Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 260

Chapter 260: Respite

Serrena and Rayleigh were the first two to greet Lysette and her traveling companions.  But it was Mirae’s conspicuous absence that gave her pause.  Lysette wasn’t immediately sure what to make of it.  They hadn’t said a thing to her through her avatar since midnight, and were Cultivating in the couple’s room since.  Apologies would be in order, followed by throwing herself on her love’s mercy.

Lysette felt like an awkward third wheel when Serrena and Solanna tried to figure out how to greet one another.  Solanna stretched out her arms for a hug, while Serrena offered a handshake.  Serrena then sighed and reached back toward her great-grandmother for a hug, only to have her stomach poked by Solanna’s outstretched hand.  Finally, Serrena leaned in, giving her ancestor a short hug around the neck before pulling back.

“Serrena, forgive my intrusion, but who is this?” Rayleigh asked.

“Rayleigh, this is my great-grandmother, Solanna.”  Serrena gestured back to Rayleigh.  “And this is my disciple, Rayleigh.”

“Your disciple, huh?”

“Wait, that Solanna?”

“Yes,” Serrena said.  “To both of you.”

Rayleigh did a quick once-over of her appearance, smoothing out her training tunic and ruffling her fingers through her hair before giving a half bow.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Solanna…  Lady Raesh…  Forgive my not knowing how you want to be addressed.”

Solanna smiled with incredulity.  “Solanna is fine.  Celestials above help me if I have to deal with even more Lady Raesh this and Countess Raesh that.  People should just speak their mind, preferably with their actions!”

For the barest moment, Lysette thought she sensed Solanna’s gaze, but paid it no mind.  Rayleigh and Solanna spent more time introducing one another.  After a couple of minutes, Solanna erupted into laughter, followed by Rayleigh doing the same.

“Hey, Lysettie, can I go play with the kids?” Aurie asked.  “Maybe take them flying?”

“As long as no one gets hurt and you get permission from their parents first.”

“But Lysettie!  Scrapes and bruises are just the natural consequence of kids having fun!  And–”

Lysette cut her off.  “Yes, when the kids are playing among themselves, that’s expected, and I’m not going to try to shield everyone from every minor cut or headache.  But broken bones, necks, or worse, someone dying or being paralyzed for life?  Nope.”

“I understand,” Aurie dropped her head a bit.  “I won’t stop the kids from being rough with each other, but I promise I won’t let any of them get a scratch while they’re flying with me.”

“Thank you.  If it’s all the same, I have some mending of my relationship to do.”

“Ooh.”  Aurie shook her head.  “Good luck with that, Lysettie!”

Lysette feigned a smile and a wave as the two separated.  No more delays or distractions beyond sharing a couple of brief pleasantries as she walked at a determined pace back to her and Mirae’s cottage.  It was time for her punishment— whatever Mirae thought was just.  And Lysette would take it without complaint.

Lysette knocked on the door to no response.  She knocked again out of courtesy, already knowing through her avatar everything going on inside.  She opened the door, slowly and quietly, and tiptoed inside, closing it just as discreetly before making her way to the bedroom.

Mirae’s eyes were closed and though their aura was flared out, they did not even raise an eyebrow as Lysette entered the bedroom.  Lysette sat down next to her avatar.  She stopped Cultivating in the recesses of her mind, not daring to disturb her love’s efforts.  She wasn’t sure for how long she’d be given the silent treatment.  How long Mirae would sit in silence, advancing their Cultivation and maybe Lilia’s or someone else’s as well.  But the silent treatment was the first punishment awaiting her, and all she could do is reflect upon her mistakes with regard to her love.

She didn’t know that the Lotus Medallion was a trap to lure her into her Cultivation realm and ensnare her there with a goddess’s will.  She didn’t know she’d be forced to fight for her life and cut off from the outside world without so much as the ability to move her avatar.  But that was just a reason, not an excuse.  She could have told Mirae first, could have sought their guidance.  Could have linked with them for their help inside.  Although, considering Bionco’s strength and killing intent, perhaps it was more fortunate they weren’t there to experience it.

She waited.  Minutes turned into hours as late morning became high noon and then mid-afternoon.  But Lysette moved nary an inch and made no more noise beyond her breaths and heartbeats, and even those she kept as quiet as possible.  For the briefest of moments, she tried in vain to dissolve into shadow to eliminate even those as her love continued her Cultivation in silence.  But when that didn’t work, she returned to being as still as possible, even retracting her aura so as not to disturb them.

Their betrothal ring was still on their finger, with Lysette’s on a nearby nightstand where they’d placed it shortly after she came to.  Lysette filled with relief upon seeing with her own eyes that that much hadn’t changed.  That, despite her punishment, Mirae had not even symbolically broken off their engagement.  No matter how long or severe her punishment, she wasn’t going to lose the best thing in her life as well.

Afternoon turned to evening and then night, and as midnight finally arrived, Mirae opened their eyes.  Lysette opened hers as well, staring into the watery eyes of her love.  And seeing them, Lysette couldn’t help but shed countless tears of her own.

“I thought that I had lost you,” Mirae said.

“I thought the same.  I was a trusting fool.  I failed to account for the treachery with which the gods would strike against me.  But I was not as scared then as I was when I saw you again, when I saw the fear and anger and hurt in your eyes.  Scared that I had lost you.  That Bionco had taken the best thing I have in my life, the one person I can look at and say without a shadow of a doubt that I love and never want to be without.  The only person I could ever love, at least in a romantic sense.”

