Tyler Kimball - Lessgently
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Chapter 109 - Diplomatic.
🕑 Added 2024-02-13 06:59:20 +0000 UTC[Authors notes] - I am unsure about how this chapter came out, I didn't want it to be several chapters of back and forth, detailing each of their reactions and moves etc etc. So, I tried my best to compound it into points. When this goes live on RR, it might be changed. Let me know what you think. Also, Lethal Weapon 2.
Lee gazed at the reddish-orange sky as the sun was inching down over the horizon. He had sent his message and was patiently waiting for the reply. The loud snapping of heated fat and the sizzle of meat filled his ears as Kooco, Meriah, and Em watched Kendri attempt to cook up dinner. The smell of sizzling meat was mouthwatering, but Lee had some issues about thinking of meat recently.
Looking off to the side, Lee spotted the wreck that was Jeremy. While everyone was still subdued because of the loss of Belgrate, Jeremy had taken it the worst. It didn’t help that Lee had asked to speak with the military leader either. The stress from what he and Fatalina would talk about was probably eating him alive from the inside.
As he was about to start up some conversation, in the corner of his eye, Lee saw the beginnings of ink appear on the copy scroll within his lap.
This is Fatalina Castana, active General of the Thexian Offensive and a host of other useless, pleasant titles.
I have heard much about you, Mr. Barnes. I have been looking forward to our eventual conversation. However, it surprises me that you sought me out on your own.
As you wished for informality, I will be plain. What is it that you want?
—--------------------------------------------------------------------
Firstly, I want information. I’m sure you also want the same to start out this conversation. I’ve been made aware of my standing within your Kingdom, and while it is disappointing that the healers of your Kingdom aren’t seen in the greatest light, it is understandable. I’m not like them and won’t ever be.
Currently, I am in a village called Lopus. Jeremy Blight, a noble I am traveling with, told me that he notified you of the ongoing situation here.
For lack of better words, it is fucked. One of the squad members sent with me from the Wall of Shadows died this morning, and there will be more deaths to come.
What is it that you’re either planning or doing to solve this issue?
Fatalina grimaced as she repeatedly snapped her fingers toward Regina, her eyes never leaving the scroll. “Were we given information regarding problems at Lopus?”
Regina slapped the snapping hand down away from her as she replied. “We were. They’ve had a mining incident, and some monsters have risen from the depths.”
Fatalina grabbed her quill to reply as she angrily gave an order. “Find out the closest lord or lady and order them to resolve the issue. From what the healer said, it’s not as simple as it seems. If they do not, tell them their lands are forfeit. Keep me updated.”
She watched Regina leave her office and then stared at the scroll. She wanted so much information but didn’t want to seem heavy-handed in her information gathering. Informality was both a blessing and a curse.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fatalina: The nearest noble is on their way to resolve the issue. I’ll send word when they are about to arrive. Tell me, what god do you follow?
Lee: Are we going to play 20 questions? I assume you’re asking about being God blessed: Arcani, the Goddess of Magic. Though I am friendly with more, I do not follow any of them.
Lee: My turn. How many defenders does the kingdom currently employ? Did Jeremy relay my message about their well-being?
Fatalina: I would have to look up the specifics, but it is over a hundred. I was informed about treating them better and have already begun the implementation of improvements. We will start with Emthraxiatus, the Arachne whom you have met.
Fatalina: I was informed about your magical expertise. You were taught in Neldam by Neia Sindris? Is she related to a Nitis Sindris?
Lee: You don’t need to start with Em; she has decided to join me on my journey. She is trying to help cook our dinner at the moment.
There was a brief pause before the next message was sent, as Lee had to stop Em from attempting to help cook. Apparently, her idea of cooking was just to throw something on a hot pan and wait until you smelt something burning.
Lee: Yes, I was taught in Neldam. Neia is Nitis’ daughter and a dear friend. While we’re on the topic of the Dark Elves, I think it’s time for some of the more hard-hitting questions.
Lee: I ask that you remove their banishment and allow them to either rejoin the kingdom or wander elsewhere. What would you want me to do for you in return?
—----------------------
Fatalina was wearing a feral grin as Regina returned. Regina slightly chastised her ‘employer.’ Her voice was that of a mother scolding her child. “Keep making a face like that, and it will stick.”
Her grin quickly transitioned into a scowl as Fatalina flicked her eyes to her aide. “It’s the moment of truth.”
Fatalina: I myself don’t have the authority to do what you want, but I can make it happen. In return, I want the spellbook that has healing spells.
Fatalina waited with bated breath. She knew she was pushing it, and the informality of the conversation, which was normally a blessing to have, was hampering her ability to persuade him. Sweet nothings usually worked well on the high and mighty, fluffing up their enormous, fragile egos.
Lee: No. Try again.
She wasn’t surprised at the rejection but was surprised that nothing else was said. Simply a ‘Try again.’ This indicated that he wanted the release of the Dark Elves badly or that he wasn’t as invested as she initially thought.
Fatalina: Can you teach people how to create healing magic yourself? Or is it from your spellbook?
Lee: I can teach people healing magic, as I have created it, but the spellbook is easier and noncommital. I can teach people how to unlock the advanced element, and I have taught the Dark Elves how and why the healing spells work and operate. If I’m imparting the knowledge through the Spellbook, I assume it is more difficult for them to recreate the spells themselves without my personal teachings. I have a useful skill for that. Also, just a warning, the spellbook is Soul-Bound to me.
