{Edited} A Merchant's Odyssey - Chapter 17 (Patreon)

AN: Edited chapters do not count toward monthly quota's.

Update: I had a really rough week, so no Ouroboros update today. I'll aim to have the next Ouroboros and Where Roads Mead chapter out by the 15th at the latest.

Chapter 17: Two of a Kind

“Spirit Spirits, how cute.” Sebastian deadpanned at the bar sign and pushed the door open. ‘If this place can’t get me buzzed, I’m breaking open my emergency stash of Fire-Whiskey and going back to Remnant to burn something until I'm on every most-wanted list.'

The inside was dimly lit, clean, orderly, and slightly high-end, with few guests. 'Not as good as Junior's club, but it's got a nice hardwood vibe.'

Sebastian plopped down at the bar, a few seats down from the only other customer sitting up there, a woman by the looks of it, in a cloak with her hood up.

"You a Spirit Master, kid?" The bartender was an older man with a jagged scar running down his face. "If not, you'll have to find another bar."

"First off." Sebastian leaned forward on his elbows and raised a finger. "I'm already in a shitty mood, so call me a kid again, and you're going face first through that window." Sebastian pointed to the said window and raised a second finger. "Secondly, yes, I'm a Spirit Master."

“Uhu.” The bartender was nonplussed at Sebastian’s threat. “License?”

"Why does everyone keep asking me for a bloody license?" Sebastian slammed the bar. "I just want a fucking drink that's not leaf juice; is that so much to ask for?!"

He flared his Spirit Rings. “See, Spirit Grand Master, woop de fucking do. Gimme a drink.”

A snort that quickly turned to restrained giggles rang out from the bar's other occupant.

Sebastian noticed how the bartender tensed up, but the woman waved, and he calmed down. “Get him a drink.”

The bartender hummed in acceptance as he focused on Sebastian. “What do you want?”

“Something that burns.” Sebastian replied without missing a beat.

“Got it.” The bartender turned to grab a blue-colored bottle.

"Thanks for that." Sebastian said, gratefully nodding to the woman. "I’m a bit stressed and really need a drink.”

“Had a rough day?” The woman turned slightly, revealing strands of rose-pink hair falling from her hood.

“More like an irritating month.” Sebastian replied with a tired sigh. “Can you tell me what the deal is with this license thing? Everyone keeps asking me for one."

“A Spirit License.” The woman sounded amused. “Is a way for Spirit Masters to be registered. It gives established businesses a sense of security that if a Spirit Master causes damages or injuries, they can be properly arrested and fined by Spirit Hall.”

“Ah.” Sebastian processed the times he was asked with a groan. “And I’m assuming unregistered ones are looked at suspiciously?”

“In a manner of speaking.” The woman was smiling beneath her hood. “There is no downside to being registered, no fees or such, so it’s really criminals, scoundrels, or the prideful types that don’t have them.”

“Wonderful.” Sebastian rubbed his brow at the lack of information. ‘I wonder if Lee wants to play the Bait the Spirit Beast game the next time I see him.’

He sent the woman another thankful nod. “I appreciate the help. I’ll pay for your next drink.”

“You don’t even know how expensive my drink is.” The woman finally turned and raised a dainty brow, flashing Sebastian with the hanging silk veil that adorned her face from her nose down.

"Don't worry about it." Sebastian met her pink-eyed gaze and didn't back down from the intensity that made his spine tingle. "I repay my debts."

“What a gentleman.” The woman gestured for a refill. “You must be well off.”

“I get by.” Sebastian waved the topic away. "Say, can I register at the Spirit Hall branch in this city?"

"Of course." The woman rested her chin on her palm. "Every branch of Spirit Hall can register a new Spirit Master; it's one of their main functions."

“Great, now I have another reason to go there.” Sebastian grumbled.

"Do you dislike Spirit Hall?" The woman's slightly more focused tone didn't escape Sebastian.

If he were back home, he'd probably be paranoid of an Unspeakable agent digging into his life. Still, here, he was no one, and he really needed to unwind a bit, so he didn't mind speaking his mind.

