The Righteous and the Self-Righteous

The night passed quickly for John, almost too quickly as the hours slipped away and Lerianna eventually retired to her room. John could easily tell the moment that his Siphon wore off and her Libido stat returned to normal – she became almost allergic to physical contact, cornered herself, and didn't take long to announce her retirement to her own room for the evening. John thought about offering a recast of the spell, but she seemed happy enough to have escaped her biological burden for even a short while.

It was too late for Lerianna to get much rest, so she was likely going to miss out on the trip in the morning, but she promised John that she'd rest up and make herself ready. Hell, if he was lucky, maybe she'd even be a little less confrontational. He wasn't really a big fan of getting kicked around his own house, even by family.

By the time he'd devoted as much time as evenly as he could to each of the eight Nekos – including the two equally needy adults – he still felt like the night was only beginning when the false sun of his world finally rose at last. John actually stared at it in amazement for a long while, unsure of where all the time had gone. Had he lost so much time staring at the flame-like tangles of yellow and orange hair as Mika and Miya dashed around? Had he spent too much time showing Midoriya the new enchantments he'd put on his armor, or too long calming Moira and Magnus as they competed with each other for his attention? It was hard to pinpoint exactly where he'd lost the entire night – his new abilities often had that effect on him, at least as of late.

It was amazing what his Gamer's Body [Specialist] did for him. Removing his fatigue for all but the most strenuous activities had already dramatically increased his tolerance for the more vigorous activities in life. Removing his need for sleep, food, water, and even bathroom breaks made time pass so quickly it was a wonder he noticed it at all. If it weren't for the day/night cycle he'd added onto his world so long ago, John might have lost track of the days even more than he already had. Tricia's drone, buried as it was in the rock of his mountains, was his only reliable source for a context of time's passage in the outside world.

But the rays of sunlight passing in through the patterned glass of Mithra's room couldn't be ignored for long. Nor could the distant but audible sounds of his other lovers waking, moving, and gathering in the common room be put off for too long, lest they come to find him. By that time, most of the yearlings had already begun to doze off here and there, taking naps only to awaken and indulge in the occasional “zoomies” before passing out once more. John was left at the end with Maera and Mithra at his sides, not unlike how he'd started his adventure. Magnus and Moira rested with their heads upon his feet, while the other four kittens were sprawled in a pile in the corner.

“It's time for me to go,” John whispered, leaning low and tickling the twins' ears with his lips as he spoke. The two Nekos groaned with dissatisfaction, but reluctantly acknowledged his implied request. The two of them pulled their heads off of his lap, slowly rising and stretching fully as they stood and stepped away from him.

“Myaster, you coming back soon this time?” Maera asked, yawning widely as she leaned against Mithra's side.

“We won't reach the western coast for a few more days... I'll be home every night, for the foreseeable future at least,” John said, not acknowledging how much it frustrated him to be out of his own world again, or how slow their travel felt. As he stood, Magnus and Moira stirred only briefly, mewling with frustration as John's feet – their pillows – were slowly slid out of place. As soon as they'd objected, though, they were already murmuring in satisfaction as they curled up again, managing a peaceful contentment as they snuggled up together in sleep that they could never maintain in their waking hours without breaking into some sort of competition.

“Good,” Mithra said, her voice so soft and pleased by his simple statement that all of John's frustrations eased at her simple joy. “Miss you when you leave, Myaster. Kittens need their father too.”

“Hopefully once this trip is over, we can go back to being here all the time, Mithra,” John said, patting the two one final time before he headed for the door. He didn't mention the chances of things going wrong during the road trip. He didn't say how they might be attacked or ambushed on their way to the coast, or that even if they made it, Himiko might capture or kill John on her own. The thoughts of everything that could go wrong in any given moment were always on John's mind, had been for over a year now... but that wasn't something he needed to burden his lovers with.

“You can do it, Myaster! We believe in you!” Maera called, just before the door shut behind him. John did his best to suppress his fears and stresses, letting the smile that crossed his face carry away the hesitation and fear in his body as best as he could at his lover's words. It wasn't hard. Belief was a powerful thing...

