Chapter 287: All around me are... (Patreon)

The days that follow pass in a flurry of preparations. Suri goes with Farouq and Alec to get his invitation sorted, and to retrieve a spare host from Farouq—a white-skinned female Hoig who goes by the name of Longlegs—that has Loudmouth wide-eyed and drooling, much to the annoyance of Bulging-Eyes and the amusement of Smooth-Cheeks.

The reason Suri didn’t take one of Loudmouth’s consorts, by the way, is that they’re lacking in combat capabilities. With their small Lavi Pools, low stats and Tolerances, and only very basic Skills, it’d be kinda like riding a pig into a slaughterhouse.

Longlegs, by contrast, has received quite a bit of host training and tempering, and even has the Electric subtype. The main reason Suri chose her, however, is that she’s very slender, which ought to come in handy.

Of course, Kaitlynn insists on having all of Farouq’s Commands on Longlegs stripped so we can ask her consent, but after overcoming her initial confusion, the Hoig gives it readily, seeming quite grateful for her regained autonomy.

There are a thousand more minor matters to decide on or consider, like the timing of our arrival and departure, the event’s itinerary and guestlist, methods of communication and back-up plans, but somehow we get it all done and discussed.

Suri even gives us all a crash course in Peilor social interactions, which mostly consists of introductions of various kinds of social games the higher-tier Peilor like to play, and how and when to play along, or just shut up and watch.

Our plan is meticulous this time, and everyone knows their part. Now we just need to execute it.

Finally, the day of the event arrives.

Despite the current season still being under way, the cast reunion is actually held on set. I guess it’s not an issue, as all the current participants have already moved on to the final set of Trials, so the Hydrum-filled Hub Three and everything before it lay abandoned.

As we come over from Clarity Cove—with those of us inhabiting crystals controlling our flight through either Spatial or Gravitational Energy—bright lights and helpful attendants guide us towards a hole in the hexagonal grid of Inverse Gravitational Energy, through which we float down into Hub Three.

We enter on the side with the twelve exit doors. From there, we fly over the Hydrum, making our way towards the main event location, which is the Hoig stronghold on the large island in the centre. Of course, like the other guests, we travel there at a languid pace down a meandering path.

The small islands in the outer ring really look tiny from up here...

“Look, to our right, in the corner,” Kaitlynn says a moment later in Lyrack’s voice. I turn my attention to where she indicates, and there, far in the distance, I spot the silhouette of a long neck.

I shudder as I consider the size of the Plessie it must belong to.

Is that Momma Plessie? Did they move her here from Hub Two for this season? Oof...

To our left, a flock of small manta rays leap up out of the Hydrum, jets of Astreum shooting out of special holes in their wings, which keep them aloft for long stretches before they inevitably plunge back into the Hydrum.

It makes me wonder if Elizabeth is alive, and if so, how she’s doing. Note to self: look into that, after all this craziness is over.

Soon, we pass over a medium-sized island. Not just any island, however, but our island.

It’s the island where we stayed for nearly a month, just to get into those damn oysters to temper. But it’s also the island where we really became the Blue Dragons. Where Alec drew us as a Hydra, to teach us Regeneration.

Moreover, it’s the island where we caught—I mean, met— Loudmouth.

He didn’t grow up here, of course, but apparently he did grow up between a very similar set of hexagonal stone walls. The producers raised his entire people there for the show, and simply transplanted them here when the season started, together with all of the dangerous animals they raised for the same purpose. It’s sickening to think of, really.

Still, despite all the horrible things that happened, there’s something oddly nostalgic about being here again. The time we spent in Hub Three had its ups and down, for sure, and our future outlook was quite bleak, and yet...

I guess I’ve rarely experienced life as intensely as I did here.

Our time for reminiscing runs out soon enough, however, when we arrive at the main entrance of the Hoig stronghold on the centre island, which has been completely decked out for the event.

Colourful banners have been draped over the walls, sporting logos of various sponsors, and glowing crystals stud the previously bare stone, casting an otherworldly glow over the keep.

