness. Madoka skidded to a stop. The massive chasm spread across the plains, presumably leading directly to the Abyss and serving as a natural bridge. This strange and cracked building served as the bridge across, though they could just fly over it. She realized why the princess did not think of that. Her mind told her about it with a designation: This building was from Audrey's world.

She felt lucky that she did not step onto it. The rectangle had a thin sheet of glass. A window, flattening the grass beneath it. Her Highness had stopped in front of the crowd, after briefly glancing at Luxgor's worried face and ignoring whatever he was saying to her before turning back to look at the ruins again. Madoka shoved her way through the crowd as she went to retrieve Audrey. She easily avoided more of the windows others were navigating around, marveling at how easily she adjusted to their Shared Vision as she strode on by them. With it, she tracked the troublesome girl easily.

"Careful, House Dalion!" Luxgor shouted, but Audrey had already jumped on the building's side. Madoka groaned and jumped afterwards, her gaze locked on the girl's blue cloak.

Audrey's body stiffened when she saw her own back through Madoka's eye and she turned to face the maid with a sheepish smile.

"This is too dangerous! You could have observed it like everyone else!"

"Sorry, got a little ahead of myself," the princess tried to appease her worry. Madoka rose her chin up in disappointment, but glanced at the new problem blocking the path to the Capital. Her cheek still stung a little from the Knotting magic retracting its way out of her pupil.

"This is a… skyscraper. Fallen over, basically a bridge now."

"How do you… Nevermind, that cube probably told you what this fallen place is," Audrey glanced ahead. The building was shattered and possibly on the verge of snapping completely, as one might expect of a fallen structure, revealing more of the pitch black darkness through exposed rebar and powdered concrete. "Probably not good to hop down there yet."

"Yet…?" Madoka shuddered at the thought.

"So what are we standing on, Mister Luxgor?" Audrey called over her shoulder to the Guild Master standing above her on the ridge. She was playing dumb, Madoka noted. It was probably for the better.

"Get off of it, House Dalion," Luxgor warned. "Or at least don't move any further. You could collapse it at any moment!"

Madoka gripped the girl's shoulders tightly, making her yelp. Soon, he flew over them and glared directly at Audrey. The two gulped hard, then joined him in the air.

"These ruins are from ancient times, floating up from the Abyssal depths to the surface. The deep dark you see through the windows is the Abyss itself, wait for the scouts and do not move further," he explained. "A certain purple haired friend of yours has a great interest in what lies below. Once you fall in, you must find an exit to the Labyrinth to leave. Not even your new wings can fly you out. Got it?"

"S-She lives…?" Audrey gasped. Her voice hitched, while Madoka's heart fell. Why her and not Eena? What about Master Thribelt?

"You'll find out soon enough," Luxgor smirked, as if he had finally gained an upper hand over them. "She parted ways with Drezgor to the Capital to the Truth Guild when the Cel'Row were routed."

So that is how it is, Madoka sighed. A hand slipped its way into hers. Audrey's gaze landed on her with a steady focus. In them, her reflection only existed. Was this her way of showing that the researcher was not important to her as she was? Her hardened face wavered, so she looked away and scoffed.

Several scouts appeared over the edge of a hill. Then, using Knotting magic, they launched metal spears into the surface of the building. Madoka guessed they were marking a safe passage for them by the way everyone else was moving towards each spear. Luxgor glared at the two again, before landing and marching towards the frontline to lead.

"How on earth is that helpful in keeping the skyscraper's structural integrity together?" Audrey muttered, hesitating to follow the crowd. Madoka noticed the golden strands racing from the metal spears along the building's cracks, fusing them together like knitted cloth. She supposed the Princess could not see them, so she simply landed and stepped forward directly next to one. "H-Hey! Wait!"

Madoka did not slip. Nor did the ground groan beneath her. The skyscraper, though fallen and shattered, remained unmoving beneath her. The princess's concern made her feel a certain kind of warmth, but soon her hurried footsteps bounced behind the maid as she marched along. They could have flown across and be more safer, but it was too late now. The pit was crossed.