He just wished that he was still capable of truly believing in something besides fire and steel.

John crossed the upper floor in a matter of moments, his passage noted by the transition from the fully closed-in hallway into the railed-off area where the second floor overlooked the lounge area below. His feet carried him down the lengthy staircase and into the common room with a practiced ease, his mind already shedding its warm, comfortable layer of happiness and contentment for the heightened pace and awareness that came with stress and anticipation. He began to go over the day's route. They were turning the trip south, along the eastern border of the Great Plains Alliance's territory, and they'd already planned out their next rest stop. It was almost six-thirty in the morning in the mundane world, and they needed to get moving.

“Good morning, Father,” Sophia greeted him eagerly, only patient enough to wait for the moment his first foot hit the border of the common room before she spoke.

“Good morning,” Orria said, smiling softly at him from across the couch, only glancing up from her sketchbook for a moment before returning to her detailed drawings.

“Where's Vallya?” John asked as his eyes passed over the women gathered there. Aside from the Nekos he'd left behind and the passionate rabbit-girl who had wandered off to bed a few hours ago, she was the only one not yet gathered.

“She thought you would appreciate having a set of eyes staying on Arista until such time as you came to retrieve her,” Sophia said, though John could hear just the barest hints of annoyance in her voice.

“Well, she won't have to wait long. Shishun, Lerianna is out for the day – are you prepared to be on call?” John asked, turning his gaze to the stoic Naga. Shishun nodded stiffly, her pink hair fluttering in front of her face as she very obviously tried to look serious.

“Of course, Master. If you have any need for me, please do not hesitate to call.”

John nodded and offered her the best reassuring smile he could, as tight as his own nerves felt. With Sophia and Vallya in the car, that would leave Shishun and Maera to call upon with Summoner's Warp if things got dire. Shishun hadn't ever had a chance to experience combat outside of a Barrier yet, but he had faith she would adapt quickly. Her performance in training had been admirable, and her dedication was nothing short of faultless.

“Hopefully that won't be necessary... but if it is, I'm sure you'll serve with honor.”

John noted the soft smile that touched on Sophia's lips at his praise. Sophia had been something of a mentor to the snake-girl since her creation, when John was too busy or downtrodden to be around the way he should've been. John's mental state had improved over the past year slowly but steadily... but he still had his darker moments.

Sophia's tutelage of the newly created Shishun had helped greatly with the Naga's prowess and skill, as well as her devotion to some extent. It had also relieved John of needing to constantly worry about Vallya's stranger tendencies and eccentric personality, or the Nekos' lack of attention span... though, he would be lying if he said he didn't wish someone with a slightly less cultish devotion had instructed Shishun on her duties. Still, an overabundance of loyalty was not a flaw John was particularly upset by, nor was it something he would devote a moment of time to criticizing.

“Your praise inspires me, Master. If you call upon me, I will answer with fervor and immediacy,” Shishun swore. John acknowledged her oath and then moved on immediately.

“Let's find Vallya before she has too much fun,” John said, turning toward the open doorway. He heard the sound of his lovers and creations gathering behind him as he started toward the exit to their living quarters. The group of them traversed the lengthy hall toward the lobby area of their home, passing through the metal doors separating them from the adjacent chamber.

Vallya was found almost immediately, although he had to admit he was surprised to see that she had not entered the makeshift prison itself. A part of him had expected the Kitsune to be inside of the containment room, nestled up against the cell and practically taunting him with her defiance and ability to bypass his defenses. Instead she was dutifully floating outside of the door, not asleep but looking as if she were on the borderline of it as she lazily floated over the doorway. When Vallya heard their footsteps approaching, she snapped to attention, righting herself and offering a salute so perfect that it was almost mocking.

“Morning! The prisoner has been asleep for most of the night... after she stopped sulking, anyway,” Vallya noted, rolling her eyes as if she thought a prisoner being miserable was ridiculous.

“Right... and no escape attempts?” John noted, glancing toward Arista's unmoving form.

