All the Dust that Falls

Chapter 302: Wayward Son

Bee was a bit ashamed that she had taken so long to figure out her new skill. As it turned out, it wasn't nearly as hard as she was making it out to be. It was just a lot grosser.

Getting things back out had taken a little bit of practice and a few empty stomachs. But now she was able to reach into her throat and pull out pretty much anything. Luckily, her extra-dimensional storage space didn't seem to have any negative effects on an item. Things came out just as pristine as they'd gone in. But it was progress, and even as she practiced, she felt herself improving, if barely.

Her skill's intake and exit ignored the laws of physics, allowing her to store larger items than would ever actually fit down her throat. However, she still wasn't mentally ready to actually inhale a watermelon the size of her head. For now, she contented herself with holding things like coins or other small items. She was still working her way up to a book, but that would take time.

Just as she'd expected, the skill allowed her to hold as much as she could fit in a drawer that was about five cubic feet. It was a decent-sized space but nothing fabulous. As she practiced, though, she could tell that space was growing.

The only real issue was that she had to keep her storage under 80% full. Otherwise, she felt like she had just stuffed herself at a feasting table for three days straight. But if she kept things to a more reasonable amount, she felt fine.

However, past all that, there was something else, something more. She just knew there was something more to the skill. She could feel it. And there were some sort of hazy instructions in her mind to help her along, but she just couldn't grasp what they meant. Not quite yet.

That was fine. For now, she contented herself with practicing.

The unfortunate thing was that there weren't that many items small enough for her to fit in there. After a bit of deliberation, she ended up filling it with alchemy equipment and potions so that she'd never be without the ability to heal poisons or other things her skills didn't cover. However, she was still hesitant about what she was attempting to swallow, so no explosive or dangerous alchemy concoctions went past her lips. Eventually, she might work up the courage to do it. But for now, with her limited experience, it just felt stupid.

It had taken her a week to learn how to use the new skill, but she considered it time well spent. However, she did have to neglect a few things to get it done. Instead of returning to the capital like she should have, she sent along a message to let them know about her delay. Hopefully, things will be fine in her absence. After all, being able to use all of her skills effectively was part of being a good High Priestess. She would be doing her master a disservice if she didn't allow herself time to practice.

But even after she had gotten a rough grasp on the skill, she stayed for a couple extra days, seeing to the castle's business. Thankfully, she found that there wasn't even much need for that. Mary and Trent had the place well in hand. So, really, she ended up talking to all of the people she had come to love during her time here.

The old farmer Samuel and the crone Gertrude, along with so many of the Nighty Knights. The kids just demanded to hear about Void's exploits and her comparatively small role in them. She had taken to spending time with them in the orchard, telling stories and playing tag among the ridiculous fruit trees that her master had planted for the castle.

By now, the saplings that had been planted several months ago were the size of 500-year oaks and bore a full harvest of fruit every week. In fact, the castle was nowhere near able to keep up with the sheer amount of fruit. They did their best to keep any from littering the ground but had evidently recruited a number of livestock to help pick up any leftover fruit. It explained the comically fat pigs she'd spotted around; their skin was kept absolutely pristine.

The trees are almost as ridiculous as the rest of the animal situation. Several of Cliff's pups had grown into mostly mature wolves, but they definitely missed their mom. And evidently, they'd found a surrogate, much to a certain cat's displeasure.

As Bee wandered about the castle, she'd occasionally see the cat padding about with the wolves in tow. Occasionally, one would get a little too playful with the comparatively tiny feline and earn itself a scratch on the nose or a nipped ear. But the pups didn't seem to mind one bit. But the cat also seemed to keep the wolves out of trouble, so people didn't mind them wandering about. It was up to a few of the Nighty Knights to make sure they were fed, and several of them were already well on their way to forming bonds with the eerily intelligent animals, just like Tanu had.

But eventually, Bee knew it was time to move on. There was only so much time she could spend talking about faith with these people who already believed as much as she did. Sure, they were reassured by her presence, but it wasn't necessary. Everyone was progressing nicely in levels, doing their chores and keeping the castle in a shape that it hadn't been in even when the college was active here. Everything was kept in perfect shape, all the stairs were removed, and there was not a speck of dust anywhere.

With a fair amount of reluctance, Bee announced that she had to return to the capital. But before she left, there was one more thing for her to take care of. It was after the farewell dinner that she took Trent and Mary aside.

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It was something she'd put off for a bit too long. She had assured Tony's parents that he was, in fact, alright, but she had yet to tell them about the whole story of his new class and subsequent transformation. She still wasn't sure if she wanted to tell them about how much danger he'd been in. More than that, though, she wasn't quite sure how to tell them. So she'd avoided the topic maybe a little more than she should have. And frankly, it was something that just had to be addressed.