"My answer depends on whether I'll be lynched for speaking badly of them." Sebastian waved a finger.

Another snort of humor left the woman. “Stop that.”

“What?” Sebastian tilted his head. “Being brutally honest?”

“I meant making me laugh.” The woman tittered.

"That would be a shame." With a happy smile, Sebastian accepted his drink from the bartender, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there for some reason. "You have a beautiful voice.”

The woman paused as if he said something odd. “Thank you.”

Her intense gaze watched Sebastian try a drink that would put hair on a Spirit King's chest.

“Ohhh, yeah, that’s good stuff.” Sebastian sighed happily. ‘First time I tried something that burns better than Fire-Whiskey.’

“Are you not a Spirit Grand Master?” The woman couldn’t help but ask.

“Huh?” Sebastian looked over and nodded. “Yeah? Two rings and all that jazz.”

“Interesting.” Was her only response. “So, you didn’t answer my question about Spirit Hall.”

“Oh, right, that.” Sebastian put down his glass and thought it over. “To be honest, I have nothing against them. I think they have an enforcement issue with their own ranks, but I don't hold that against the faction in its totality."

“What makes you say that?” The woman leaned in.

Sebastian raised a brow at her sudden intensity. “Are you a member of Spirit Hall?”

“Ah, did I give it away?” The woman sounded abashed and pulled back.

“You focus on Spirit Hall too much not to be.” Sebastian sipped his drink with another happy sigh. “That or you hate them, but I didn’t feel much of that in your tone.”

“Quite perceptive, aren’t you?” The woman sounded impressed. “Are you a Spirit Beast hunter?”

“I’ve been told that before, and no, nothing like that.” Sebastian fixed his collar and flashed her a cocky smile. “I’m something of a scholar and researcher.”

“How rare.” Her eyes thinned with interest. “Did you not want to learn how to punch things in the face like all the other men?”

"I'm more of a kicker, actually." Sebastian scoffed playfully. “But why simply punch someone when you can unmake all that they are with your mind?”

“Oh?” The woman’s lips quirked. “And how would one do that?”

"A man much wiser than me once said, ‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.’” Sebastian quoted with a posh British accent. “The more we learn and understand, the less we have to fear from an enemy.”

“That’s…” The woman seemed to be processing those words quite deeply. “A much older view than I would have expected from a young man.”

“I’m an old soul.” Sebastian chuckled. “But what makes you think I’m young? Spirit Masters live for centuries while retaining their youth."

"Spirit Masters can also tell one's age from their bones." The woman countered with a smirk. "You're nineteen.”

"You scanned my bones?" Sebastian covered his chest, looking scandalized. "Pervert."

The bartender choked on a drink in the background.

“Excuse me?” The woman nearly did a spit take as she flushed. “It’s a perfectly normal practice! I’m not a pervert!”

“That’s what a pervert would say.” Sebastian mocked with an offended tone. "Miss, you need to buy me a drink before trying to see under my clothes."

“I didn’t see under your clothes!” The woman huffed and looked away. “You’re shameless.”

"Says the pervert scanning my bones without permission." Sebastian saw her shoulders shake as the bartender slipped into a back room and decided to stop teasing the mystery woman. "Anyway, you were asking about my issue with Spirit Hall?"

“Yes.” The woman took a breath and seemed to collect herself. “You mentioned an enforcement issue.”

“Yeah, that.” Sebastian considered if he should protect his boy, Lee, and nodded. “Some of your weaker members tried to mug me when they thought I was a civilian.”

He threw him under the bus without hesitation.

"What?" A clear threat hung in the woman's voice. "Who?"

"Just some idiots in a small village; don't get too worked up over it." Sebastian gestured for her to calm down. "I already taught them a lesson, but after asking around, I heard it happens quite a bit in the outskirts."

“Again?” The woman sighed and sagged forward a bit. “We try to stamp out that behavior, but it keeps coming back.”

“It’s human nature.” Sebastian shrugged uncaringly. “Giving easily gained power to people who never had it tends to inflate their heads. Not much you can do to stop it, but you can punish the people who do it to make an example.”

