As soon as they exited the dungeon, Ffyr hugged Matthew with all her strength.He smiled at her and patted her head.
"Sorry." She said.
"It’s ok. We knew it was a long short. Titania is fickle." Matthew smiled at her.
"But..." Ffyr tried to reason, but only hid her face on his chest.
"I know. It’s ok." Matthew patted her head.
"I’m... I’m going to rest now." Ffyr said, defeated.
"Ok." Matthew said while she turned ethereal and possessed the necklace he had around his neck.
"She’s gotten really down." Sarah commented, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Yes. She really thought Titania was going to help. Yet, something good came from it." Matthew smiled at his sister.
"What?" Sarah asked, turning her head to the side.
"I don’t have to call her mommy anymore." Matthew chuckled.
"True." Sarah giggled.
"I guess we’re done for the day?" Sebastian asked, interrupting them.
"I guess so. Come. Let me take you home. I want to talk with Marcus a bit too, if that’s ok." Matthew said.
"Yeah. Of course! He’ll love it." Sebastian answered with a smile.
"You’re not going to close this one again, will you?" Suddenly a voice came from behind them in a teasing tone.
A voice that to this day filled Matthew with cringe.
"Claudio." Matthew said like a curse and turned around.
Claudio, from the Tower of Ryvylin, was standing in front of them. Without waiting, he grabbed Matthew’s hand and shook it hard, giving him a slight tap on the shoulder while smiling.
"It’s good to see you, kid!" He said loudly.
Matthew was caught off guard. What was he doing?
"What do you want?" He asked.
Claudio laughed like that was a joke.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Today that is."
"Then why are you here?" Matthew asked.
"I came to analyze some equipment that was found inside the dungeon and the party wanted to sell us. Quite a precious piece of armor." He said with his creepy smile on his face. "I honestly didn’t know you were inside."
"Well. It’s hard to believe." Matthew said.
"So. This is your sister? And her boyfriend?" Claudio asked, still with a familial tone.
"He’s not!" Sarah protested.
"Yes. We’re just friends." Sebastian said with flushed cheeks.
"Oh. Sorry. It’s just that..." Claudio tried to explain himself, but gave up. "Anyway. Our guest is resting very well at the tower. No signs of anyone of the cult, yet." He changed subjects quickly.
"Guest? You mean Uaithne?" Matthew asked.
"Yes. The Harp." Claudio consented.
"Good to know." Matthew nodded.
"Can we count on you if something happens?" Claudio asked.
"You mean?"
"If someone tries to take it from us." Claudio explained.
"Yes. But I thought you’d have plenty of protection in the Tower." Matthew found the request strange.
Claudio laughed.
"We do. But Matty... You are one of the most powerful adventurers in the country. Or didn’t you realize?"
"What?" Matthew was taken by surprise.
"Do you know how many level 40 adventurers there are in the country? Less than 20. 13 confirmed. You are among them. Your duel with the samurai... What’s her name? The leader of the Wandering Swords?" He tried to remember.
"Kaoru?" Sarah was the one to remind him.
"Yes! Kaoru Hoshino! It came out on the news. Even the Black Tower recognized publicly that you broke the Northern Star’s record and became the youngest level 40 in history. Don’t you see all the people looking at you? The pictures?" Claudio explained with a hint of condescendence.
Matthew looked around and realized. A lot of people were watching them. At least one adventurer had his phone out and recorded the whole conversation from afar. When did he become famous? Why hadn’t he noticed?
"Aren’t you getting calls from the press?" Claudio asked.
"I... I don’t know. I don’t pick up my phone unless I know who’s calling." Matthew said.
"Mom’s been telling them to fuck off." Sarah giggled. Their mother and her had some experience with the press and paparazzi since she’s been a model for some time. "Lynn must also be blocking any advance through the school.
"And I think you’re quite intimidating to be approached at random on the street. I mean... You’ve killed two men before." Sebastian noted.
"I... See." Matthew was surprised.
Claudio gave a fake laugh.
"And I imagine you’re pretending to be friends with my brother for public appearances?" Sarah accused Claudio.
