This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder Than Expected

7.23 – Threats

It happened so fast Zoey barely processed it, much less had a chance to react. One moment she was heading through palatial hallways, seeking out Sabina's room, and the next, something hit her. A blink later, she was staring up at the ceiling, her breath driven from her and a boot on her stomach pinning her to the floor.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Above, a spear-wielding blonde peered down, leaning forward to rest an elbow onto her knee.

It seemed Elodie was paying a visit.

"I know you're a mage, but I still expected better reactions from a fourth advancement wayfarer."

"The Estate is supposed to be safe," Zoey wheezed. "Why would I have my guard up?"

"Supposed to be safe. You think there's never been an assassin here?"

The words sent a jolt through Zoey. In retrospect, it was obvious that assassins existed and would possibly target one of the most influential families in the world, but still. It had her stomach tying in knots, the idea that there might be someone who came for Rosalie or her family.

"You should always be ready for an attack," Elodie chided her in continuation, not noticing Zoey's reaction. "What's Rosalie even been teaching you these past few weeks?" She paused, then grimaced. "Don't answer that, pervert. That's my little sister you're talking about."

"I didn't say anything," she protested.

"You were thinking it. I know the deviants when I see them." She poked Zoey with the butt of her spear. "I did see you railing my little sister after you turned her into goo, you know. Any claims toward innocence don't have a shred of supporting evidence, at this point."

"I feel like you're—being slightly unfair."

"Unfair?" She narrowed her eyes. "We haven't even gotten started with unfair. And why would I play nice? I know why you're after Rosalie."

"What?"

"Please. Innocent act might work on her, she's naive. Would swear up and down she's not, but she is. You seduced her. You want a ticket to the easy life."

Zoey stared at her. It was such an absurd accusation she couldn't help but burst out laughing—which was a slightly wheezing sound, since she was still recovering from being slammed into the ground by a sixth advancement wayfarer. But, really. How ridiculous. She hadn't even known who Rosalie was when she met her.

Elodie eyed her, then grunted. "Mm. Maybe not. She told me about you, how you met. But still. I don't trust you. Random goddess-blessed foreigner drops out of the sky? Too suspicious. And the threats have to come early, since you're shooting up the ranks. Fourth already? If I've gotta kill you, it has to happen soon, before you're too hard to put down."

"Do you threaten to murder all of your sisters' suitors?" Zoey asked. "Or is this special treatment?" She was lying on the floor, Elodie's boot on her stomach still pinning her down.

Elodie thought the question over. "Charlotte hasn't had that many. But," she pursed her lips. "Huh, yeah, I guess I'm three for three, there." She groaned. "And now I've got three more. Rosalie works fast. Wouldn't expect anything different from that girl."

"Three more?"

"You. Then the fox, and the illusionist."

"Oh? Maddy's included on that list?"

"Halfway, I suppose. Might as well get it over with. That one's gonna be the least fun, 'cause it might be considered a 'diplomatic incident'." She wrinkled her nose as she quoted the phrase. "Ugh. Why's she gotta be the daughter of a Sovereign?"

Amused, Zoey said, "These totally aren't problems you're creating for yourself. I'm sure having a normal talk wouldn't accomplish the same thing, without being a 'diplomatic incident'."

Another poke with the butt of her spear. "I don't like sarcasm." She paused. "Not on people I'm threatening to murder," she amended.

"Can't we do this whole 'big-sister' routine while I'm standing? Like normal people?"

"Been through this before, have you? A womanizer?"

"Er. Not that many times," she defended.

A raised eyebrow. "Sure. And don't tell me you don't like being stepped on by older women. Somehow I doubt that."

Zoey's lips quirked, but she forced herself to say: "I don't flirt with my girlfriends' sisters, sorry."

"So you're boring, too?"

She tried to not laugh, but she couldn't help it. Damn—she actually liked Elodie, violent introduction or not.

Elodie sighed. "Fine." She stepped off Zoey and offered her a hand up, which she took. Both standing, Elodie eyed her. "Why are you so tall? Glowering loses the effect when I've gotta crane my neck up, you know."

"I could go find a stool, if you want?"

Her eyes narrowed—but her lips also twitched. "You're not helping the whole, please-don't-murder-me angle," she warned. "Be scared of me, damnit. And I might spare you."

"Sorry, but roleplay is only for your sister."

Elodie gasped. She waggled her spear much closer to her face than was comfortable, and Zoey reminded herself that for all the girl's banter, she also came from a vastly different society than her own. And was a wild card even to these people. "And now you're making innuendos! Maybe I'll take your legs off at the knees. Then we'll see eye-to-eye."

"I don't think Rosalie would like if you crippled me?" Zoey offered in self-defense.

