CHAPTER 27: PATHWAYS AND PLOTS 5

Having spent the last three years on a hospital bed, Aegis wasn’t exactly sure how to cook or how to make tea. She was going to need help to make Rosanna’s drink.

[Well, there is one person here I know who’s a pretty amazing cook. Maybe she can help.]

And that person was...

Tap tap tap

Aegis knocked on Liora’s door.

The door opened. Liora stood there in a simple nightgown, blonde hair loose around her shoulders. She was the only one inside.

[Right. In the game, she’s the player’s roommate. But I got stuck with Miss Paint-Everything instead, so I guess she’s just on her own.]

"Aegis?" She blinked, big eyes fixed onto Aegis. "It’s late."

"Sorry. I need help with something."

"At ten at night?"

"It’s important."

Liora frowned but stepped aside. Her room was exactly what Aegis expected, neat, organized, with pressed flowers on the windowsill and a worn teddy bear on the bed.

[Cute. Very on-brand.] Aegis had to stop herself from smiling.

"So?" Liora crossed her arms. Aegis tried not to stare at what that did to Liora’s chest. "What’s this about?"

"I want to make tea."

"..." Liora blinked. "Tea."

Aegis nodded.

"Special tea. For a... project."

Liora’s frown deepened.

"You came to my room at night to ask about tea?"

"You’re the best cook I know."

"How do you know I cook? We’ve spoken maybe five times."

[Fair point.]

"You make those little sandwiches you eat during class. They at least smell amazing."

A blush crept up Liora’s neck.

"Those are just... basic recipes."

"And what I need is basic, too," Aegis sat on the desk chair. "I need to make moonbloom tea. I have no idea how to brew anything more complex than hot water."

"Why not ask the kitchen staff?"

"Because they’d ask questions about shadow root."

Liora’s eyes widened.

"Shadow root? That’s—"

"Found in crypts, yes. Already got some."

"You WHAT?"

"Not important." Aegis waved her hand. "Point is, I need someone who knows cooking and won’t rat me out."

"And you thought of me?"

"Yes, I did." Aegis sighed. Will you help or not?"

Liora chewed her lip. Classic thinking face, same as in the game.

"Why should I?"

[Dialogue Choice Available]

1. "Because we’re friends." [APPEAL TO EMOTION]

2. "I’ll owe you a favor." [PERSUADE]

3. "I’m desperate." [HONEST]

[Remember Aegis, she hates lies.]

"Because I’m desperate and you’re the only person I trust not to gossip about this."

Liora studied her face.

"You barely know me."

"And yet, I already know you’re kind. You help scholarship students even though nobles mock you for it. You care more about doing right than looking good." Aegis met her eyes. "That’s rare here."

Silence stretched between them.

"Fine." Liora grabbed a shawl. "But if we get caught—"

"We won’t."

"... Whatever."

---

The gardens were as much asleep as the students were under the moonlight. Aegis led Liora through paths she’d memorized from the game.

"Moonpetals grow near the fountain." She pointed ahead. "Should be blooming now."

"How do you know that?"

"I read. A lot."

They crept forward. The fountain glowed softly, surrounded by silver flowers.

"Whoa..." Liora breathed. "That’s beautiful."

"Yeah. Also mildly poisonous if prepared wrong."

"WHAT?"

"Kidding!" Aegis grinned. "I have no clue."

She plucked three flowers, careful not to damage the stems. The petals felt like silk between her fingers.

"One ingredient down."

"And... that shadow root..."

"Already have it." Aegis patted her pocket. "Got it earlier."

"From the crypts."

"Yep."

"The forbidden crypts."

"Those ones."

Liora rubbed her temples.

"What have I agreed to?"

"Adventure?" Aegis waggled her eyebrows. "Come on, one more stop."

They headed toward the greenhouse. Passion vines grew wild there, according to Nazraya’s offhand comment about the gardener’s laziness.

"So." Liora walked beside her. "What’s this tea really for?"

"Can’t say."

"Can’t or won’t?"

"Both."

Liora huffed.

"You’re insufferable."

"It’s part of my charm~"

The greenhouse door stood unlocked. They slipped inside, surrounded by humid air and sleeping plants.