The sound of chatter, laughter, and light music filter out from beyond the gates, where we face our first hurdle.

The guestlist.

We silently line up in our predetermined formation. Alec and I are at the front, under the guise of Farouq and his host, next to Jacob and the real Sudo.

Suri is perched on Longlegs behind Sudo, and Kaitlynn is on Loudmouth behind me, pretending to be my plus one, Lyrack.

Normally speaking, it would really not do for Farouq to be in front of Lyrack, as the artist is a tier below the comedian, but as Farouq is the one with the invite, Suri said this was the appropriate order. As long as, after the list-check, I allowed Lyrack to pass through the gates first.

Peilor etiquette is weird.

As we stroll up to the entrance together, I allow my attention to drift over the stone tower for a moment, trying to distract myself from my nerves. There are no traces of the damage Jacob and Loudmouth caused when they collapsed it during our season; not that I’d really expected there to be.

It’s all good as new, like none of us were ever here...

Thankfully, there are no problems with our invitations. The Flawed-tier Peilor at the gate—Solith-tier greeters naturally wouldn’t be good enough for a prestigious event like this—fawn over their esteemed guests, and we quickly pass through, now with ‘Lyrack’ and Sudo in front, as is proper.

When a party of Solith-tier participants of the show arrive right after us, I can’t help but notice the stark difference in the attitudes of the greeters. Gone are the obsequious ‘sirs’ and ‘madams,’ replaced by polite indifference and basic instructions.

Shaking my head internally, I focus on what’s important.

We pass through several hallways, walking over plush red carpeting and past lots of potted flowers; neither of which, from what Jacob told me, were here before.

When we pass a certain hallway, Jacob glances back at Suri and Longlegs, and makes a short jerking motion with his head.

Longlegs nods, and quietly excuses herself as she takes a right turn where we go straight, heading for the room that contains the waste pit.

That’s actually a bit of a misnomer, according to Jacob, as he remembers the hexagonal hole in the centre of the room as being about two feet wide, and leading straight down to the Hydrum below the castle. In theory, it should provide Suri and the slender Longlegs an easy route to slip away through...

Let’s just hope that theory holds up.

Finally, the rest of us enter a grand hall, its ceilings and walls decorated with large flowing lengths of cream-coloured cloth and silvery garlands, extravagant floral pieces adding colour to the otherwise sterile palette.

Hosts stand around in groups, their owners conversing heartily. My heart skips a beat as I spot one familiar faces after another.

To our right stand Dominique and Steve. To our left, I find Calyx, standing right next to Rebecca, the council chair from Hub Two.

Right, the humans who were left behind there must all have been auctioned off...

It seems like the Peilor who ‘guided’ her at the time was either able to afford her, or she got bought up by some influential figure who was able to get an invite.

Gotta be careful around here, probably a lot of powerful Peilor...

One thing we’re quite sure about, at least, is that Starmother won’t be attending. Not for lack of an invite, of course—the producers wouldn’t dare not send her one—but simply because she doesn’t care for small events like this, according to Suri.

Alec seems less concerned about these matters.

<Where are the hors d’oeuvres?> he asks through a thankfully subtle Lavi manipulation, sounding rather flabbergasted.

<It’s an event for Peilor, not their hosts,> I reply. <And you just ate!>

<Stress makes me hungry,> he complains.

<Stop talking to me, focus on the mission!>

Kaitlynn and I follow Sudo as she makes her way through the hall, stopping to make inane small talk to various acquaintances of hers.

She’s supposed to be keeping up appearances after all.

Meanwhile, I’m keeping my eye open for Dave, but so far, no dice.

Suri warned us that it was customary for Lustrous-tier Peilor to arrive fashionably late, so I expected as much, but the lack of his presence still feeds the pool of anxiety bubbling in my Imaginary stomach.

“Lyrack?” an unfamiliar voice suddenly chimes. “That’s you, right?”

