Chapter 7.7 - Why do I Serve?

A week after the harvest festival, events returned to normal. Serin was currently looking for people he could practice his combat skills in the training dungeon with. He tried for Allister and Rachel. But Rachel was again pregnant, and Allister would be a fool to not be at her beck and call. He knew they loved each other, but Rachel was a bit controlling. Although, Serin mused, Allister was a bit submissive. And he could see that the relationship worked. It's just Serin usually had to plan months in advance to spend time with his old friends if it was not a matter of state.

So today Serin went to the training dungeon with someone he was not expecting. His father Ben. Ben had never been a fighter, but Ben wanted to join the protectorate. He was also the registered user for Adi, so he had to increase his levels if he wanted her to not stagnate as a warrior. So today he showed Serin his skills with the axe.

"You see, the axe is quite a valuable weapon. It can even have its shape combined with the war pick, which falls under the same skill and expertise. The war pick is an excellent weapon against armored opponents."

Serin listened intently. And he practiced the swings just as he was shown by his father Ben. After a while of fighting with Ben smiled, "I can come and spend time with you every day to teach you everything I know. It's been a while since I could spend a bit of bonding time with my eldest son, and since you left home right after plating, I felt a bit robbed."

Serin was at first a bit heartwarmed by his father's words. Then he thought about it. "What will mother think about you spending every day away from home?"

Ben laughed, "Probably wont mind. Sara is still getting adjusted to the culture here. She hasn't been as accepting of things, and it will take a bit longer."

Serin, "so she kicked you out of the bed for adjusting faster to the cultural shift?"

Ben laughed a bit. He hadn't even asked Serin to let him and Adi stay in the guestroom. But he was going to. Serin looked at his father. "I get it. Mom needs time. Judging by the length of Adi's hair, she will need a lot of time."

Adi, who carried a backpack behind Ben and Serin, was fiddling with a knife as she carved a hairband to keep her short hair out of her face, a mark that she was pregnant.

Ben looked at Serin. "I won't regret or apologize for what I did. But the night after we came over to celebrate Narinci and Lilly's births, Sara left. I thought she had got up and left the city. I didn't realize that she just went to stay at a nearby inn. Your mother gets upset by the consequences of her actions. After she left without saying anything for several days, I assumed the worst, and after a few drinks well," he looked at Adi's cut hair. "There was no one present to complain about me completing my responsibilities as a registered user."

Serin shook his head. Sometimes he didn't get his parents. But he would do his part. "I have a spare room furnished for you and Adi. But take some time to sort this out."

With that Ben took a break, and Adi took time showing Serin the effective methods of martial arts for Constructs.

***

Elsewhere in the city of Ston, there was a children's play being put on. The story was being told about a giant who was very lonely. He was different from all the other giants, and although he was strong, they did not want to be his friend because he was no good at playing. So one day the Giant meets a voice who is scared because she does not have a body. The Giant offers the Voice his shadow, and they become very good friends. The Shadow teaches the Giant how to play with others, and they all live happily ever after.

The Narrator for this story was Gina, a sponsor from the Parasite clinic. The Giant and Shadow were played by Lark and Sophia. The audience was children.

Although many of the 'children' were actually plated adults who had the condition PPD, or Persistent Personality Damage. While Lark, Sophia, and Gina recited their play in the gardens of the Haven Consulate in Ston, more volunteers from the Parasite Clinic were explaining to parents and guardians about the procedure, as well as explaining how the clinic helped with various other maladies of the mind. After the play, Gina and a few consulate staff played with the children while Lark and Sophia went to answer questions.

Lark and Sophia sat and answered the questions from concerned parents. "You seem functional, how do we know you have PPD?"

Lark laughed, "Thank you for your observation. This is the easiest question to answer. I just show you my plate."

Lark showed where in his plate that showed his traits.

[Persistent Personality Disorder: Conditions Negated]

This stunned the crowd, as in the Northern Kingdoms people hid their plates to ensure that they were not targets for their experience value.

"This voice inside you, how much control does 'it' have?"

Lark smiled, "Her name is 'Sophia'. She is my best friend. As for physical control, she doesn't retain much ability to control my body, but I am a physical implement for her casting magic. What you see in front of you is how Sophia looks to me. Every day she can stay as a shadow longer and longer. And every day the shadow becomes more defined. She may not control my body, but I still feel her when she hugs me after a hard day."

"What was hardest about this transition?"

A bit of a tear welled up in his eyes. "Understanding. Before I did not realize but I was bullied and scorned by my own kind due to my disabilities. When I gained understanding, I found the meaning and hurt in the words of those that pretended to be friendly.

"Does Sophia talk?"