“You could love another in a different way?”

“Our future daughter.”  Lysette paused.  “Or, is that not something you want to pursue anymore?”

Mirae smiled for the first time since her main body had arrived.  “Not yet, of course.  But I suspect we will need plenty of practice between now and then to ensure that we can handle things…  correctly.”

“But, we promised Serrena that–”

“I’m sure I can keep you quiet enough.”  Mirae leapt toward Lysette with all the ferocity of the strongest Cultivation beasts.  They dragged her toward their bed, then threw her onto it.  They paused, staring at her and straddling over her like a predator salivating over its next meal. And only once Lysette’s heart raced with fear and anticipation in equal measure did Mirae finally jam their tongue down her throat with all the intensity that finely-crafted body could muster.

Hours passed in the blink of an eye as the two lovers lost themselves in the throes of passion.  True to their word, Mirae was able to somehow both keep Lysette’s screams muffled while not completely succumbing to a fit of lust.  Lysette felt a bit sad, knowing Mirae was the one who deserved to fully lose themselves to ecstasy.  Despite that small misgiving, she lay next to her love with a wide grin on her face, sharing tender kisses and letting errant fingers wander against the couple’s bare bodies all the way until the false dawn. 

“How are you feeling, Mirae love?” Lysette asked.

“Better.  I was worried that I would never again get to hear those sounds and taste those warm, succulent lips.”

“I’m pretty stubborn, Mirae.  I don’t die easily.”

Mirae giggled and traced their finger between Lysette’s breasts.  “I know, love.  But… Devotion is a task for the body, for the Spark, and for feelings, as well as for the mind.  My worries may not be rational, but they are still part of me.”

Lysette kissed Mirae’s lips.  “I know.  I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“Why did you not wake me when you arrived?”

“I know you were angry.  If not with me, then with the situation.  I reasoned that it was my punishment to wait until you were ready to decide what the rest of that punishment would be.”

“How long would you have waited for me?”

“As long as you’d make me wait.  I didn’t care if that was a day, a month, or a decade.  You were and are worth that penance.”

“If something were to have happened during that time?”

“I would take care of it.  Peaceably, if I could.  With violence, if necessary.  And if it were something that I could not handle on my own, I would beg for a temporary reprieve from my punishment until the situation were stable, and then return to carry out the rest of my sentence in silence.”

Mirae nodded.  “I heard that Solanna has come to Ciricu.  That should be interesting enough.”

“Interesting?  You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.  I certainly am not going to bemoan having another capable fighter here to defend Ciricu.  Though, I’m more interested in what she says she brought with her.”

“She brought something?”

“Books and artifacts from the royal palace, allegedly.  She’s refused to tell me what exactly.  I suppose we’ll find out later this morning after everyone else has awakened and had breakfast.”

“I know you’re not still hungry.  Not after that.”

“Yeah.  There is something else I want your counsel on, if you don’t mind.”

Mirae pulled Lysette in closer, rubbing their fingers through her hair, up to her scalp, gently rubbing it and helping massaging what tiny remnants of pent-up tension still remained in Lysette’s body.

“Aurie was–”

“Aurie?  You mean Aurella?”

“Yeah.  She asked me to call her that.  I–”

Mirae kissed Lysette’s forehead.  “I’m not upset.  Not at that, anyway.  Upset with Bionco for nearly taking you from me, yes.  But not at you.”

“What about earlier?”

“That was then.  I’m no longer upset with you.  Now, what is it that you were wanting my advice about?”

“Aurie had mentioned that with my shifting my Cultivation and fighting style more toward plants and herbs, that there might be some benefit to seeking out a plant beast to study under.  Or at least, to observe, to gain insights from so that I might be able to develop myself further.  But–”

“They are likely Devotees to Bionco?”

“Exactly.  And now that I know she both knows of me and considers me an enemy, that prospect has been slammed in my face before I even had the chance to explore it.”

“Have you thought of any other possibilities?”

“Truth be told, I’d like to explore the world some more, after things stabilize here in Terea.  Visit Laquella and see where Aurie grew up.  And the other continents too.  I want to understand the people throughout the world.  What they want, how they live, their Hopes, desires.  What sort of a world they’d all want to live in.”

“And then when you’re done, you’ll work toward giving them their ideal world?”

Lysette shook her head.  “Three days ago, I would have said something like that.  But Bionco did teach me one thing.  To stop being so arrogant that I’m so much better than every other god out there.  Her words may be full of sting and ire, but she’s not wrong, either.”

“But–”

“I still think that humanity would be better off without the gods.  Without any of the gods.”  Lysette looked down at herself.  “But I need to work on not being so arrogant that I let my own thoughts and feelings and instincts goad me into thinking that my way is the only way.  Let alone the best way.”

“There’s the part of you I love the most, Lysette.”  Mirae nuzzled into Lysette’s chest.  “The caring, thoughtful side of you who is Devoted both to your goals and followers.  I–  I hope I can see much more of that.”

Lysette took a long huff of Mirae’s hair, enjoying the flowery aroma.  “I can’t wait for this nonsense with Terea to be over and done with.  All this fighting…  All this death.  All this killing.  It’s not good for anyone.  Me, least of all.”

Chapter 259: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115284826

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/101896170

Chapter 261: https://www.patreon.com/posts/115424812