“I’ll make a note of it.” The woman seemed to seriously ponder something before turning back to Sebastian. “On behalf of Spirit Hall, I apologize.”

“Hey, hey, I already said I don’t blame the faction itself.” Sebastian stopped her. “I wasn’t even harmed, so don’t stress over it.”

“Thank you for understanding.” The woman seemed tired as she rolled her drink in her hand. "Most tend to point and blame for the slightest insult. Especially the Clans and Sects.”

“And that says all you need to know about them.” Sebastian scoffed derisively. “Nobility is a pain, walking around with sticks up their ass. Even if one generation has a good batch that earned their positions, the next one isn’t guaranteed to inherit the responsibility that comes with power. It’s typically a corrupt system.”

Sebastian had seen it all over magical Britain. The slow-to-change society stuck true to its ancient houses and noble privileges.

If the heads of houses actually contributed to society, Sebastian would say it was a deserved privilege, but it had been centuries since the houses were made, and most of the British nobles he met were entitled, self-important shits.

“I couldn’t agree more.” The woman sounded relieved to hear Sebastian's words. “It's an outdated system with no merit. People, both civilians and cultivators, suffer under it.” Her eyes hardened. “Humans should be free to choose their path in life, free to cultivate or find love while being supported by a government that enforces fair laws.”

“In an ideal world, I’d agree.” Just because Sebastian was an outlier didn’t mean he couldn’t see how pieces fit together. “But for something like that to happen, it would require an ocean of blood to be spilt. Those with power will refuse to give it up. And true change never comes without violence.”

“Perhaps.” The woman hummed with a long look at Sebastian before shaking her head as if to banish her darker thoughts. “We got off topic. If you don’t dislike Spirit Hall, would you be willing to join it?”

Her tone was now far more inviting, as if she truly wanted him to join.

"Playing the recruiter now?" Sebastian chuckled, and she met it with a gentle laugh.

"Why not?" Her eyes seemed to flash with pride. "Spirit Hall accepts all."

“A wise outlook.” Sebastian acknowledged. “As for joining, I don’t know. I’m not much of a joiner; I don't play well with others, I'm afraid.” He shook his finger chidingly. “And neither am I a fighter to enforce the law, nor a priest to spread faith. I’d be a poor fit for a Theocracy."

“Yet you want something from Spirit Hall.” The woman stated confidently.

“You got me there.” Sebastian sipped his drink. “I want access to their libraries. I fear the information I seek is with them.”

“Ah, you mentioned being a scholar and researcher.” The woman’s interest only seemed to increase as she said it. “Have you been unable to find what you’re looking for elsewhere? Spirit Hall’s libraries are extensive, but they are not the only source of knowledge in the land.”

“Ugh, no.” Sebastian groaned at the memory. “I spent weeks with a fellow trying to find specific information, and while it was generally informative, it was a massive waste of my time. Scholar my ass, what a bullshit reputation.” 

The woman hummed, an odd look on her face. "Based on where we are, I assume you're speaking of the Number One Philosopher at Nuoding Academy."

“You know him?” Sebastian looked over curiously.

“Not particularly.” There was a certain glint in the woman's eyes as she responded. "But his reputation precedes him."

"Well, calling him a philosopher isn't far off the mark." Sebastian rolled his drink. "He's not a bad guy. I do hold a degree of respect for his academic pursuit, but calling him a scholar is an insult to the concept.”

"What makes you say that?" The woman tilted her head, her gaze appraising. "Some use his title with derision, but I hear he's quite the researcher."

“Because all he does is research existing information!” Sebastian slammed his glass down in annoyance as the alcohol helped a week’s long rant burst out of him. “He’s a well-read scribe! I gave him half a dozen theories on solving his problems, but he refused each one because they were untested. For all that he’s a gentle man, he’s a coward when it comes to progress. He’d rather use existing information and sound wise than push the boundaries.”

Sebastian’s voice was impassioned as he sat tall with a straight spine, his irritation with the man coming to the forefront.