Alec turns towards the sound so we can properly see the ruby-red crystal it came from, which is perched on the forehead of a slender female Hoig that quickly performs a simple bow at Kaitlynn.

Crap, who’s this now? From their cut and behaviour they appear to be Flawed-tier, but they don’t look like one of Lyrack’s old friends that Loudmouth told us about...

“Yes?” Kaitlynn chimes after a moment, sounding questioning but keeping it vague. I guess she doesn’t recognise this Peilor ei—

“Ah, it’s me, Kai!” the Peilor chimes, causing my thoughts to grind to a halt. “We met at that fundraiser for the renovations to the Flawed-tier entertainment district, remember? My, it’s been a while—gosh, I wonder what happened with all that Pell we raised that night, actually; I don’t seem to recall many renovations happening—well, no matter, it’s great to see you!”

“Ah yes, Kai! Of course,” Kaitlynn chimes, somehow actually managing to sound like she hadn’t recognised the voice of the Peilor that took up residence in her eye socket for several months. “You’re the... streamer, correct?”

Wow, she is handling this well!

“I’m a video content creator, yes,” Kai chimes, in a slightly terse tone of voice. “Which is going pretty well! Though not as great as your own esteemed career, of course. To think though; we could’ve been neighbours, if I’d just made it through one more round on Humanity Unleashed...”

That’s right, Kaitlynn lost in the quarter-finals, if she’d made it to the top four, Kai would’ve been promoted to the Pellucid tier...

“A real shame, yes,” Kaitlynn chimes in a neutral tone that seems to say she doesn’t really care. “Say, I’m surprised to see you turn up without your host—Kaitlynn, wasn’t it?—I thought you got to keep her after the show. Did you end up selling her?”

“Ah, no, I still own her—officially,” Kai chimes quickly. “The, ehm, Council of Stars saw fit to borrow her for a while, however. I’d really hoped I’d get her back before tonight, but my numerous messages to their liaisons have mostly gone unanswered. A real pity, but that’s life, I guess!”

“Indeed,” Kaitlynn chimes. “Tell me something, Kai. Do you... miss her?”

This is so weird...

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it!” Kai exclaims. “My daily views have gone down almost 30% since her departure. I’ve dropped over a hundred places in the rankings as well but hey, what can you do? I have to say, though, the way you used Loudmouth in your shows is just, inspired. Got any tips for a hungry go-getter?”

It's quiet for a moment. Just when I’m starting to wonder whether I should step in to cut the conversation short, however, Kaitlynn speaks up.

“I do, actually,” she chimes softly, still in Lyrack’s voice. “My advice would be to... dig deep. Dig deep, and really ask yourself, ‘What do I want?’ ‘What makes me happy?’ ”

“And then... apply that to my viewers!” Kai exclaims. “Oh, that is so clever, I—”

“No, Kai,” Kaitlynn chimes curtly. You apply it to yourself. Stop thinking about views and rankings and tiers for a moment, and consider how you feel about what you’re doing, where you’re headed.”

“Ehm, sorry, I don’t quite—”

“Say you succeed in becoming Pellucid tier,” Kaitlynn chimes, cutting him off. “Then what? Will you be happier? Will you be less lonely? You can keep chasing after that high for a long time, but if you don’t find a place to land, sooner or later, you’re going to crash and burn.”

For once, the chatter mouth is rendered speechless.

“Anyway, take some time to think it over,” Kaitlynn chimes, as Loudmouth turns around. “I need to go mingle.”

Alec is quick to follow them as they hop away.

“That was intense, my friend,” I chime in Farouq’s voice after a moment. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

“Well, you know that you can always—”

“Ah! There he is!” another unfamiliar voice chimes.

This time, however, I feel a shudder pass through Alec before he turns around, which gives me an inkling of who I might be dealing with...

Author's note:

I had a lot of fun writing this. The awkwardness of a reunion with the tension of a high-stakes mission makes for a potent mix. ^^

Can you guess who Alec and Emma are about to face next? ;)