CHAPTER 55: SO... WHAT NOW?

"It means exactly what I said. House May, House Greaves. They both exist where the ’House of the Unblinking Eye’ once stood. That was the name of this place when it was first built, and it’s where the first Demon Lord was born and ruled for centuries." Her eyes flicked between Lyra and me as she sat down with us, adjusting her dress and kneeling on the grass. "He ruled with an iron fist, terrorizing the humans of Podros, killing those who opposed him. If you can think of it, he and his cohort likely partook."

I paused, considering. "Isabella called this place the ’House on Charred Lands’."

Isobel nodded. "Because that’s exactly what it was. The House was built after a bloody war, which ended with the Demon Lord’s father burning the lands, killing his opponents and most of their families, purposefully sparing others to act as his slaves. Unfortunately for him, one of those Slaves would ultimately be his undoing."

"Benjamin Greaves..."

"Correct. Isabella Bor’gokuz, one of the Demon Lord’s kidnapped mistresses, managed to escape. Benjamin rescued her, defeated the Demon Lord, purged the land of his influence, and took over the House–using it to rebuild Podros and return it to what it was before the Demon Lord’s influence." Her gaze lowered. "Unfortunately, even though he’d succeeded, the Demon Lord managed to escape with the daughter he’d had with Isabella."

"Jolyne, I take it?" Lyra asked.

"Jolg’ylmaath Bor’gokuz. She was taken to Rushela with the previous Demon Lord, where they did the same invasion tactic that his predecessor did. And, according to you two, the very invasion tactic that Jolg’ylmaath plans on scaling up significantly once her strength allows."

Her words hung in the air for a while. There were so many questions I had that I knew she didn’t have the answer to. What happened to that original Demon Lord? Was he killed by some other Adventurer, or did Jolyne do something to him? He’d never once shown up in our many battles, nor did she ever speak of him. That being said, I’d always assumed that Jolyne was a man this entire time because of her deep voice and the androgynous black armor she wore. Did her father have something to do with that? Or was I fighting her father this entire time...? God, so many questions!

"So... what now?" Lyra asked. She sighed. "I feel like I’ve been asking that every day, now."

Jumping at the opportunity to get out of my own head, I spoke up immediately. "I think we should take a few 5-Star Quests to build out our war chest back–"

"As Advisor, I cannot advise you two to do that," Isobel interrupted. She stood to her full height, silently gesturing for us to do the same. "You two should only be taking House Quests. As of right now, House May has no reputation. In Adventurer Terms, you’re a 1-Star. In Noble House terms, you’re a worthless Fledgling House. No merit, no allies, no funds, nothing that sets you apart from an abandoned shed in the middle of Ublar. By taking House Quests, you’ll not only gain reputation, but you’ll also gain funds."

Lyra deflated. "But those House Quests give so little...?"

"They do," Isobel allowed. "However, that doesn’t change the fact that they’re required to advance to Standard House. More specifically, we need to have acquired five million gold from House Quests to be eligible to advance to the Standard House ranking."

"...What about furnishing? We still need money to spruce the place up, right...?"

"Yes, but we aren’t at the stage where we’re inviting dignitaries over for strategic dinners. Though, should I deem it strategically necessary to do so this early, I can use my magic to make the place magical. So, it isn’t a necessity. Besides, we aren’t going to be using every single room of this place in daily life just yet." She looked us up and down. "But, what you are going to be doing is going outside, and I refuse to allow you two to go out dressed in such simple clothing! You two represent House May, and you should dress the part!"

She continued like this for a while. As much as I loved Isobel, she had a habit of droning on, which could get a bit... familiar. Not a bit. Extremely.

Still, it was difficult to get annoyed when she looked as good as she did. Lyra, evidently, did not feel the same way. The famously impatient Time Mage slowly narrowed her eyes as Isobel continued to complain and nag and make demands, and I decided to step in before things could get loud. Again.

"You know," I said, interrupting Isobel’s tangent about our lack of an "insignia" or whatever. "I don’t think we’ve actually celebrated the change of hands! From House Greaves to House May."

"Have we not?" Isobel asked, tilting her head. There was a glint in her eye that told me she knew what I was doing, but she didn’t call me out on it.

"Nope. You practically locked yourself in your room for the past few days after telling Lyra and me to clean the place top to bottom."

Isobel paused, visibly considering my words. Her eyes softened as she sighed her exhaustion. "You’re... correct. I’ve been burying myself in my books. The only times I leave are to bathe, eat, or go to the library. I will admit that I still have a few more tomes to study, but... I suppose a break wouldn’t hurt us. You’ll have to forgive my... intensity. It’s a mask for my anxiety, I believe." She said, eyes lingering on Lyra for a bit longer than usual.

Lyra waved a dismissive hand in response. "We’re all stressed, Isobel. We’re all trying to hide it." She snorted. "Well, we’re trying to hide it. Lloyd’s been a wreck."

"Is that so...?" Isobel asked, eyes widening.

"I haven’t been a wreck, but... I’m sure you overheard my conversation with Lyra. There’s just a lot on my mind."

"I see," Isobel answered, a somewhat guilty look on her face. "Well, then let tonight be a day free of anxiety. For all of us."

"What do you propose?" Lyra asked.

Isobel smiled. "A trip to the tavern! I-I’ve never been, but it seemed like–"

"Oh, we have to go. I need to see what a drunk Isobel looks like."