"So," I say, drawing Elisa and Khi's attention, "are you sure that Sovereign Rak'Na orchestrated the kidnapping? It was one of the possibilities I've accounted for, but I haven't detected anything confirming it."

"Yes," Khi answers. "All of my security, including Kor'To,"—she makes a faint frown—"were checked multiple times before we came here. If everything they told me was the truth, then that just means they are executing direct orders from Mother."

"In that—"

Khi interjects, "We need to go back, and I need to get taken."

"Not happening."

The princess blinks at me a few times, and then her expression turns blank. "What are you going to do? Stop me?"

"Yes."

"No you won't."

"...No, I won't."

Khi starts laughing. "Sorry. That was mean. Okay, fine. Let's talk it out." She crashes on a couch and lets her head hang back, staring at the ceiling of Elisa's house. The elf takes a seat next to her.

"First," I start, "why would the sovereign want you to get captured?"

Khi answers without looking at me, somehow comfortable in her currently stretched position, "Sometimes, getting things we really want is not the best for us in the long run. Same as the assassination attempt, winning the people over. She's just reacting, never the one to initiate, only when she is pushed to her limit."

"That leads quite well into my second ask. Is the sovereign's ultimate goal to be Ruler?"

Khi shrugs. "Probably."

"Why?"

The question causes the princess to momentarily raise her head. She gazes into my eyes and shrugs. "I don't know. She just wants it?" Her head goes limp again, her long hair dangling freely from the back of the couch.

"There has to be a reason."

"You can ask her yourself." Khi chuckles. "Most of the time, I have no idea what my mother's thinking. And even if there is a reason, I don't see how it matters."

Elisa joins the conversation, "If you know someone's motivation, you know how they will act. And if you know how they will act, you control the outcome."

Khi remembers that there are other people here and gets embarrassed by her slovenly display, standing up straight and trying to look prim and proper. "What's the outcome, then?"

I answer, "Give her what she wants."

"No!" Khi shouts, leaping up. Her arm slices through the air. "That would be a grave mistake!" Her tail is nervously swishing left to right. She winces at her own outburst and meekly sits down again. Her voice is back to normal speaking volume. "You know it's not that easy, Lucius. What do your projections tell you?"

"If everything goes right, we get an optimal outcome, both for now and for the future."

"And if it doesn't?"

"The alternatives might be worse."

Khi shakes her head. "No, they aren't. Trust me."

"Okay."

Khi cocks her head to the side. "Huh? What do you mean 'okay'?"

"The decision for what strategy to employ at the beginning is not vital. The final outcome will be decided as events unfold."

"Was my input useless?" Khi asks, dejected.

"No. You are a key player. I value each and every one of your inputs."

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The beastfolk looks away, even more embarrassed than before. "If you say so..." Then she looks at me again. I see a flash of something in her eyes, but it is soon swallowed deep under the surface. "Lucius, are we... still friends?"

"If you want us to be." She quickly nods an affirmative.

Elisa produces an 'aww' sound, causing both me and Khi to share in the lingering embarrassment. After having experienced a similar situation as the one I was subjected to earlier, the princess telepathically apologizes.

Khi then clears her throat and asks, "What if we told Mother about you?"

"Too risky at this time."

"Right..." Khi attempts to ask something else, but a deep rumbling stops her words. "Uhm..." Before she can say anything more, Elisa warps a large bag in her hands.

The surprise appearance draws the beastfolk's eyes, and when Elisa opens the crinkling container, the aroma draws in Khi's whole body. The prawn crackers are offered to the hungry princess. A curious look, a hesitant pluck, a resounding crunch. And just like that, I've earned her eternal loyalty. If only all beastfolk were this easy. Unless... No, no. Ain't happening. But one can always dream.

While the two are crunching away, I start to address some of Khi's most likely queries, "Main objective is to get captured by Veyrin forces and make it believable." Khi quirks a brow in confusion but lets me continue. "Secondary objective is to make my extended absence at least somewhat believable. I've got that covered already, so we are good on that front."

