My eyes widen involuntarily, and I stare back at Deralt in shock.
"By original, you mean..." (Mizuki)
Deralt nods, the faintest hint of amusement once again invading his demeanor.
"I mean the first to emerge from the Origin Shards...I came before all other Greater Spirits." (Deralt)
For a moment, I can only ogle him in silence. Then, before I consider the wisdom of it, I can't help but blurt out my most pressing question. Or rather, I would, if Alto didn't beat me to it...
"Good gods...just how old does that make you?" (Alto)
I blink, looking over at Alto in shock, while Deralt just raises an eyebrow.
"Ah, so you do speak, child...I was starting to wonder." (Deralt)
A rare blush of embarrassment creeps up Alto's neck, and I see her jaw tighten. Deralt continues, apparently unbothered.
"As for your question...I'm old. Old enough that I grew tired of measuring my life, then lived until I couldn't remember the measurements that I had made, then continued living still, to the point that even the memory of the desire to measure my life felt like the distant impulse of a child. That is 'just how old' I am." (Deralt)
The clearing falls quiet in the wake of Deralt's declaration, the air laced with a heaviness I can't quite fathom. Nobody speaks for several seconds, and eventually the silence turns awkward.
I clear my throat, and give Deralt a questioning look.
"So, like...at least fifty, right?" (Mizuki)
While the others give me dumbfounded stares, Deralt's lips twist into what I'd assume was an entertained smile if the sentiment bothered to reach his eyes.
"Ah, yes...I used to be quite fond of jokes as well." (Deralt)
Yeahhh, uhm...kind of hard for me to believe, my guy. Either way, I feel like we're getting off topic.
My expression turns serious.
"Deralt..." (Mizuki)
His eyes meet mine again, reminiscence apparently interrupted, and his eyebrows rise questioningly. I exhale heavily.
"So, can I count on any other Greater Spirits' aid?" (Mizuki)
His expression grows contemplative, studying me in silence for a moment.
"What help, exactly, do you require of us?" (Deralt)
For a moment, I hesitate, wondering just how much I should reveal. However, only for a moment, until I remember the potential stakes. Keeping the spirits in the dark can only hinder their efforts to protect my friends...it's not worth the risk.
I sigh, nodding at Deralt.
"Well...you see..." (Mizuki)
Committed to my decision, I explain everything about the Author, and my most recent safety concerns, leaving nothing of relevance in reserve. When I'm finished, Deralt's casual attitude has vanished, and his eyes study me seriously.
"To think there is such a being roaming our world in secret...if it's now focused on you, your request indeed seems prudent." (Deralt)
I exhale in relief, then sweep my gaze across the spirits before resting it on Deralt expectantly.
"So, will you help us?" (Mizuki)
Deralt sighs and shakes his head.
"I can't condone mobilizing our people to help with the situation." (Deralt)
I blink, briefly stunned by the refusal. But as his words sink in, my shock turns to panic, then frustration.
No? He's saying no? What am I going to do about protecting the others? I practically assured them I could get the Greater Spirits' help...
Yona's appalled voice interjects.
"Lord Deralt, how can you say that!? Tchar'jee has offered to help us, and this is the only chance we may get to repay him!" (Yona)
I glance at Yona in surprise, which quickly turns to a deeply conflicted feeling. Appreciative of her sticking up for me, validated because she's voicing my gut reaction to Deralt's comment, and ashamed for thinking they should owe me at all.
Meanwhile, Deralt gives Yona a reproachful look.
"His offer to remedy our problem is just that...an offer, Yona. For now, the endangerment of our kind persists, while his request may only worsen the issue. Have you considered that someone capable enough to elude him so proficiently, could also possess the ability to kill our kind?" (Deralt)
Yona's expression falters, and I grimace. I'm not actually convinced Deralt's suspicion is true, since I'm not even sure that I can kill these guys, but...I can't truly guarantee their safety from the Author either.
I glance at the other spirits, wondering if they echo Deralt's sentiments. Noting their submissive expressions fixed on him, I banish any hope of pleading with them directly.
To my surprise, Yona shakes her head at Deralt, her tone only growing more emphatic.
"I don't care! You can't make me ignore his request!" (Yona)
My eyes widen involuntarily. Can't say I expected her to advocate for me this vehemently. More shocking than her reaction, however, is Deralt's. He stares back at Yona calmly, looking slightly amused.
"I'm not asking you to, Yona. In fact, I'm glad to see you thinking for yourself...you and the others have always treated me far too reverently." (Deralt)
Yona blinks, clearly thrown by the response, and I can't help but share her feelings. Deralt, seeing our puzzled expressions, sighs softly.
"Honestly...it's not so convoluted. I simply can't order or advocate that the rest of the spirits aid you when there is potential danger, nor can I pretend to see the wisdom in any of them wishing to do so. However, that is not the same as strictly ordering them to stay uninvolved. So, if Yona is resolved to help you because she feels indebted due to your past interactions, then she is free to do so, regardless of my personal judgement." (Deralt)
Hearing that, Yona turns to me and beams, placing her hand over her chest.
"Then I will help you, Tchar'jee!" (Yona)
Shaking off the whiplash from Deralt's comments, I smile wryly at Yona and nod.
"Thank you, Yona, I appreciate it." (Mizuki)
Despite being grateful for her assistance, I can't help but be disappointed as well. The Elven Royal Palace, Levi's group in Elemsia, the Egris estate, and our own mansion...ideally, I'd like to keep all those areas constantly monitored by me or the spirits. So, I wanted the help of at least three spirits, preferably four. Alas...