"Passion vines." Aegis scanned the rows. "Should have purple flowers."

"Over there." Liora pointed.

Sure enough, vines heavy with purple blooms climbed the far wall.

"You know plants?"

"My mother kept a garden." Liora’s voice softened. "Before she died."

"..."

[Right.]

"She taught you well."

"Thanks."

They gathered the extract in comfortable silence. Well, comfortable for Aegis. Liora kept glancing at the door.

"Relax. No one patrols here."

"How can you be sure?"

"I just am."

"That’s not reassuring."

"Trust me?"

"I’m starting to question that decision."

Aegis laughed. Even nervous, Liora had backbone.

"All done." She pocketed the vial. "Now we brew."

"Now?"

"Strike while the iron’s hot."

"It’s nearly midnight!"

"Perfect time for mysterious tea."

---

Back in Liora’s room, she set up a small burner.

"This is insane." She measured water. "I’m going to get expelled."

"You won’t."

"Shadow root is literally forbidden."

"Lots of things are forbidden."

Aegis watched her work. Precise movements, careful measurements. In the game, Liora’s cooking skill was maxed from the start.

"Two petals first." Liora dropped them in. "They need to steep before adding the rest."

"How do you know?"

"Moonpetals are similar to jasmine. Delicate. Too much heat ruins them."

"Smart."

"Basic herbology." But she smiled.

The room filled with sweet scent. Like honey and starlight.

"Shadow root next?" Aegis held it up.

"Carefully. Just a pinch."

The root dissolved instantly, turning the tea dark purple.

"That’s... ominous."

"Yeah." Aegis agreed. "Very witchy."

"And we’re sure this is safe?"

"Mostly sure."

"MOSTLY?"

"Seventy percent sure."

"Those aren’t good odds!"

"Better than fifty-fifty?"

Liora groaned but added the passion vine extract. The tea shimmered, settling into deep violet.

"Done. I think."

"Smells right." Aegis inhaled. "Thanks, Liora. Really."

"What are you going to do with it?"

"Honestly? No idea if it’ll even work."

"Then why—"

"Sometimes you have to try." Aegis poured the tea into a flask. "Even if it seems crazy."

Liora shook her head.

"You’re either very brave or very stupid."

"Por que no los dos?"

"What?"

"Nothing." Aegis stood. "I owe you one."

"You owe me several."

"Fair."

At the door, Liora caught her arm.

"Be careful? Whatever this is for."

Aegis smirked back at her.

"Worried about me?"

"Ugh, obviously not. Just go!"

[Affection +5 (❤️❤️🤍🤍🤍)]

"Hehe."

She left Liora standing in the doorway.

[Mission accomplished. Now to see if a ghost can drink tea.]

---

Aegis sat cross-legged in front of Queen Rosanna, the flask warm in her hands.

"I brought you something."

Rosanna tilted her head. Her translucent form shimmered in the moonlight.

"Oh?"

"Your favorite drink. Moonbloom tea."

The ghost’s eyes widened. For the first time since they’d met, Rosanna looked genuinely surprised.

"How did you—"

"Research." Aegis poured the violet liquid into a small cup she’d brought. "Can you even drink?"

"In this place? With this much aether?" Rosanna reached for the cup. Her fingers solidified just enough to grasp it. "I can manage."

She brought it to her lips. Inhaled. Then sipped.

"By the goddess." Her voice caught. "It’s perfect."

[Affection +10 (❤️❤️❤️🤍🤍)]

[Wait, that’s two hearts? Nice!]

"I haven’t tasted this in..." Rosanna took another sip. "Three hundred years? Four?"

"Worth the wait?"

"Very much so." She cradled the cup like precious gold. "I used to drink this every morning. My consort would brew it while I reviewed treaties."

"Your consort?"

"Lady Celeste. Beautiful woman. Terrible at politics, wonderful at tea." Rosanna smiled softly. "She’d add extra passion vine when I was stressed. Said it would calm my nerves."

"Did it work?"

"No. But I always appreciated the gesture."

Aegis watched the ghost queen savor each sip. Strange, seeing someone so legendary doing something so normal.

