Stories of my brain

Livia looks at Adaly “I trust you… but I can’t share everything…” Adaly nods, and lowers her shoulders, making her stance less aggressive and more open towards the female paladin.

Livia continues “I have a very rare bloodline, and have access to special magic that is interesting for others. People have chased me and my family a lot, the amulet I wear protects me, hence this bloodline not being mission relevant. This is all I will say about that.” Livia swallows clearly preparing herself before continuing, so Adaly goes back to leaning against the wall, waiting for what the paladin has to say.

“This magic… Ilhoketh was also interested in it… He captured my sister. Mine and Sam’s mission is to free her. This is why we want to go to the Citadel” Livia finally says. Adaly considers this.

Adaly comes a bit closer to Livia “Thank you for sharing Livia. What is your sisters name?” Adaly kindly smiles, and Livia sadly smiles back “Ashe… I rather not talk about it though” Adaly nods in understanding and just gives her a gentle pat on her shoulder.

Sam looks annoyed “Now are you happy” And Adaly chuckles looking at him “Never, but good first steps. Thank you, Livia, for sharing, even though mister grumpy told you not too.” Sam gives her a look of hatred, which just makes her chuckle more.

Amara moves towards Jeremy “So back to the mission, did you get more information about the auction in Certevilla” and Jeremy nods in agreement and starts listing what he found. Sam and Livia turn around and focuses on the conversation, while Adaly just stares at Sam.

The thing she felt during their fight she had not felt for anybody in a long time. An attraction, his passion triggered something in her. Her body tingles but she just shakes it off before joining the conversation.

“So for sinpiercer specifically. The organizer of the auction Guillemina Chaudvallee, is of the opinion that sinpiercer is too precious of an artifact to just go into some nobleman’s vault. She has agreed to help you guys stealing the weapon, as long as you return it to Certevilla after the mission is completed” Jeremy says. “Okay, so when can we get it?” Adaly asks and Jeremy chuckles.

“Sorry I was not clear enough. They want to auction it off and then help you steal it. Certevilla wants the money. So, you guys do need to go to the auction” Jeremy says, and Adaly chuckles this time. So does Amara while she says “I also would like free money”

Sam goes back to the topic “So for going to the auction we do need a cover story, right?” Jeremy nods and Adaly jumps in “I can convincingly play a noblewoman, Sam could be my grumpy noble husband, while Livia is my mistress. Amara of course is our bodyguard” Sam rolls his eyes, and Livia starts blushing while Jeremy just says, “That could work.”

Before Sam can react Adaly already says “Sam could be Octavius Belstrad, Baron of Asmoria. He is a bit of a shut in, rarely makes a public appearance. We could spin it as he lost his heart to a tiefling woman, me, and I have an interest in the auction. This will result in Sam not having to look to nobleman like, which, sorry darling, but I don’t think you could pull off.” Sam looks even more annoyed at her but doesn’t comment.

Jeremy laughs “Yes that can work, what can I say your name is?” “Sirrelieth Belstrad” Adaly smiles wickedly. Jeremy makes a note and nods in agreement before continuing “So other topics, the order of the cleansing dawn has been replying suspiciously non-committal about anything related to the Leviathan.”

“That is concerning. Could you find out if the Leviathan is still there? Otherwise, we really have to come up with a new plan” Adaly rubs her head. “I will do my best, but also have to consider what to do here…” “It is not safe anymore” Sam adds to Jeremy’s concern.

“We put another ally in a safe house near Suzal… It is my childhood home, but barely anybody knows about its existence, and the ones that do know about it don’t think I would use it. I have not been there in 18 years.” Adaly says and Jeremy nods “Can you take me there?”

Adaly nods, but Amara immediately jumps in “After dinner” and everybody agrees, and they go up into the tavern.

Adaly excuses herself and goes to the roof of the building. Enjoying the fresh evening air, looking out. Today has been a lot of emotions, she needs a second to re-center herself. She puts all the items for creating an amulet around herself. She doesn’t actually want to create one, instead she takes the book that Es-Grenalieth has given her and starts reading that.

It would be interesting if she herself could become a devil. It should not be physically possible, but if it was, oh how nice it would be to have actual power… To not be left to the whims of her father… To be able to be powerful enough to truly be free.

Some time passes before she hears someone coming up. Adaly quickly pockets the notebook, and makes it look like she is working on the amulet.

Livia comes up with a plate of food, Adaly kindly smiles at the paladin. “So… that was a lot” Livia jokes handing Adaly the plate of food. Adaly takes a few bites before replying “Normal Tuesday afternoon” Adaly jokes back not looking at the paladin.

A minute passes before Livia asks “So what do you want to do when all of this is behind you?” Adaly sadly smiles she has taken a few bites, but she is not hungry. “I… it is just… there is no after… At least that was my view up until the moment you guys came along. Now… I barely had a break. It is just heavy emotion after heavy emotion. I… I just need some time. How about you? Will you be returning to your family with your sister?” Adaly says, showing a bit of her vulnerable side.

Livia looks to the sky, and also sadly smiles “I don’t think I can go back. We had a bit off a falling out when they refused to do anything about Ashe her situation… even if I can get her out, I think I will stay with the shadowed blade, doing some good for the world.” Adaly kindly smiles and says “If you have Ashe, won’t they accept you back? I think they will just be happy to see both of you.” Livia sadly smiles back but just shakes no.

They sit in silence for a bit, before Adaly rubs her head. “We will find a way, at least if we start trusting each other… Sam seems… Well, he seems to hate us.” Livia looks concerned “He… He doesn’t hate you, and I actually think he trusts you as much as he ever does anybody. Sam just doesn’t like talking. Especially about secrets… He convinced me to trust you…” Livia say insecurely.

Adaly looks in surprise at the weird elven woman, and chuckles a bit “You… you didn’t trust me?” Livia rolls her eyes a bit “I… It is just hard to believe… Ilhoketh has a big pull on his children, and in my defense your history is shady… But we also do shady stuff for the greater good. I think you are the same. At least Sam convinced me you are the same.”

Adaly swallows, being surprised to hear that Sam trust her, but also how Livia sees her. Not that Adaly cares about the greater good, but she cares about her father’s death. Of course his death will remove a lot of bad from the world, so it will be good. But that is not her motivation.

Adaly looks down and smiles a bit, her stomach swirling a bit. Livia takes her hand “I hope you will respect Sam’s wishes to not want to talk about things.” Adaly nods. She starts taking the amulet parts again “I should try this again, I will come down afterward.” Livia nods and starts leaving.