I glance at the remaining spirits, hoping that after Deralt's roundabout allowance, others might be more amenable to following Yona's lead.
"Where do the rest of you stand?" (Mizuki)
Several of them exchange uncomfortable glances, leaving the clearing in awkward silence for a moment, until the same male spirit that spoke up earlier bows at me with an apologetic expression.
"Please forgive us, Lord Mizuki, but...if the Original advises against it, we must decline." (male spirit)
Figured as much.
I sigh regretfully.
"I understand...thank you all for hearing me out anyway." (Mizuki)
I turn towards Yona, preparing to thank her again and discuss specifics, when Deralt's voice interrupts, carrying a trace of intrigue.
"Though I can't condone the others getting involved...I might be convinced to aid you personally." (Deralt)
I turn towards him slowly, openly confused, and notice him studying me with an expression that betrays no intentions. Initially, I'm thrilled, but once the nuance of his statement registers, I can't help but narrow my eyes, the phrase 'might be convinced' echoing meaningfully in my mind.
So...he wants something?
I respond in a measured tone, my gaze no doubt reflecting the cautiousness I feel.
"Okay...I'm listening..." (Mizuki)
Deralt smiles ever so slightly at my response. He turns to the other spirits who are glancing between one another with confused expressions.
"Yona, please accompany the others back to our abode for now. I will join you shortly." (Deralt)
After a few seconds of confusion, and a curious, reluctant glance in my direction, Yona nods and hesitantly departs from the clearing with the other spirits. Once only Alto, myself, and Deralt remain – watched intently by the ever-looming Mud, of course – I cut him a suspicious look.
"Why do I get the feeling you expect to upset me?" (Mizuki)
Hearing me, Deralt cocks an eyebrow, then hums thoughtfully, exuding the aura of a bored librarian that's just been asked for a book recommendation.
"Hmm...perhaps because I expect my request to upset you?" (Deralt)
The deadpan response causes my eye to twitch, my voice turning a bit more strained than intended.
"Just tell me what you want." (Mizuki)
Another flicker of amusement crosses Deralt's ethereal-looking face, but it quickly passes, and he nods calmly in response.
"Two things, actually. First, if you have truly had some revelation about how to help with our kind's stagnated existence, then I ask that you investigate it further before departing today. The conclusion of your endeavor matters not, only that you try and honestly communicate any new thoughts on your ability to resolve our problem." (Deralt)
I purse my lips thoughtfully.
I mean, that's not really an unreasonable request, on its face. I originally told them I'd be able to help, then after my initial experiments I even explicitly said I needed to investigate things further. It makes sense that he'd like me to start that 'investigation' before leaving today, and I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea.
The question is...what exactly is the next step in my investigation? I suppose, at the very least, I could try compressing atmospheric magic while Alto monitors its levels for the fusion-like kinetics Yona described.
While I'm not optimistic about that approach, given that the Greater Spirits already tried something similar without success, it would at least prove my intentions to Deralt and the others. Plus, there's always the possibility that it might actually work.
Even if the Origin Shards do somehow catalyze the magic's fusion-like formation of the scaffold particle, the same 'reaction' could still be achievable with much lower efficiency in the absence of their catalytic effects. Perhaps the Greater Spirits just lacked the power necessary to overcome that lower efficiency and accumulate magic to critical density for scaffold particle formation.
Nodding absentmindedly as I warm up to the idea, I glance back at Deralt with raised eyebrows.
"Okay, I can manage that. You said there were two requests, though. What's the other?" (Mizuki)
Instead of responding right away, he studies me with an unreadable expression for several, silent moments. Eventually, he glances away thoughtfully, his voice taking on a strange, measured quality.
"Is it true that you threatened to kill Yona during your first meeting?" (Deralt)
I freeze, immediately concerned about the underlying accusation in the question. My eyes narrow slightly, and I carefully consider my words.
"She attacked my friends without just cause, and I merely warned her that I could retaliate if she didn't surrender. I threatened self-defense, not murder." (Mizuki)
To my surprise, however, Deralt merely glances back at me calmly.
"You misunderstand me...I did not ask you that question to assign fault to your actions. I bear no ill will towards you for what transpired that day, nor does Yona." (Deralt)
I raise my eyebrows, my voice growing uncertain.
"Then...what?" (Mizuki)
He shrugs.
"I merely wished to know if you could truly carry through on such a threat...killing a spirit is not without its challenges, after all." (Deralt)
Realization dawns on me, and I relax slightly. I nod slowly in response.
"In that case, yes...I did threaten to kill her. As for whether I could follow through on the threat, I can only say that I find it likely. I've never actually killed a spirit before, nor do I intend to, but I think I know how to manage it." (Mizuki)
If the spirits' constitutions work as I imagine, then their consciousness is dependent on maintaining a minimum amount of magic and/or scaffold particles within a certain proximity to act as a neural network. So, in theory, forcibly dispersing the particles that make up their forms should effectively kill them and prevent any kind of reconstitution. The only question is whether dispersing all their magic particles is sufficient to do so, or if their scaffold particles must also be targeted. In the latter case, it's just a matter of learning to detect them.
Hearing my response, Deralt nods absentmindedly. Realizing that he hasn't actually voiced a request, I give him a puzzled look.
"Why do you ask?" (Mizuki)
This time, Deralt once again falls silent, his silvery gaze fixed on me...studying, assessing. Eventually, the silence between us grows uncomfortable enough that I'm wondering if I need to repeat myself. Then, Deralt suddenly sighs, his eyes growing more weary than I thought possible.
"Well, my second request...is that I'd like you to kill me." (Deralt)