Lark smiled, "She does. Her voice is kind and understanding. But usually only to me. She is a bit shy." This is what Sophia said to explain why she doesn't talk, because her power to 'speak' required her to break down someone's mental defense, so it caused unease to recipients.

Still the people watching could see the bond between Lark and the shadow that was Sophia. The outreach program was fairly successful each time it made an appearance. Even with the attack by Chimaeras, there were currently letters sent out to all of the other cities in the Northern Kingdoms as well as the GWA explaining the miracle cure for so many conditions. Those that came were shown several of the sponsors available. Like those that were being cured of their addiction such as Gina, or Rictor who had a compulsive disorder of having to individually count everything he interacted with 12 times. There were dozens of people present for the seminar, and many were volunteering to become hosts. Ston's council had promised that their identity would be kept confidential. And even if Haven and its solutions were banned from the GWA, there were still those that had smuggled their disabled family at the hopes of curing their issues. There was one who arrived in particular, known as the best thief in the GWA.

That would be the thief Remus. He was known as the best thief in the GWA, even before the 2nd best thief and the 3rd best thief destroyed more than 90% of the country's governing body. Thankfully, Remus was not held to blame. Sure the GWA wanted a scapegoat for the incident, but he was too valuable. He wasn't just the best thief in their country. He was the 'last' thief in their country.

Sure there were dozens, maybe a hundred, of plated people who classed thief. But most hadn't passed level 20 or 30. Some might have made it all the way to 50. Remus was level 74. He had been running missions for the GWA since before the now '2nd best thief' was plated.

But today he was not on duty. He was on a reconnaissance mission for personal reasons. Remus had a spy network that was expansive, and he had heard of a pamphlet that was seized in the GWA but passed openly around the Northern Kingdoms. This pamphlet offered a cure for something that magic could not. It offered a cure for PPD.

PPD was a common issue in the GWA, and without the backing of family, the sufferer usually died in the slave mines, or in a back alley, or due to some 'accident' to reduce the shame to the family. There was no need for people who could not fuel the GWA's war machine.

And usually this would not concern one suce as Remus. Remus was generally not a family man. He had many evenings with company, and had even participated in both of the Harvest festivals in Ston. And although admitting to such deviance in his home country would most likely have him executed ,well, as it is said, 'Rank has its privileges' and he was untouchable.

But regardless of his dalliances and his propensity to avoid permanent relations, there was one notable exception. Remus loved his little sister, Natalie. He also loved her son, Nate. Natalie was able to be exempted from the breeder program due to Remus' status in the GWA. So instead of pumping out child after child, Natalie only had one son, Nate. Nate's father had died a few months before Nate was born, so although Remus was just an uncle, he ensured that his family was cared for.

Of course, Nate was one of the many children that had PPD. When he was a small child, he fell from the top of the stairs in his home. The worst of his injuries was believed to be the bruises and broken bones, so that was what was tended to. Healers in the GWA were rare, as their connection to magic was broken, so most serious medicine was handled by foreigners.

However there was internal damage to Nate's brain. And by the time it was noticed, Nate had developed PPD.

Remus still cared for Nate, and made sure that his sister had the support she needed as a single mother. And when Natalie died during the winter due to fever, Remus took over care of Nate. Normally this was him providing for the twelve servants that took care of Nate and Remus' home. But he had a promise to keep. Remus would find a way to help Nate. He saw his sister's kindness in his nephew's eyes. He had promised to give Nate the best quality of life no matter the cost.

So today, with Nate enjoying the foreign treat 'iced cream' in Ston, Remus walked up to the embassy with Nate. The staff, seeing Nate's demeanor smiled at Remus. "Oh are you and this young gentleman here for the seminar? We have another play in 4 hours for your child. Until then our staff can take care of his needs while you can discuss with the volunteers from the clinic.

Remus looked down. He had crossed the barrier of the consulate to enter the seminar. He had officially crossed into enemy territory. Remus sighed heavily. He looked at the consulate staff. Then behind the consulate staff, he saw the flash of recognition in the eyes of one of the other staff that was farther back, not one wearing the simple robes of a volunteer, but armed to the teeth as part of the embassy guard. "If you would be so kind to ensure that my nephew Nate is well cared for, it would be appreciated." Remus pulled Nate over, who was thoroughly enjoying his ice cream cone.

"Nate. This nice lady said she will play games with you and tell you stories. You have enough credits in your account to get more ice cream if you choose. No go play, your Uncle Remus has to meet with some work friends."

Nate smiled and went with the sponsor to go and meet with other PPD patients.