"After particularly difficult council meetings, we’d share a pot in the gardens." Rosanna continued. "She’d tell awful jokes until I laughed."

"What kind of jokes?"

"The worst. ’Why did the mage cross the road? To get to the aether side.’" Rosanna shook her head. "Dreadful."

"That’s pretty bad."

"She had hundreds. Each worse than the last." Another sip. "I miss her terribly."

Silence stretched between them. Not uncomfortable, just... heavy.

"Am I boring you?" Rosanna asked suddenly. "An old ghost rambling about the past?"

"No." Aegis leaned forward. "I’m fascinated, actually."

"Truly?"

"Yeah. History books don’t mention Lady Celeste. Or your morning tea. Or bad magic puns." Aegis grinned. "I’d love to hear more about this sort of thing."

Rosanna studied her face. Then smiled. A genuine, warm expression that transformed her ethereal features.

"You’re quite something, Aegis Starcaller."

"I try."

"Indeed." She finished the tea. Set the cup down carefully. "Well then. A bargain is a bargain."

"Time for my reward?"

"As promised." Rosanna stood, gesturing for Aegis to do the same. "This spell is one of my favorites. Practical, elegant, and devastatingly effective when used correctly."

"What’s it called?"

"Aether Step." She positioned Aegis’s hands. "It allows brief teleportation. Up to three meters in any direction."

"That’s... not very far."

Hearing that made Rosanna raise a brow.

"You don’t have much experience fighting, do you?"

"Uh, no. Why?"

"I see. I could tell because an experienced fighter would know that three meters is an incredible distance in combat. Far enough to dodge a killing blow. Or appear behind an enemy. Put space between yourself and a far stronger opponent. Or—" Her smile turned sly. "Well, outside of combat, you could use it to escape an awkward conversation."

[That does sound reasonable, actually.]

"Okay, I’m sold."

"Good. Now, feel the aether around you..."

They practiced for an hour. Rosanna’s teaching style was patient but demanding. Every mistake earned immediate correction.

"No, no. You’re forcing it." She adjusted Aegis’s stance. "Aether Step isn’t about power. It’s about slipping between spaces."

"Like this?"

"Better. Again."

By the end, Aegis managed three successful steps. Each one left her dizzy, but the potential was obvious.

[SKILL ACQUIRED: Aether Step (Novice)]

[MP Cost: 5]

[Range: 3 meters]

[Cooldown: 10 seconds]

"Excellent progress." Rosanna nodded approval. "Most take weeks to manage even one step. Perhaps you’re truly talented." She glanced at the sky. "Dawn approaches, darling. You should rest."

Aegis blushed.

[Whoa... She called me "darling".]

"Same time tomorrow?"

"If you bring more tea."

"Deal."

Aegis made her way back to the dorm, exhausted but satisfied. New spell, deeper connection with Rosanna, and she hadn’t died from poison tea.

[Pretty successful night overall.]

She collapsed into bed still dressed. Lune’s gentle breathing filled the dark room.

---

Sleep came instantly.

"Aegis, wake up."

Aegis jolted upright. Lune stood by her bed, unusually animated. Her face looked expressionless as usual, but she was moving.

"Wha—"

"You should get dressed.

"Why? What time is it?"

"Six AM. And there’s a prefect outside. With guards."

That woke her up completely.

[Guards? That’s... not good.]

She threw on her uniform. Straightened her hair. Tried to look innocent.

[What did I do? The crypts? The tea ingredients? Please don’t be the Shadow Magic...]

The door opened before she could prepare further.

Prefect Alan stood there, flanked by two academy guards. His face wore that special brand of smug reserved for minor authority figures.

"Miss Starcaller."

"Morning?"

"You’re to come with us. Immediately."

"May I ask why?"

"Academic misconduct investigation." He practically glowed with satisfaction. "Seems your perfect test scores raised some flags."

[Oh. OH. This is that scene from the game!]

In the original game, this happened to players who scored too well. A manufactured scandal to eliminate competition. She’d forgotten about it with everything else going on.

[Varyn. Has to be Varyn’s doing.]

"I see." She kept her voice level. "Lead the way."