With her mouth stuffed full, Khi asks a completely unrelated question that was niggling at her mind. The best approximation for which is 'Was the magic stuff actually real'.

Elisa answers for me, "Indeed it was. A peculiar one. Did you read my paper?" Khi nods enthusiastically in response. "Total piece of garbage." The elf swipes some errant strands of hair away from her face. "I omitted the truth entirely. What we theorized as the actual cause of Lucius' condition was a combination of mental repression and time needed for acclimation. He would have probably been able to do everything eventually. Kinda like how newborns can't cast, but if you wait a few years, you get toddlers using their newfound powers for evil." She was one of those evil toddlers.

Khi swallows somewhat nervously, gaining the ability to speak clearly again. "That seemed very private."

Elisa adopts a confused expression. "Huh?" Then she waves Khi off. "He doesn't care." I really don't. My thoughts on the subject are voiced with an affirming nod. Gestured? Gestured.

"Getting back on track," I say, "once inside Veyrin's palace, the plan can progress. From there, we can decide on the following steps to take."

Khi finally asks, "So you are going to let me get captured?"

"No, but I'll need your permission to impersonate you."

She looks bewildered. "Okay? But how are you—" My shell shifts into a different configuration. "What in the ever-loving fuck!" It's even better the second time.

Elisa shakes her head at the new Khi. "You dummy." Then she turns to the original and gently places her hand on her shoulder. "He did that to me, too."

Khi stares at me for a while and then finally says, "This is the weirdest thing I have ever experienced, and that is saying something with the day I just had..." She takes a deep sniff. "You smell like me, too."

"To complete the illusion, I have a few questions," I say.

Definitely not a 'few' questions and a precariously balanced stack of empty plates later, the interrogation is complete.

I stand up. "Thank you, Khi." The princess looks up at me and her eyes change. The touch of cold calculation she always holds inside is threatening to give me a mean case of frostbite. "Yes?"

"I need you to promise me something, or none of this will see the light of day. I don't want to lose her."

"Do not underestimate, Rak'Na."

"I know she's strong, but—"

"That's not what I meant."

Khi frowns. "Promise me."

"I promise."

She nods and stands up as well. "Make me some new clothes, please." Fresh, neatly folded garments appear next to where she was sitting. "Oh, cute. You don't need my underwear, right?"

"No."

"Scratch my previous statement. This is the weirdest."

After a quick wardrobe change, I get presented a reciprocal gift of garments with a ring on top, these ones magically cleaned. Another wardrobe change, and we are ready to proceed. Just in time, too.

"Elisa is going to have visitors soon," I say. The elf clears the crime scene of any evidence.

"The Guild?" Khi asks.

"Yes."

"Where do I have to go?"

"A safe place. Just until they are done. But after that, you can stay with Elisa if you want." Khi turns to the elf, her questioning gaze asking for permission.

Elisa smiles at her and ecstatically answers, "Of course you can. I'm sure you have a lot more questions I'm happy to answer. And while Lucius is handling the boring stuff, we can focus on the fun." Her masterfully hidden intentions are unveiled by a coded message I receive—'Fourth get'.

"She wants to play video games with you."

"Hey!" Elisa exclaims.

Khi chuckles. "What's this safe place?"

"A ship a couple light years away."

"Light... years?"

"I'll let you pilot it around."

Khi shrugs. "Sure." Her tail betrays utmost excitement.

A warp portal springs into existence. The beastfolk practically runs in.

Elisa steps next to me. Without her having to ask, I switch back to my usual shell.

She embraces me tightly. "This is different."

"Not that different." Pressure I thought impossible blankets the room. Magic of unfathomable power swirls around her form. My mana senses' rollie drops from their hanging mouth.

"I won't be asking for permission." And in a snap, it's like nothing ever happened.

"You've gotten stronger. But so have I." She hums softly in response.

After a moment of silence, Elisa speaks again, "Do you have to go?"

I don't answer. She knows I have to. But I stay with her for as long as possible.

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