There was not much left to talk about. Eventually, the crowd of Sovos adventurers fell silent as they marched along. Madoka was unsure what to make of all of them. Several looked at her with varying looks, but none of them dared to speak to them. Perhaps their reputation carried a certain weight over them or maybe they did not speak with them since they were posing as Narms from Esmeralda and different than them.

It did not take long before they reached a cliff overlooking a site that appeared to be the foot of a massive ravine. A dead end? Madoka did not even notice that the air was cooler now and the grass was slowly becoming tangled by forest debris and ancient creekwater. A twisting cliffside path was up ahead. The group diverted from the thicker fog ahead. A scout ahead signalled to them that the camp was taking a rest before they eventually headed up. He disappeared into the grey world above them. The fog blotted out the sky now, but the silhouette of the capital loomed through the mist.

Madoka had ran out of questions, so she did not bother wondering where they were. They have traveled without issue since the skyscraper so she decided to leave it up for the other Adventurers. She stretched, then summoned the Crystal out of her chest and hovered over the ground. Audrey sidled up next to her after giving her a jealous look, then levitated and reclined in the middle of the air. Madoka looked at the relaxed girl "lying on her back" in the air, realizing it was her turn to feel a little envious and self-conscious. Perhaps this is why the Sovos gave them strange looks.

"So how'd you get those wings anyways?" Eraziror's nonchalant voice interrupted their quiet break. He looked embarassed after she caught him staring at them, or perhaps some memory of their adventure to the Mines reminded him of an odd experience. "They're blinding, I give you that. Not like the old Master's or the Lady's golden wings or others."

"I've been getting used to my magic lately," Madoka said lazily. She excluded she was forced to learn how while training in the Leyline. "Maybe it's been in me all along."

"The Way of Madoka, a certain Artisan Boss told me," Eraziror chuckled. Boss Thribelt. "He took the whole Guild underground, probably. Anyways, I've been thinking of a song for House Dalion. Would you like to hear—"

"No," Madoka cut him off. Eraziror clicked his tongue, but laughed.

"Fair enough," he trotted off.

Does he just show up to annoy us? Madoka wondered.

"You speak so freely with him," Audrey noted.

"D-Do I?" Madoka felt her face and lips, as if there was something wrong with her.

"Yeah, it's like you're relaxed with him," Audrey pressed on. "But not with me! It's always 'be careful Audrey!' and 'don't cause trouble!' Poppycock!"

"Well, it's because you do cause trouble a lot," Madoka snapped back. Audrey spun in circles as she channeled magic into her feet.

"Hmph!" Audrey scoffed. "One day you'll be relaxed around me. You'll be so free and easy, you won't even have to stand up!"

It sounded like a threat to Madoka, but she was not sure what the Princess was talking about. So she remained floating in the air with her eyes closed. There was something prickling her face, from her cheek to her ear, making her head feel light. She dismissed it as strain from their Shared Vision magic. She did not want to worry Audrey after all, since they were relaxing now.

Commotion broke up ahead, snapping them out of their rest. Madoka released her magic and landed on her feet. It seemed like the group was mobilizing. Audrey tugged her hand and pointed. A figure in a green official Adventurer Guild uniform was floating above Luxgor, with real wings. Though they were behind the crowd, Madoka could feel their eyes locked onto them.

"Madoka, look!" Audrey whispered. "That one has actual wings!"

"Don't point!"

The winged Sovos exuded confidence and a familiar Noble aura. Madoka noticed that they were a woman with an intriguing and dangerous smile, but it was not Lady Fate. She was speaking with Luxgor over something, but something eventually burst with golden light in their hand. The Guild member suddenly lifted it above her head, then threw it into the sky. Dazzling light pierced the fog above them as if the sun was pouring out of her palm, revealing the full scope of Ceghinortan. That glimmering key in her hand must have unlocked this foggy magic, Madoka observed. The atmosphere cleared like a gate and left her breathless.

Then she gasped in awe of the spectacle right above her head.

There were rows and rows of buildings embedded into the massive mountain itself, seemingly stretching to the sky until they were little dots. Madoka craned her neck to look at the closest row. Green roofs covered the houses, with circular openings that even more winged Sovos people flew in and out of. Audrey stared up in equal amazement, her mouth open wide. They looked like flocks of birds, flying directly to the other side of the ravine, where an even more beautiful sight rested.

