Another Stupid Isekai

Chapter 653 Day UNKNOWN: Party, Part XI: Two Houses

I didn't respond verbally, just nodded. He immediately used this to be the first one to ask questions.

- So those Trees or saplings are fueled with some type of crystals? Do you have any idea what those really are?

- It's a form of energy, which is then used to fuel the bio-machinery.

- Does it have any limits?

- Not as far as I know.

- That's very interesting.

- Yeah... You know...

- You want to ask why a Sabhetani is helping you since my race is so heavily intertwined with the elites of the regime, don't you?

I nodded again, which caused him to smile.

- Let me tell you a story. A long time ago my people had two houses ruling us, and they had to always come to a compromise when deciding on anything. It was good, because it was fair, but made some things slow... Unfortunately, Blue Palace was overtaken through a coup, and the members of the opposition were executed for planning to unify all the power in their hands. Ironic isn't it? So one family became reality, while the other became dust.

- And you are one of the few who know the truth - I added.

- No. I'm so much more. I'm the last representative of that house still alive and free - he corrected me. - You have no idea how many had to pay the highest price so I could live under the noses of the current rulers of Blue Palace.

I slowly nodded.

- So you are fighting for what has been taken from you?

- No. I'm fighting so my people will be freed from the mines of Ashamethun. I suppose you know nothing about that.

I shook my head.

- You fought one of my people from the mines. We helped him escape using former Dispurian emperor Zor'xal.

- Now, when you mentioned that...

There  was a small pause in our conversation, but then Genusha spoke again:

- They all look like this. Mining the crystals make them weaker, some who are not so gifted can't resist, and die quickly as soon as they leave the underground colony to work. Those with powers slowly get corrupted by the power in those precious stones. Some learn how to use them and fight. He was one of those...

- Yeah. I remember him using some stones.

- They focus on telekinetic powers, as well as do many other useful things. The Blue Palace's armada uses them to fly.

- I believe I even saw that... - There was another pause after what I said.

I had many more questions but wanted to give him a chance to ask his, and since he wasn't, I seized the opportunity.

- So how did you and The Great One meet?

- The Resistance observes the movement of the high queen quite closely. Her powers allow her to move between worlds, but she rarely uses them, instead she travels via her crown ship. We keep an eye on both of those means of transportation, and one day we detected her appearing on a planet she visited only once, a very long time ago. Normally we wouldn't pay too much attention to that, but shortly after we got news of her appearance in the Sky Palace on Quel'kabar, which was contradicting our data, so we went to check and found a mysterious creature, wounded in a ruined building, which they seemed to collide with. Pulling a few strings, and calling a couple of favors here and there, we managed to sweep it under a rug.

He stopped his story, as a chuckle left his mouth.

- We never expected this finding to be such a revolution. A chance we've been looking for so long - he added, as the sudden surge of happiness left him.

- What did he tell you? - I asked.

- At the beginning, nothing. We had to really try our best to make him survive, but as soon as he got better, it all paid off. Something which started as interrogation turned into a discussion, and then cooperation. For the first time, we had somebody on our side who was able to survive a battle with the high queen.

- Yes, he is... Was, very powerful.

- You also are not weak. I saw your fights. We still have copies. Maybe the two of you combined will be enough... We can only hope.

- If I can hit her, I can kill her - I stated after what he said. - I just need the opportunity.

- From what I heard from The Great One, she should have her hands busy with him, at least for a moment, so you will have your chance.

- Yeah... - I agreed.

It wasn't fully conscious though, as my focus switched to the Tree behind the Sabhetani man. There was also a different option. Option of consuming the fruit which that Tree was able to bare.

Never before did I think about that seriously, as I was using this place to get stronger by killing ghosts, and I didn't want to lose that option, but the circumstances have changed, and every bit of power we all were able to muster could be the potential game-changer. A grain of sand that could tilt the scales of victory to our side.

- Are you thinking about your daughter? - He asked me, pulling me back to reality.

- What? Oh... N-no.

- You should use this time to be with her. Who knows how this will end. You have plenty to catch up to.

I just nodded, again. We both clearly had more to discuss, but his words were right. Soon I would be too busy, and this whole operation could easily go to shit, so I really had to focus on the opportunities I had to be with her. I owed her that much after pulling her to all that mess.

Still, the awkwardness was making the reunion so difficult for me.

I ended up coming back and having a little chat with Tihana. It was no better than our previous conversation, but I tried my best. There was a giant gap between us caused by the absence of her memories, and I couldn't just leap over it, no matter what I tried.