Reums exhaled, and took off his jacket and placed it on the ground. Then he got on his knees and raised his hands in the air. Just as he was putting his hands behind his head, 8 of the Consulate security forces rushed out, bound his arms behind his back in stone, and dragged him into the embassy. Most onlookers were unaware of what happened. Remus knew his fate was sealed the second he crossed into enemy territory and was recognized by the guard. He knew the look. And he was too old to cause a ruckus. He had a promise to keep to his dear sister. He wanted to hear her laugh again. He wanted to hold her as he did when they were children. He wanted to be the big brother he always promised his breeder parents he could be.

But he couldn't. Natalie was dead and ash. But her son Nate carried her smile and her laugh. So while Remus had failed to be a big brother to his sister, He would ensure her son lived the best life, get a good job, meet someone he could love, and maybe have a family of his own. But for now, he would be happy seeing Natalie's clever eyes again. And with his enemy's help, that was possible.

***

"To be honest, after securing my consulate in friendly territory, I was looking forward to a posh job with little excitement." Wilton sat behind his desk. He was wearing a simple wool suit of a diplomat, with minimal enchantment outside just enduring the slightly cool fall air. Although the entire room was decorated in warm hues and bright light, and the furnishings and art reminded Remus of a noble's study, Wilton sat with his feet propped up on a plushly padded automan which, with the exception of the fancifully decorated top cushion, was constructed completely out of human skulls. Wilton sat there calmly and for good reason.

Remus had been stripped of his dozens of knives, as well as magically swept for devices, and then rendered immobile through large stone locks put on his arms and legs. He sat more comfortably than he expected as a prisoner. Well, as comfortable as someone could be with giant stone mittens and shoes.

There was also a collar around his neck. Like the collars that Serin had made before, this one reacted to the wearer's use of magic. Except it didn't glow red upon activation.

Also it Exploded.

"Remus McCaffery. The Best thief in the GWA. Tricked into smuggling our bioweapons into your own capitol building. Honestly I should be giving you a promotion and a medal instead of detaining you. You are by far one of the best assets that Haven has ever had."

Remus smiled, "That is quite the compliment from such a distinguished diplomat. I would shake your hand, but, well.." Remus motioned to his stone bound arms.

The faint hint of a smile of admiration crossed Wilton's face. Then it was gone. "So I must ask, from one gentleman to another, why come here? We see you have brought a PPD case with you, but for all I know that's a cover."

"He's my nephew."

"Still might be a cover."

Remus smirked. "I hold my job and rank above almost everything in this world. There was only one person I would trade everything for. That is my sister. And she is no longer with us. So I will do anything to make sure her son has the best chance at life. He plated 'farmer'. He always liked plants. But he is not skilled enough to do his task. So I have come here to request that he receive Haven's 'Miracle Cure'. Although I am pretty sure I know what it is. It's a parasite."

This caused Wilton to narrow his eyes. "That word, specifically, is tightly controlled. Very interesting that you knew that walking in here and yet you still did. 'Suffer not the alien' is the current stance of the GWA if i recall?" Tea and biscuits were brought in by a lybringer staffer. Remus could tell by her fluid movement she could also easily kill him. And by her glow she was pregnant. Still could easily kill him.

"Your capital is not as secure as it seems."

Wilton leaned back. "That is very specific of you. You must not plan on returning home."

Remus laughed, "How dumb do you think I am? If you don't kill me or throw me into a dark hole somewhere, then if I was dropped off back home the GWA certainly would. I have had two tails since I pulled my nephew from my home and made my way here. If I was such a rude guest of yours and decided to decline your hospitality, the moment I returned home I would be tortured for information and then murdered. We don't have those mindbenders in our country, so they would have to do so the more barbaric way."

Wilton nodded, "Quite right you are. Tea?" Wilton poured himself tea.

"Yes please. And if you would be so kind to send your staffer in here to assist me I am afraid I will not be able to serve myself. I would be a bit fumbly with the cup I'm afraid."

Wilton snickered, "Sure. I can acquiesce such a simple request."

The lybringer came in and sat next to Remus comfortably. She began pouring a glass. Wilton continued.

"So what is it you want out of this meeting? Please don't ask about surviving the next 24 hours. I don't like to tell my guests no."

Remus understood. "I want a Parasite for Nate and request that he be brought to Haven as a political refugee. He is a hard worker and a kind soul and a farmer by class. What you do to me is no longer a concern." Remus saw as the lybringer staffer was about to add honey to his tea. "Oh, no thanks sweetheart. Just Tea, no honey. I'm sweet enough." the lybringer girl blushed a bit at Remus' comment.

Wilton smiled, "I am sure we can work something out for your nephew. And it warms my heart to be able to accommodate such a polite guest."

***