A forest of hanging, multicolored trees clung to the other mountain. A loud roar burst through sky, parting the clouds and revealing a bright blue sky. Madoka looked up again and another gasp escaped her lips. Rows of massive flying beasts guided by Sovos traveled between the two mountains, with decorations and wares slung on their backs.

Something nearly made her flinch. A memory? She had seen visions of air traffic like this before. It was when she… It was when she was in that dark world with the blue moon hanging over them. Those angelic beasts screamed along in neon trails, against the night under brightly lit signs and buildings. Here, on the other hand, was nothing but brightness and ancient stone. Above it all, rested the massive castle that they saw in the distance while suppressing the Gift Giver.

It did not take long for her to realize that the structure was not a castle at all. Those seemed plentiful the higher she looked, but the huge Palace where she presumed Ceghinort lived in was actually an enormous statue of sorts. There was a massive pair of legs dug into the mountain itself, like a dragon perched on top of its summit. Maybe it was a dragon, which made her wonder if that was what Ceghinort truly was. Such a gargantuan form that could fly freely in the sky or overshadow a mountain truly fit a being known as the God King of Adventuring.

A smaller shadow cast itself over the pair of girls as they stared at the whole place with wide eyes. Madoka snapped out of her daze and immediately stepped in front of Audrey, hand on her chest to summon the Crystal if any trouble showed its face to them. A light laugh hovered above them. The winged Guild official was now directly above them.

She was a sight like the city above their heads. Jet black hair framed her face, and a pair of half rimmed spectacles shielded her sharp eyes. The green outfit of hers had armor on it, but also revealed a shining Jade colored Adventurer tag hanging proudly on her neckline. Madoka's thoughts wandered over the possibility of getting such an outfit or three, but the glinting orb in the Guild official's hand snapped her back to reality. The two did not speak and stood defiantly, which seemed to amuse her.

"House Dalion, I presume?" She had a calm voice, but there was a powerful force underlying her tone. "I am Theonys of Mount Ceghinortan, Guild Master of the Adventurer Guild here. An Alpir'Row will be here soon and will bring you to the Adventurer District. Bring you to me. We will have a nice long chat, no?"

Theonys, Madoka noted the name. It was similar to Kanys. That mountain's name must be where she was born, which meant here. The Guild Master fixed them with a smirk, then flew off before they could ask what an Alpir'Row was. Madoka's interest in the lady waned considerably, but it did not take long before the ground beneath them began to rumble. None of the adventurers seemed surprised by the sudden tremors and even cheered, so she assumed it was normal.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Audrey leaned on Madoka for support.

"Yeah," Madoka pointed at one of the big creatures flying in the sky above them. "That's probably what we're going to ride on."

"What if they poop on us? Imagine how big a turd would come out from a giant animal like that!"

"A-Audrey, please," Madoka did not want to think of such unsightly things, though she knew the mischievousness was probably from the girl's nervousness.

Soon, something surfaced above the side of the cliff they were resting on. Something furry that stretched much further than the edge. And a lazy, gutteral roar blasted the girls' ears along with the excited hollering of their fellow adventurers. Two massive horns grazed the side of the mountain closest to them, carving scars in the rocks. Then three eyes on the side of the Alpir'Row's head opened and glinted like moons as they focused on her.

Its chaotic thoughts revealed sights of huge stores of food in caves dug into the opposite mountainside where its friends were eating, and memories of it butting heads with other sky beasts made Madoka flinch.

Several Sovos were flying around it and the grounded Adventurers, ushering people onto a massive shelter hanging on top of its back. The Alpir'Row did not seem to mind their presence. Riding on a beast of this size was not something Madoka thought she would ever do in this lifetime, but she felt herself numbly following the others onto the wooden deck. A sweaty hand clutched hers, then the princess's other hand gripped her side tightly.

"Ach, Audrey!" Madoka whined. How could she be more nervous than she was?

"S-Sorry, I don't really like airplanes back in my… you know," Audrey's voice was a squeak. "Especially ones that breathe and look like flying cows the size of a freighter."

How is this even more different than regular flying? As the beast ascended and they were tightly packed in the ride's barn sized cabin, Madoka's legs and her stomach quickly found out the answer.