“That doesn’t mean he can’t be a Scholar.” The woman cut in with a complicated look.

“He’s no more than a scribe and philosopher.” Sebastian growled and stared the woman in the eyes with a gravity that drew her in. “A true Scholar spits in the face of common sense. We shatter preconceived conceptions of what everyone says are the rules of reality. We push for progress and let nothing stand in the way of our goals.”

The woman's eyes grew wider as he spoke, glued to Sebastian's mismatched gaze like a moth to the flame. "You don't run from the possibilities because it frightens you; you charge ahead with courage in your heart and a fire in your eyes because you know that even if you die, you lived for your convictions."

Sebastian damn near stared into the woman's soul as he pointed at her with his glass. “Life has no worth if you hesitate and cower to live another meaningless day in self-pity.”

“Is it not madness to be unafraid of death?” The woman asked in a smaller voice.

“The line between madness and genius is thin.” Sebastian smirked with a mad gleam in his eyes. “And I know where I stand on it.”

The woman stared at him incomprehensibly for a long moment before her lips twitched upward. “I never asked for your name.”

“White.” Sebastian stated.

“White?” The woman rolled the name on her tongue. “An odd name.”

“I’m an odd guy.” Sebastian shrugged, calming down as he eyed the remains of his drink. “And my father was eccentric.”

“I didn’t say it was bad.” The woman tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Odd isn’t always bad.”

“Where’s the fun in being normal, right?” Sebastian chuckled and raised his glass.

“I concur.” She tapped her own to his with a light laugh. “We got off topic again. What was it you were looking for with the…” Her lips twitched humorously. “Cowardly scribe, as you so put it.”

Sebastian snorted and shook his head. “You’re very interested in my life, lady.”

“Is it wrong to be interested?" She leaned her chin on a palm. "I have nowhere to be at the moment."

“I guess not.” Sebastian considered it and shrugged. “It’s not like it’s a secret. I’m looking for a few things, mainly Spirit Rings with Mind Defense and Mental Cleansing effects.”

“Anti-Control rings? And with Mind Purification at that. Quite a rare combination.” The woman mused. “Only a few Spirit Beasts have such rings, and they tend to be hard to find.”

"You know where to find them?" Sebastian set down his near-empty glass and focused on the woman.

“Not specifically.” She laughed at his inquisitive look. “However, I’ve read of them before. Like I said, Spirit Hall’s libraries are quite extensive.”

“And now we’re back to joining a faction.” Sebastian rubbed the bridge of his nose. “This is such a pain in the ass.”

"Why don't we start by asking why you're searching for such a ring?" The woman inquired. "Is there a specific reason you need it?”

Sebastian rolled his jaw, enjoying the numbing buzz of his drink. “That’s a long story.”

“I have time.” The woman blinked warmly.

"You do, don't you?" Sebastian raised an unimpressed brow. "I don't know what your angle is, but you could be less obvious about interrogating me.”

“I’m not interrogating you.” The woman rolled her eyes. “You have no idea how long it’s been since I’ve taken some time off work to just drink and relax.” She fixed him with an amused look. “How paranoid are you?”

“Yes.”

Another laugh left her lips. “Is a woman’s curiosity not enough?”

“Debatable.” Sebastian frowned at not seeing the bartender and reached behind the bar to grab an interesting-looking bottle of something that resembled whiskey. “But then again, I don’t really care since nothing I’ve told you can be used against me.”

“Exactly.” The woman leaned forward, uncaring of his self-service. “So, tell me your tale. What motivates you?”

“What motivates me?” Sebastian snorted as he poured himself another drink and sniffed the interesting jade-colored liquor. “That's a hell of a loaded question, but in this case, there's this girl."

“Of course.” The woman droned in exasperation. “There’s always a girl.”

“Hey, hey, it’s not like that.” Sebastian defended himself before he paused. “Well, it was once like that, but it’s not anymore.”

“Oh?” The woman smelled a juicy topic.

Sebastian sighed. "We were childhood sweethearts, dated for years, but we broke up a while ago.”

Something familiar crossed the woman’s face as she listened in. “That must have hurt.”