“Nope! Either your collar is still holding up flawlessly or she already gave up on any escape attempts. It's possible she is pretending to be so compliant because I'm here, too. I didn't exactly hide myself...” Vallya said, throwing a wink John's way as she intentionally continued to hover in front of the wide doorway.

“I'll assume the former, and act as if it's the latter,” John noted, quirking an eyebrow at Vallya, choosing not to openly question the Kitsune's compliance. “Regardless, I hope you didn't do anything to disturb her rest. We're going to need her at peak performance.”

“Did you instruct her to sleep, or to rest to the best of her ability?” Vallya asked, eyeing the cell.

“I- no, I... didn't,” John admitted, glancing over the cell and the immobile woman within.

“What makes you think she wouldn't have stayed awake just to spite you then, regardless of what I did?” Vallya asked, quirking an eyebrow at John. “She hates the very idea of being a ****. She'd rather not be performing at her peak, so that she's more likely to lead you into an ambush no matter what orders you give her.”

“She's right, you know.”

Arista's voice surprised John enough to make him twitch as he turned his head to face the imprisoned woman. Though she was still immobile, she was glaring at him with fire that burned from her very soul.

“Morning, Arista... slept well, I hope?” John said, though now he was already expecting the answer he was sure to receive.

“Not a wink,” Arista replied smugly.

John didn't say anything to her – as Vallya had pointed out, it was his mistake. Though why Vallya had chosen to wait until the morning to mention it, rather than simply advising John about it the night before, was a mystery... and all the answers to that mystery he could think of either annoyed or angered him.

“Master, would you like me to punish her? I can ensure she suffers dearly for intentionally endangering our mission like this,” Vallya promised, biting her lip seductively as she leaned into John. “A Star Guardian can't let someone defy her Master like that!”

“I thought a Star Guardian's job was protection. **** for punishment's sake, and nothing else... that doesn't fall under the umbrella of protection,” John pointed out, her sadistic tendencies starting to concern him.

“It does fall under justice, though, and that's another one of our jobs! Seems like you should tend to agree... you did carve that Albidian leader into quite a few pieces. Kept him alive for a long time during it too, seems like you enjoyed hearing his sc-”

Vallya seemed to hesitate – no one had moved, no one had interrupted her, yet the words caught in her throat all the same. Most of John's creations took a step back, all save for Vallya and Sophia, as a dimness seemed to radiate across the room. Nothing actually grew any darker – but the room somehow seemed darker in comparison to the soft, white glow that started to emanate out of John's eyes as his pupils and irises faded away. A weight settled across everyone in the room, subtle but impossible to ignore as a blanket of mana fell over them.

[Shard of Bishamonten: Passive Activation 100%]

“What I did was justice... nothing more, and far less than he deserved. That man's crimes were countless, and far worse things than I did to him would still have not been able to pay his karmic debt to the universe. Her crimes have been punished by the mere presence of that collar... her only unatoned for crime is staying up too late, which is not a capital offense.”

“Well, it may not be worthy of proper ****, but you sure have enjoyed kicking her around... sometimes even literally. Actually, wasn't that the first thing you did when you got to our world?”

The light in the room flickered... then stabilized, as John's brows narrowed – not with anger, but concern. The light in his eyes slowly faded away as they returned to their normal state, and the pressure on the room slowly faded – the boards of the walls audibly creaked, and held breaths were released in unison.

“It was... you're correct. That wasn't justice... that was sadism. That was ****, and... it was wrong.”

“What, are you telling me you didn’t enjoy what you did to her? What you did to the Albidians?” Vallya said, her voice almost taunting. “She deserved all that you did to her.”

“No… she didn’t.”

John hesitated a moment before speaking. The act of defending Arista - of saying she deserved to be treated better - felt like a wave of nausea spreading across his body, a filth he could never cleanse through any amount of purging. But it had to be done. Vallya’s attitude had, in a way, acted as a mirror to reflect John’s own actions… and what he saw in that mirror disgusted him.

