"Alas, despite my best efforts I'm afraid I cannot say the same. Personally, I blame the Iomedaeans - if they were less fervently opposed to everything fun and beautiful, I'm sure I'd have managed to exhaust even the Arendae coffers by now."

"Ah, so we Iomedeans all hate beauty? I never realized. Not to worry, though - a few more minutes with your dazzling lordship, and I'm sure I'll be as sour as week old milk."

"An attractive paladin who knows how to crack a joke? I see Deskari's reputation as the harbinger of the apocalypse is not exaggerated - the end times truly are upon us."

“Also, like, we spent the money fleeing from Geb, where Father is a Blood Lord. Do you know what’s directly north of Geb? Osirion! If you imagine that I, a woman, was having lots of fun in Osirion, then either you’ve never been there or you imagine that my idea of fun is assuring people that my nearest male relative knows where I am.”

“Or getting kidnapped.”

“You can’t credit Osirion for that one, the kidnappers weren’t Osirian.”

"I don't know, that still sounds like it could be exciting. Certainly the kidnapping - perhaps due to my lacking the ability to disguise myself as a fair maiden, I had to arrange my own capture ahead of time and it left much to be desired compared to the spontaneous version. Osirion, on the other hand, sounds positively dreadful. I won't lie, I rather treasure my reputation as a rake, but I can assure you the Mendevian method is far more pleasant for all involved than simply talking with a girl while her chaperone isn't nearby."

"Sounds it. Although for the full experience I, personally, would hold out at the very least until I can cast Alter Self, and, you know, have the slots going spare. Not getting eaten by demons is currently a much more efficient use of spells to have fun. --I mean, not that demons are the worst possible thing to be eaten by, I'd pick them over a mohrg any day, but still." 

"And hence the adventuring, I see. That's certainly a worthy cause if I ever heard one."

“Oh, it’s a bonus, for sure, but really the adventuring is more because fuck my father. I’m going to get strong enough that I can go back and make my opinions on him very clear.”

"Preach it."

It's not new information for her, but she gets the feeling Luzai hasn't had nearly enough people willing to voice their support for her goals in her life so far and she does want the girl to succeed.

Well, it’s not entirely honest. Mama’s death was the result of Gebbite law, not Father’s personal decisions. But if she said “I’m going to succeed where Lastwall badly failed” then people would be like “okay but please do not even try,” and for good reason.

She does appreciate Seelah’s support, though. She gives Seelah a swift and grateful smile.

Then Seelah will happily remain oblivious to the fact that Luzai's ambitious plan is just a cover for her secret, even more ambitious plan and smile back at her.

"I can't say I'm much of a fan of fighting the undead, but maybe once I have something more effective to do than trying to stab them."

"Positive energy," Luzai suggests. "That one you can already do. Albeit not all day like you can stab things. Anyway, my personal vendetta isn't necessarily your problem. I understand that demons bleed just as wet as anything else when you have cold iron." 

Villibor says something in Necril. 

And Luzai's cheeks cloud with ashes as she deliberately steps on his foot as hard as she can through both of their adventuring boots. 

"Well, I suppose I shouldn't keep you." 

From the tone of his voice, it sounds like he very much rather would.

She flushes darker. 

"That--is a terrible pity. The demons have much to answer for. But," she raises her chin, "I promise you, the next time we meet, there'll be even more reason for you to remember my name." 

"You found an angel sword and smote a vrolikai with it, is that not reason enough?" 

"I am not a one-trick pony." 

Wenduag nods approvingly. She has no intention of letting anyone forget her either, and if Luzai has the same goal that'll be helpful for achieving it.

The Gwerm Mansion looks rather similar to its fellows. It's somewhat more impressive than its immediate neighbors, but not as grand as the Count's manor, and clearly rather older a building. The most striking thing about it is its flower gardens, which despite several days of evident neglect are still beautiful - someone clearly put a lot of time and effort into their design and upkeep. The same cannot be said of the structure itself, as the impact of its architecture is rather spoiled by the fact that one of the double doors set into the main entrance was ripped off its hinges, and the force applied was enough to damage the nearby masonry as well.

"Just as I feared. My guards are supposed to prevent this kind of thing, but if this happens on their watch just because I'm gone for a few days, what is Horgus Gwerm even paying them for?"

Despite his words, Horgus Gwerm seems significantly more worried than angry.

"Maybe demons killed them."