Fatalina: As you know, we are at war. Healing will help with this war, but simply teaching a few soldiers healing isn’t going to turn the tide. The Healer’s Sanctum will thwart all plans made to mass teach healing. They have had a monopoly on healers since the creation of the kingdom, and will do all they must to keep hold of it.
Fatalina: We can discuss the Dark Elves freedom at another time.
Lee: Thank you for the information. After all of this business in Lopus is over, we are heading to Felispar to meet with Jeremy’s father. The plan is to coordinate with the lord and set up the facilities to teach a vast amount of people my magic at one time. If you have any soldiers you want to learn healing magic, you can send them there. If this Healer’s Sanctum is as dangerous as you illude too, then we can both be happy that there will be soldiers around. Protection for me, healing for you.
Lee: If you send anyone, which you will, make sure they have both Light and Earth elemental affinities.
Fatalina grinned as she read through the scroll. A part of what she wanted has fallen into her lap. This healer wasn’t stuck up, egotistical, or stupid, as he had caught onto her hint about the sanctum. She only had one thing she couldn’t figure out.
Fatalina: Is there a reason you’re going around and teaching healing for free?
Lee: Multiple reasons. And I’m sorry to say, it wont be free.
Fatalina’s grin fell off her face. Now, it was blank as she stared emotionlessly at the scroll—waiting for the next words to come to her.
Lee: One gold per person. I might make it cheaper, depending on if you can do what I’m about to ask.
Fatalina rapidly squeezed her fist open and closed as her breathing quickened. Even if she didn’t do what was about to be asked, she WAS going to pay a gold per person. She didn’t care about whatever departments or whole sections of government collapsed from the debt, it was going to be worth it.
Lee: Standardize the price of healing throughout your kingdom: 10 copper for small injuries, and no more than 10 silver for anything else. Do that, and I will teach everyone in your kingdom for half price.
Oh, how she wished that were possible. She could fight on a battlefield, and she could fight politically, but the Healer’s Sanctum would start war themselves if this was to pass.
Fatalina: I cannot do that.
Lee: You cannot do that, yet. Once their monopoly begins to crumble, they become powerless. I assume most of their power comes from strongarming everyone with the threat of no healing. Especially dire when in a state of war. If this is the case, they also have alchemists who create healing potions in their midsts. Pressure the alchemists to leave, give hints about me to them. If they’re business savvy, they will begin to leave the sanctum, even if they take a temporary loss of revenue.
Lee: Second, I will teach every single person from here to Felispar my healing magic for free. Send whoever you want, as many as you want, to me along the way. The quicker we begin, the less influence they have. Ideally, once I arrive at Felispar, the number of healers I have taught will be equal to or more than the number of healers they have.
Lee: I do not want to become the new monopoly. I want healing standardized by law. How many members do they have?
Fatalina leaned back in her chair with a rarely seen look of being impressed adorning her pale skin. While his plan wasn’t flawless or really thought out past the fledgling stages, he seemed to know what he was talking about.
Her eyes flickered as she sorted through all of her information, rearranging the pieces to see how they would fit. In the end, she determined that this was all… possible?
Fatalina: They have upwards of 500 healers and the same amount of alchemists.
Lee: That’s more than I thought, but it’s doable. Notify the Adventurers’ Guild about me, and send them to Lopus under the pretense of helping out. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to get out from under the sanctum's thumb.
Lee: Oh, one more thing. Do I have diplomatic immunity?
With confusion, Fatalina slowly scrawled onto the scroll.
Fatalina: I do not know what that is.
Lee: Am I unbound by your laws? I am unaware of most of them, but I assume killing in self-defense is fine?
Still, with a look of confusion, which caused Regina to raise a brow, Fatalina replied.
Fatalina: That is fine. If this works out, you can do whatever you want.
Lee: Is that a yes?
Without knowing the future consequences of her next action, Fatalina wrote a final nail into a coffin.
Fatalina: Yes, you have diplomatic immunity.
—-------------------------------------------------
Lee smiled and rolled up the copy scroll. He could feel Jeremy’s nervous and unrelenting gaze boring into him from a few feet away.
He got up, strode forward, and placed the scroll into Jeremy’s lap. “Diplomatic immunity. Tell me, have I broken any laws since I’ve been in Thexis?”
Not expecting this line of questioning, Jeremy nodded once. “If we’re not counting taking a defender along with you on your travels, then I don’t think so?”
Lee placed a hand on Jeremy's shoulder and smiled down at him, causing a slight chill to run down Jeremy’s back. “Fatalina gave me diplomatic immunity.”
“O… okay? What does that mean.” He asked.
“It means none of your laws affect me. So, I can do whatever I want. For example: if a noble makes a mistake, like sorting through my stuff, and I kill him, then nothing happens. No imprisonment, no fines, nothing. I am immune. So, if Meriah acts up again, I will chop off her legs. Which I’m sure is a crime. Just, not for me.”
Lee walked over to grab some of the cooked meat as he spoke. “Also, if a certain Sanctum of Healer’s try to mess with me, they have no laws to hide behind.”
Comments
James Faulkner
True, I’m just waiting for him to walk through the sanctum and wipe them all out with his reverse healing lol. Giving a walking super weapon diplomatic immunity is something else 💀
Tyler Kimball
Lee can do things they can't with healing. Like turn it into damage. :)
James Faulkner
Holy shit, Fatalina just signed the sanctum’s death warrant haha
jean
ohoh lee gone of the deep end now...
James Squibb
I think this flowed very well. Lee has had it with his situation and it is evident in his speaking. I am looking forward to Lee and Fatalina meeting one day.
Wintermelody
Thanks for the Chapter(≧▽≦). I had no problem following along.