“This collar, this enslavement, is her punishment. It is what she dreads most, what can cause her the most pain in this world - just as she inflicted the worst pain I could imagine upon me. Further ****, further torment, it isn’t for the sake of justice… it’s for vengeance and self-satisfaction. That is something that I will not tolerate any longer.”

John let the words hang for a moment before stepping forward, activating the runes on the box outside of Arista's cell to disable all of his alarms and wards. As he did so, he leaned in closer to Vallya, keeping his voice low and as calm as possible.

“I don't deny that the things I did to the Albidians brought me satisfaction, but at least they were justified for the crimes those monsters committed. I can sleep at night knowing that I brought a small bit of balance to the universe, that for once, bad things happened to bad people who brought it upon themselves. But I do what I do because it is right... and when I have crossed the line, thus far I have been able to recognize it, and stop myself from going further. I do not use it as an excuse to take pleasure out of others' torments, and I do not seek out excuses to dole out punishments. I have ignored your cruel tendencies because you have used them against our foes, and have kept yourself in check... thus far. But you take pride and joy in other things as well, do you not? The tutoring of the Nekos? The guarding of this realm?”

“Of course!” Vallya answered without hesitation, half-saluting out of reflex before she stopped herself. But she looked surprisingly unsure of her own answer, and for a moment John could see an emotion that did not often cross the Kitsune's face – doubt.

“Then indulge yourself in those, and in your own training. Find pleasure in things that bring joy, not pain.”

“I... I can do that,” Vallya said, forcing a smile and nodding. John glanced over her for a long while, trying to evaluate what he saw in her gaze. She seemed to be troubled, though by what, John couldn't glean. Her eyes were unfocused, and she seemed almost off-balance – her tails were twitching unusually, and her feet were unsteady on the floor.

“Good. We're leaving as soon as I free Arista. I want to be in Nevada by nightfall.”

Arista's freedom was unceremonious and efficient; John mixed in each restraint he removed with another command for her to obey. He told her to use any techniques that she might have known to reduce fatigue and increase mental acuity that wouldn't cause her harm if used for too long as he freed her arms. He instructed her to advise them of any unusual activities along the road as they travelled when he freed her legs, and he told her to do everything within her power to keep all of them alive as he finally freed her from the last restraint – her order to remain within her bindings.

But there were some things that were simply out of John's ability to control, something he learned painfully the moment he united his companions and cast World Shift.

Something was wrong the very moment that they transported – John's Observe flashed a warning as soon as the spell was complete. The reactions of those around him were almost instant – Arista moved first, her eyes snapping to the right to something out of John's view. Arista threw herself forward just as Sophia's wings began to sprout from her back and a blue sphere of mana formed in Vallya's arms. John twisted in place to face whatever threat was ambushing them, already drawing his blade from his inventory – and hesitated for an instant as he saw Arista diving headfirst into a woman he hadn't seen for months.

He watched Layla pull free a knife from her sleeve and plunge it into Arista's back as the pink-haired woman nearly tackled her off the bed that she had been sitting on.

"Both of you, stop!" John shouted, fighting back the urge to exclaim his shock or surprise, and instead trying to achieve something meaningful. Layla had already drawn back the knife again though, and whether by his commands or by her own desire to escape her torment through ****, Arista took his command literally – she stopped moving, she stopped reacting, she stopped defending herself... even as the knife descended.

-59 HP!

John winced as the knife pierced his hand, even more so as a strange burning sensation shot down his arm. The moment he noticed the pain, it disappeared, as Layla pulled her knife free with something resembling a look of horror as she realized her blow had gone through John's own hand, instead of Arista's chest – and like that, the conflict was stopped. Both Arista and Layla were frozen in place, one in fear and one obediently.

"J-John! It really is you, I- who is this? I thought I was being attacked, what are you doing here?" Layla said, her eyes wide and her body shifting with a mixture of nervous anxiety and something else John couldn't quite read.

"Funny," John said, grimacing as he pulled his already-healed hand back, glancing at the spot where Layla's blow had been intercepted before it could do further damage to Arista,