"Oh? And you're gonna go running to her for help, will you?"

"Uh, yeah, why wouldn't I?"

"Hm. Not the macho sort? Good. Alright, alright, let's walk and talk. Like 'normal people'." She rolled her eyes at the phrase. "But seriously. It seems like you think I'm joking. If you make my sister cry, you're dead."

***

When the threats finished, Zoey really was sweating a bit, even if she'd left thinking most of it had been an act. It wasn't the first time she'd gotten the whole, 'hurt my sister and you're dead' speech, but Elodie had done it best.

It helped when she was a warrior trained from birth who could fight and win against a small army. Pretty and full of banter or not, the threats had weight behind them. Especially when laws didn't apply to someone like Elodie, the Guildmaster's daughter. Her only real protection was Rosalie herself.

Still, overall, she was endeared to Rosalie's eldest sister. Anyone viciously protective and obviously loving of Zoey's girlfriend had her instant stamp of approval, even if their initial meeting came to the detriment of Zoey herself.

Maybe Elodie picked up on that, because she seemed to part with begrudging acceptance of Zoey too.

A bit flustered by the whole event, Zoey arrived at Sabina's door slightly fidgety and red-faced. The stern older alchemist misinterpreted those signals, her lips quirking.

"Oh? A house call? How unbecoming of a student to her teacher."

"What?" Zoey blinked. Wait, was that something she could do, and Sabina would play along with? She shook her head clear. "No, just—I met Rosalie's older sister. She's surprisingly creative with her death threats. So I'm a bit flustered."

"Ah?" Sabina's eyebrows went up. "I see." She opened the door wider. "I'm glad to see you made it back in one piece."

Right. She supposed that a wayfarer ran the risk of a fatal incident every time they set out. Sabina had to worry about Zoey showing back up at all when she frolicked off on an expedition.

"Thanks. I brought gifts, actually."

"Gifts?"

"Reagents. Collected from a Lich's tower—that's what the shard manifested as. There was a room with ingredients organized in shelves and cupboards. Most of it looked useless, old, or spoiled, but there's gotta be a few you'll find interesting."

"A collection of novel reagents from a fourth-advancement shard." A neatly trimmed eyebrow quirked up. "No small gift to an alchemist. Is this a bribe to go easy on your next quiz?"

"I wouldn't be averse to the idea, if you're offering," Zoey said, grinning. "But no, of course not. I just thought of you."

Some girls might have blushed at the earnestness, but Sabina merely tilted her head. Her cheeks didn't tint even slightly, but Zoey wasn't discouraged; that was just Sabina.

"An appreciated gesture. Come, let's see what you found."

It turned out there were a few good reagents in the haul Zoey had dragged back, though they were of more interest to Sabina than Zoey, with Zoey being only half an alchemist. The pleased look on Sabina's face as she went about categorizing and storing the various materials made the effort well worth it, though.

"One thing, before you go," Sabina said, since Zoey wasn't here for a full lesson, just to drop off the shard's earnings. "About the ritual."

"Alright?"

Sabina brought her full attention to Zoey. Removing her gloves and setting them on the counter, she walked up to her. The woman was around the same height, but her antlers made her seem much taller—and maybe her personality did, too. That calm composure that, frankly, Zoey was extremely weak against. Gray eyes the color of steel met hers with atypical seriousness—and Sabina was already a serious woman.

"I wanted to procure permission from you, beforehand."

"Ah—what? Permission? From me? For the ritual?" Zoey would have thought it would be the other way around, seeing how she was the one who would be fucking Sabina. Since the older woman generally preferred giving than receiving. But the level-up ritual would require more direct intimacy, according to her and Aria's intuition. "What do you mean?"

"I've been speaking with Aria. She has no reason to believe that, despite the requirements of the ritual, that you need to lead. Just that our joining must be more intimate—and traditional." An eyebrow raised. "So, I will be guiding the ritual. I have … plans. Hence, I wanted to procure permission. A blanket allowance, so to say, as I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."

Zoey was pretty sure her eyebrows had disappeared into her hair. They hadn't had this sort of discussion before, with consent being loudly implied between both of them in any given interaction. Yet Sabina had something planned that might push those assumed allowances? To the extent she was seeking out permission beforehand?

Zoey was interested. More than interested.

"Of course, it's nothing I expect you to dislike," Sabina said. Her lips quirked up. "But perhaps more … adventurous, than our usual engagements. As befitting the event. Best to address these things outright."

"Uh. Sure. I trust you, you already know that. So—permission granted? I'm, uh, looking forward to it. You and Aria have something planned, specifically, then?"

"You'll need to wait and find out, won't you, dear disciple?"