“Oh, it did.” Sebastian admitted freely. “But that’s life. People grow up, decisions take you in different directions, and holding onto the past only weighs you down in the present.”

His views seemed to strike a nerve with his conversation partner.

"Hm." The woman offered her empty glass, and Sebastian filled it. "Sometimes it can be hard to… let go of past love.”

“You don’t necessarily have to let go of it.” Sebastian stared into the liquid of his glass and saw his hazy reflection overlapping with a face he knew intimately. “Not really.” He took a breath. “I still love her; I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. Yet I don’t want to tarnish the memories we shared with the end of what was.”

The liquid rippled from the slightest pulse of mana, the image fading as Sebastian once more saw blue and red eyes staring back. “If you truly love something, you should be able to let it go. Forcing things only breeds hate.”

The chair beneath the woman groaned at Sebastian's last line. "Yes, yes, it does."

She downed nearly half her glass with a long exhale.

Sebastian smiled wryly and offered her a refill, which she gladly took. “Even if she can’t see me, I still want her to be happy and protect her. Is that odd?”

Sebastian asked, lost in thought.

The woman turned to him with an understanding, tender expression. "No, it's not odd."

“Good.” Sebastian downed his drink and grunted at the burn. “Because I’m going to gut the fuckers who screwed with her head.”

The woman’s glass cracked in her hand. “Wait, what?” She was taken aback by the abrupt subject change. "Is that what the Spirit Ring you want is for?”

“Yeah.” Sebastian grunted and refilled his glass. “My ex has a unique… Martial Soul, and they want her for any number of reasons, none of which consider her health.” He still felt the heated wrath stirring within his chest when he thought of the Unspeakables, chained only by deadly cold patience. “They messed with her head, and I never had a clue. They got me too for a time, but I managed to shake it off. I can’t help her unless I can get rid of the mental influence.”

The woman’s eyes were glacial as she heard his tale. “Mental dominance abilities are highly monitored in Spirit Hall’s territory.”

“Well, she isn’t in Spirit Hall’s territory.” Sebastian commented sarcastically with a matching pair of eyes. “She’s in a place where no higher authority can help her, because it’s the very authority in charge that wants her.”

Where the comment took the woman’s mind went unsaid, but she clearly understood the restrained wrath in his voice. “You plan to eliminate these enemies, yes?” 

“With a vengeance.” Sebastian’s eyes met her own, and he saw the same ruthlessness he felt within himself in her gaze.

“Good.” She smiled cruelly in approval at what she saw in him and didn’t say more. “Do you hope to be the hero and receive her heart for it?”

"No." That one word had all of Sebastian's will in it. "I don't need to win her heart; I'll always be in it, just as she's in mine, but I don't need to possess her.” Sebastian drunkenly tapped the bar, the woman’s glass repairing itself and making her brow twitch. “She’s been controlled enough. I’ll help her, kill our enemies, and she can decide what she wants to do from there on her own.”

The woman held up her repaired glass with an odd glint in her eye. “A noble mindset.”

“Don’t patronize me.” Sebastian scoffed, not looking at her. "It's selfish; I recognize that, and I don't care. I don't need justification to follow my will. I do it because I want it.”

“You do it because you love her.” The woman corrected him, setting the glass down delicately as she looked at him. “Is that not a noble cause?”

“Is it noble to be willing to burn the world for those you love?” Sebastian looked her in the eyes as he asked. “To harm countless who had nothing to do with your vengeance to save an individual? If you can’t be ruthlessly selfish, how can you say you truly loved them?”

The woman was enraptured by the madness she saw as her veiled lips whispered back. “I agree.”

“Then there is nothing noble about the two of us.” Sebastian chuckled sardonically as he refilled their glasses. “I’ll never lie to myself to ignore the ugly truth.”

A long pause stretched between them before the woman spoke with a trace of wonder.

“Where did you come from, White?” The woman couldn’t peel her eyes off him. “I feel as if I would have heard of you before today.”

