My Brother Is The Hero Of Earth 17 Chapter 17 - Talks Behind The Scenes

The next morning, I woke up with a hangover. Since I still didn't feel like dealing with the others, I made my way back to my room where I spent the morning meditating and fighting with One. Unknown to me, however, Alice used my absence to gather some of the girls together and stage a meeting that would end up changing my life...

Alice walked into the kitchen, where the early risers of the house hand already gathered. Terri, Sophia, and Lesedi were sitting around the table lightly chatting with Kiara and Katye, who were also there, just not one of the girls she was looking for. She poured herself a cup of coffee and enjoyed the first few sips in peace after she sat down in her normal seat.

"Becca doing okay?" Sophia asked as she had been the one to hear the story from Alice.

"As good as our moody dragon every is," she replied with a sigh.

"Ah, it's 'that' problem," Lesedi said, giving a similar sigh.

"I may have an idea for solving it, but I want you two and Terri to come to my study after breakfast to discuss it," Alice said.

"This should be good," Terri said with a light chuckle.

"What's wrong with Becca?" Katye asked.

Alice chuckled and replied, "It's just a complication from her bloodline. It's normal after she fights with Gustavo... Dragons and family ties are always complex."

"Oh," she said quietly.

Alice gave a look to Sophia, who understood instantly as her eyes sparkled. "So, what do you think of Becca?" Sophia asked with a mischievous smile.

"What?!?" Katye exclaimed as her cheeks reddened, but she quickly tried to cover the fact and hurriedly said, "I mean, she seems nice and funny... really strong when she spars with Gustavo."

All of the other girls gave a chuckle, not buying Katye's false front, including Kiara who gave an uncharacteristic giggle herself since she would normally remain silence in these situations. Katye's face grew even redder as she looked down at her plate to escape their gazes.

Lesedi, with a big grin on her face, leaned forward and laughed, "Now, now, that doesn't seem to be your full answer. We are safe enough since Becca isn't here yet."

Katye only grew redder as Alice added, "Lesedi is right, Becca said she was going to spend the morning meditating."

Even Kiara picked up on what the other girls were hinting at and threw in her own two-cents. "You do ask about her more than anyone else in the house," Kiara said as she swirled her juice around in the gla.s.s. They had gotten close in the past week since Katye had been helping tend some of the herbs in the garden, freeing up more of Kiara's time to work on potions and pills.

"You too?!?" Katye muttered under her breath, nearly cursing her new friend.

The others laughed again and gave her expecting looks, waiting for her to finally respond.

Katye gave an exaggerated sigh, "Fine, alright, whatever...You all are with Gustavo, after all... Yes, I'm interested in her, but she has been avoiding me for days and has barely talked to me."

"You can't hold that against her. Becca is really shy, and I think living the manor has messed with her quite a bit," Terri said.

Before the conversation could progress any further, Gustavo, flanked by Yue and Melissa. Melissa, the resident empath, picked up on the mood in the kitchen and gave a questioning look to the girls, but no one said anything, especially not Katye, who was trying to hide her red face. Yue could tell they had interrupted something as well, but seeing the teasing smiles on most of the girls, she didn't bother to pry. Gustavo was blissfully unaware of the pervious mood as he sat down with a light smile and made himself a plate of food. Katye's blush slowly faded throughout breakfast since the conversation at the table shifted to something more light-hearted. When the three Alice requested to meet up in her study finished eating, the four of them left the room together, finally sparking Gustavo curiosity.

"What's going on?" Gustavo asked as the others walked for the door.

"Nothing important, Alice just wanted to go over some things with them," Kiara answered with an unnoticeable sparkle in her eye.

"Oh," he mumbled, returning to his food.

The four girls chortled, overhearing him, as they left. Alice's study was one of the closer rooms to the kitchen, so they reached it within a minute and Alice sealed the whole room with an Isolation Ward. The others laughed as they found their seats on the couches. Sophia sat in a corner with Lesedi leaning back against her and kicking her feet up on the rest of the couch while Terri sat down across from them and Alice joined her.

"So, I imagine why I pulled you three in here," Alice started.