"Can you blame me?" Claudio smiled creeply at her. "Anyway, I have to go now. They’re waiting for me." He said and tapped Matthew’s shoulder lightly. "See you later."
Matthew gave a deep breath and didn’t say anything back.
After that, he took Sebastian home. They had dinner with his family and Marcus listened to his brother’s telling of their incursion into the dungeon with bright eyes. He was marveled by hearing about Titania and her palace, and flying in the Chaos Realm.
After dinner, he took Sarah home. She rushed to the bathroom first before Matthew could claim it. But, seconds later she came back to him while he sat on the couch watching TV.
"Does Ffyr want to take a bath with me?" Sarah asked with a gentle voice.
Matthew looked at his necklace where the fairy was nesting and asked her telepathically.
Ffyr soon came out with a sad face and forced a smile.
"I do." She simply said.
Sarah took her by the hand and guided her to the bathroom.
Matthew then called Faralynn to talk with her about what happened. Not only with Titania, but also Claudio. The elf confirmed that some journalists have asked the School to do an interview with him, but she denied them.
"Thanks." Matthew said.
"What are you doing now?" Faralynn asked.
"Just watching TV. Waiting for my turn to take a bath." He replied.
"Why don’t you come shower at my place?" Her voice was sultry.
Matthew barely answered. He yelled to Sarah that he was going to Faralynn’s place, took some change of clothes in his Inventory and drove fast to her house.
In the morning, he woke up naked on Faralynn’s bed. She left a note saying she had to go to school early. She also left breakfast by the table.
While he ate, Karynn came into the bedroom.
"Sorry. Didn’t know you were still here." She apologized.
"It’s ok." Matthew said, luckily he was wrapped in the bed sheets.
He quickly used his Shadow Form skill to get dressed with some clothes, while Karynn picked up a basket with Faralynn’s dirty clothes from the bathroom.
"Don’t they have maids to do that kind of service?" Matthew asked.
"What do you mean? I’m Lady’s Faralynn maid." Karynn said.
"No. I mean hired help." Matthew explained.
"Why? I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my lady’s needs." Karynn protested as if Matthew was questioning her work.
"That’s not what I mean. Aren’t you a powerful priest? Shouldn’t you be attending to some other tasks?" Matthew explained.
"Oh. No." Karynn chuckled. "I lost that privilege when I was exiled."
"I... I didn’t know. Sorry." Matthew said. "So you were demoted to a maid?"
"Being lady Faralynn’s maid is quite an honor." Karynn defended herself.
"More than being a high priestess?"
Karynn stopped and thought for a while.
"That depends." She finally spoke. "If I do a good job and my lady comes to trust me, It might be better than holding a clergy position."
Matthew chuckled and got up.
"I don’t really understand your culture." He lamented, walking towards the bathroom.
"Why? Is it different here?" Karynn questioned with interest.
"Yes. Maids aren’t a position of much worth nowadays." Matthew said, stopping by the doorway.
"Do you think I should strive for a better position?" Karynn asked, rallying on his relationship with Faralynn to give her some insight on how to better establish herself within the noble house’s hierarchy.
"I just think it’s a waste. You have powerful skills. Even though you are not a fighter, your mastery of holy mana is impressive. There surely might be something better for you to do other than housework. Perhaps teaching at the school? Or even adventuring?"
Karynn looked at Matthew dumbfounded.
"Adventuring?" She asked.
"Yeah. Growing stronger, making money. Helping Lynn inside the dungeons like Faynn." He explained.
"That sounds... Fun." Karynn smiled. "Do you think I could do Faynn’s work?"
"If you get strong enough. I don’t see why not." Matthew said unknowingly stoking the flames of a very old rivalry.
"I understand." Karynn smiled mischievously. "Thank you again lord Matthew. You are wiser than your years." She said, stunning him with that remark.
Before he could say anything else she left the room, back to her chores.
"Shit." He exclaimed. "Hope I didn’t say something stupid." He said to himself while entering the shower to wash his body.
It was Monday. The year was almost at an end. Christmas lights were being hung in the streets. It was summer in the southern hemisphere and the nights were getting hot. The rains came back to Pacific Island.
As Matthew drove to school, he started to think about what presents he should buy his family and friends.