“Here and there.” Sebastian waved his hand lazily. “Sorry, lady, but that’s the extent of tonight’s interrogation.” He raised the glass to his lips. “I don’t feel like sharing anymore.”

“It was quite a tale.” The woman hummed, not showing any displeasure at his dismissal. “Perhaps I can offer some assistance on your journey.”

“Oh?” Sebastian paused his sip to look over.

The woman reached into her robe and pulled out a flat wooden tablet. "Present this to the Spirit Hall branch elder in charge of this city, and he'll help you find the books you're looking for."

Sebastian raised a brow at the item she held out. “And why would you give me this?”

“Consider it a payment for the interesting night." The woman stood, and only then did Sebastian realize she was as tall as he was. "I wish you luck on your hunt, White the Scholar.”

“Ew, please don’t call me that.” Sebastian winced and reached for the tablet. “It hurts.”

The woman laughed and shot him an amused smile. "Perhaps the Mad Scholar would be better?"

The two’s hands met, and a spark of energy stretched between their fingers before they let go.

"Maybe a little." Sebastian admitted, looking at his hand holding the tablet curiously. "Just White is fine. I prefer staying unknown.”

The woman likewise looked at her hand with an undiscernible expression. “Something tells me you won’t be unknown forever, White.”

“Merlin, I hope not." Sebastian glanced sideways at her. “Tell your higher-ups or whoever sent you to dig into me that I follow the Stranger-Danger philosophy.”

“What an interesting philosophy.” The woman laughed at the odd term. “I’ll be sure to pass along your message to my superiors.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously. “Have a good night, White.”

“And to you, mystery lady from Spirit Hall.” Sebastian waved over his shoulder.

“Oh, and White.” The woman stopped at the door, catching the slight turn of Sebastian’s head. “Call me Bibi next time. You’ve earned the right to use my name.”

“I feel so honored.” Sebastian chuckled and saluted with his drink. “See you around, Bibi.”

“As you should.” Bibi smirked and left Sebastian to his lonely self.

‘She was a shit agent, but a good listener.’ Sebastian rolled his drink, recalling the odd spark as they made contact. “She’s still a pervert, though.”

He finished the bottle and looked around. ‘Is the bartender planning on coming back?’

Not seeing anyone else around, he flicked his finger and summoned a new, unfamiliar bottle. 

0000

Outside the bar, Bibi nearly tripped as she clearly heard his last comment. ‘I’m not a pervert!’

She growled in the safety of her mind as she walked around a shadowed corner, from which a familiar figure with a scarred face took shape and bowed his head low.

“Your orders?” The bartender asked.

“Keep monitoring Yu Xiaogang.” Bibi’s pink gaze turned thoughtful as she considered what Sebastian had said about love. “However, if he leaves Nuoding Academy, don’t follow. He is no longer worth the investment of resources.”

She had come out personally when she learned an unknown Spirit Master had spent weeks with Xiaogang. Yet after that discussion, she no longer felt the need to place the same emphasis on a forgotten relationship.

The bartender quickly accepted, signaling to the eyes watching from the shadows. “And the unknown target?”

“Irrelevant.” Bibi’s face was carved from stone as she commanded her agents to keep away from Sebastian. "Forget him; reassign the resources watching him to a new investigation."

“Target?” The bartender looked up.

“I want to know every single rumor of a Spirit Master in Heaven Dou or Star Lou empires with mental dominance abilities." Bibi’s tone was cold as ice. “No matter how invasive you have to search.”

“Understood, Supreme Pontiff.” The bartender melted into the shadows, two dozen forms scattering with the wind to fulfill her decree, leaving Bibi Dong alone to stare out at one of the cities she controlled.

Her hood fell away to reveal long rose-pink hair fluttering in the wind.

‘No one deserves that fate.’ Her gaze hardened with the demons of her past. ‘I won’t take White’s vengeance from him, but I won’t allow another special young woman to suffer like I did.’

She stepped forward and vanished as if she was never there to return to Spirit City, hundreds of miles away.

Where she ruled over Spirit Hall.

Chapter End.

AN: I took a creative turn with Bibi Dong. Hope you all enjoy the ride.