"I hope it's just because you want to get our dragon and new fairy together," Terri said with a bit of humor.

Sophia and Lesedi both chuckled and nodded.

"Our biggest problem will be Becca herself. She has 'made up her mind' to not go after Katye," Alice replied.

"Ha, that's fresh. When has Becca been that closed off?" Terri laughed.

"Well, for some reason she doesn't think anyone can resist Gustavo's charms for long... thanks to a certain pair," Alice said, side-eyeing the two cuddled up on the other sofa.

Sophia blushed lightly and turned her head away while Lesedi laughed and said, "I never said I was gay."

"That aside," Sophia said, her face still red as she faced the group again, "we can solve it by telling Gustavo to stay away from her."

"Seeing how that is what started their fight yesterday, even that lovable blockhead will have enough sense to keep away from her. No, our problem is Becca herself," Alice said.

"Couldn't we just get them drunk and slip her some Baruen," Lesedi suggested with an evil chuckle.

The other three girls gave an annoyed sigh while Sophia went a step farther and flicked Lesedi's ear.

"We want them to become a couple, not for Becca to break her," Sophia said in an exasperated tone.

"Heh, heh, it was a fun night," Lesedi snickered with a smile.

"Any less crazy plans?" Alice asked.

"Actually, I might have an idea. Becca practically impossible to get out of the house except when we are going to Powell's Books store. The whole place is over an acre large and as long as we can get those two off together, the 'magic' should fly," Terri said then laughed at her own joke.

"It wouldn't be too hard to arrange, but we need to talk..." Sophia was cut off by a whistling sound coming from something on Alice's desk.

"Sorry, give me a few minutes while you three keep talking," Alice said, standing up and walking over to her desk.

A black, metal pyramid decorated with runes that had lit up was the source of the sound. Alice pulled out a special, animal hide scroll from one of the drawers and spread it out then she placed the pyramid over it, about an inch above the actual skin. The runes began to flash in a unique pattern once it was in place and words began to appear under it as it hovered across the scroll. Few people could read the dead language appearing on the page, but Alice, of course, knew it since it was from the 'Old Days'. The pyramid was a magical device that she used to measure the 'Great Ward' and predict when she could open a portal into the 'Rift'.

"Well, as I was saying," Sophia said once the whistling stopped. "We should talk to the others, just to make sure Becca doesn't have anyone else to slip off with. Gustavo and Ella probably won't come at all. Kiara, Melissa, and Yue will likely group up and want to go to the medical section, so Becca shouldn't be too interested in going with them. I guess that means you are stuck with us, Terri."

"Meh," Terri said as she shrugged. "I'm not expecting any new books anyways."

"Going to a bookstore for a date? Boring!" Lesedi complained.

"Do you have a better idea?" Sophia asked.

"I still like my drinking idea!"

Terri laughed, shaking her head, as Sophia sighed again and covered Lesedi's mouth with her hand. Alice walked back over and sat back down in her spot.

"So?" Terri asked.

"Tomorrow night, the Shaconage Mountains for a week," Alice replied.

"d.a.m.n, well, I guess that means this is on hold until we get back," Terri said.

"We can always plan it for the day after we get back. It's always nice to go back to the 'real' world after spending a long time in the 'Rift'. Plus, since it will be Katye's first time in the 'Rift', it won't be hard to force those two together since Becca is still the only one who can touch Katye when she isn't actively suppressing her bloodline. We can't let our newest member be in danger," Sophia said mischievously.

"It's a little early for Katye to go, but her magic is developing at an incredible rate. I guess it wouldn't be too bad to send her along if the whole group goes. The Shaconage Mountains are known for their herbs and mineral deposits, so this could be a very valuable trip," Alice said. "Alright, you girls go about your day while I try to figure out what you might 'see' while you are there."

"See you later, Alice," Sophia and Lesedi said as they stood up.

Terri gave Alice a small peck on the cheek before she stood up as well and followed the pair out of the room. Alice watched them leave before she got up as well and went over to her desk, pulling out the various tools she would need to 'see' into the 'Rift'.