She invited them to her sitting room for tea, and Trent brought a nice dessert port that they had all sampled in lieu of the caffeinated drink. Trent pounded back his first small glass and looked over at her. "Alright. What happened to Tony?"

Bee blinked. "You were worried this whole time? You didn't ask."

Mary rested her hand on Trent's bicep and shook her head. "No, dearie. We believed you when you said he was okay. Trent's just being dramatic. But, did something happen?'

Bee winced slightly, thinking about Void's projection of Tony's shattered soul. "Er... yes. Something did happen."

"The way you're saying that doesn't sound so great," Trent said as he poured himself another glass of wine.

"Tony is fine! He's okay." Bee reassured them again. "But he's a little different. He was involved in a... pretty dangerous fight. To be completely honest."

Based on the parents' expressions, she decided to completely gloss over the fact that he was fighting two of the most dangerous, ancient evils humanity had faced in the last several millennia. Instead, she forced herself to smile. "He just he took some unusual injuries. Void was able to help save him, but he lost some levels. And I want you to understand how serious that is."

Trent and Mary exchanged nervous grants. "But you said he's okay?"

"He's okay." Bee nodded a little more confidently this time. "He's fully functional and will make a complete recovery. Um. However, the recovery, while complete, is not necessarily"

" Just spit it out," Trent interrupted, despite Mary's sharp look. But Bee could hear the concern in his next words. "If he's missing a leg or an arm, you can tell us. As long as our boy's all right..."

Trent trailed off, choking up slightly as Bee hastily spoke. "No, no, nothing like that! Nothing like that. Um. In fact, he might come out of this even stronger than we could have ever expected. It's just that, um, some of the abilities the new class gave him are a bit strange."

Trent and Mary both let out audible sighs of relief, shoulders relaxing. After a moment, Mary tilted her head. "How so? A new class? What do you mean by strange?"

"Well, I don't think he'd mind me telling you his class name. His class at level 25 is no longer a disciple of Spot or Paladin of Spot. It is now Custodian of the Beyond."

"That sounds fancy," Trent said, a little bit of hope in his voice.

"It is. When I left, he was still learning how to control some of his powers. But, well, he can't walk." The parents both froze in their seats, immediately tensing up again. It took Bee a brief moment to realize what she'd said wrong.

"Not because of his legs...Not because his legs don't work! No, like I said, he's okay! But he, er, floats everywhere," Bee finished lamely.

Mary opened her mouth to react, but a loud gasp from the sitting room door caused Bee's head to snap up.

They all stopped talking and looked toward the sound. Bee got up and, in a flash, threw open the door. There were a few yelps of surprise as all five of Tony's siblings, including the fully grown Cassie, fell forward into the room.

Bee rolled her eyes at the piled heap of sisters and brothers. They all glared at Leanne, who was blushing furiously.

"Come in. I'm just going to tell you all anyway, but I wasn't sure how to," Bee said with a reluctant sigh. After a moment, all five of them filed in, looking ashamed as their parents glared at them.

Cassie was the first to speak. "He's okay. Right?"

"Yeah, he's okay. He's just going to be a bit floaty, and it's taking him some time to get used to it."

***

It was several hours later into the night before Bee headed out. Luckily, she had planned to stay at that time, talking. After she had given a full account of Tony's changes, it had mostly turned into a celebration amongst the mostly mature adults. By the end of the night, they had finished off that port wine Trent had brought in celebration of Tony's continued health.

Bee soared over the road, her carpet carrying her several hundred feet above trees. Occasionally, she spotted a campfire underneath as she headed back towards the capital. She passed only a few families and caravans of travelers leaving the castle.

Unsurprisingly. There was war and a zombie apocalypse. Many people had come to the castle as a last resort. Now that the undead plague was over, the kingdom was at peace, and winter was long past, which meant a lot of them could go home. However, she understood why many didn't. The castle was amazing, and for those who had moved their whole families, they likely had nothing but a burned-down house and overgrown fields to return to. No, she could understand why so many chose to stay in the castle's land of abundance.

Only those who were looking for the rest of their families or didn't have a reason to stay left. And that was just a handful. They left in groups of two and three, depending on their eagerness to move on to the next part of their lives.

She would have liked to bring them with her, but it just wasn't possible. She couldn't protect them all on the trip home. Besides, she was needed elsewhere. But just in case, she scanned for dangers along the roads, making sure that a few of the more aggressive animals were encouraged to give these people a wide berth. But soon enough, the capital was on the horizon, and a familiar dark speck rose from some unfamiliar buildings and headed her way.