#arc26

It's been almost a month since Belovi joined my family and things have started to settle into a routine. I don't know if it normally takes that long to get used to a new kid. Maybe things just happen fast here? Raina and Anne got engaged after 6 months after all.

Though I couldn't help notice that a lot of my techniques are super useful for childrearing, which considering the whole matriarch system, must be intentional. For example, whenever Belovi wakes me in the middle of the night, I can just use #3 Energy Shake to literally shake off my exhaustion and tend to her needs. Then afterwards, I use #80 Dream's Victim to immediately fall back asleep for ample rest time. Not that I need the sleep because of  #86 Dream's Convict, but it helps with the whole 'not being eaten by my own void' thing to get in the full eight hours every night.

Belovi sure was happy. Considering she was living in alleyways until now, I'm sure this life is a massive improvement.

She's gotten used to Second, so starting today, she's going to make weekly trips to the lackee cave so she can learn about her own kind. Coozin was tied up with work, so I alone came to the front gate to see her off.

"Greeting Lord Panchi. I'll be looking after your daughter today." Second said with a bow.

"Please take good care of her." I said with a smile. I put a hand on Belovi's head. "You be a good girl for the other lackees, ya hear?"

"Yes, Papa!" She said obediently.

I only hoped I did my job well enough that she understood what I meant by 'good.' "Well, have a fun day with Uncle Second!"

“I will!” She took a few steps towards him before turning back to me. "I love you, Papa!"

"Wh-" I froze in place. Where did she learn that from? Who taught her that? Wait, no, I have to return it, don't I? "I-I L-L-L-"

But she had already turned away and taken Second's hand. "Are the lackees nice?"

"Consider your Lord Panchi's daughter, they most likely will be."

"What's a lackee?"

"Oh..."

The pair walked out of ear shot and I was left there with my thoughts. She spoke words that I don't really hear, at least not referring to me. Just the shock of hearing it was enough to stun lock me. A martial arts master defeated by a single phrase spoken by a little girl.

“Really, that’s all it took to defeat you?” Coozin was roaring with laughter. 

It was our lunch break the same day and we decided to eat out on the terrace in our shared room. I was telling the story as we ate our bento boxes.

"Well, I'm not used to hearing it." I'm really not.

"I think it's cute!" She said, batting her eyelashes at me. "To think all I had to do to mess with you was to say three little words."

And I couldn’t stand for this hypocrisy. "Oh, and what words were those?"

Coozin's confident smirk drained from her face. "Uh, you know, what, Belovi said."

"I'm blanking, care to repeat them?"

"..."

We both fell silent, choosing to focus on the food rather than the density of the air. At least for a while. But Coozin eventually relented. "I admit, I have problems with that word, too. I'm not sure what I'd do if someone said it to me, either."

"She's most likely going to say it to you eventually."

"That's right... she would say it to me..." She had a look of resignation on her face. "I need to mentally prepare myself for it."

"Maybe you can prepare in front of a mirror?"

That got a chuckle from her. "Haha, maybe I can find an ageplay ASMR video or something as part of my training."

"Oh, you stumbled onto those as a kid, too?"

We laughed as we reminisced about our fucked up childhoods growing up with way too much access to the internet. Before long, we finished our meals and we were resting our stomachs as we looked out over Sanctuary.

Then Coozin made a crazy suggestion. "Heh, wouldn't it be weird if we said it to each other?"

"Yeah, I couldn't even imagine it."

We're friends not lovers. We may live together and raise a kid together, but our feelings are strictly platonic.  However, it's not impossible for friends to say the word 'love' to each other. It doesn't need to be romantic to be said. There's many facets to love. Familiar, friendly, it's all fair game when it comes to that word.

That said, saying it was not a requirement for friendship like it would for a romantic relationship.

Coozin kept peeking at me. She was rubbing her elbow, nervously. "Hey Panchi."

"Yeah?"

"...I'm sorry, this is probably a little too heavy a question to ask right after lunch..."

"Better now than when Belovi comes back." There's not much room for alone time now-a-days. Could be another week before she gets another shot.

"Well, I was wondering if Leahdah ever said that."

I felt a lump in my throat the second that name came up. "What?"

"Has Leahdah ever said that to you? Like, when you were growing up?"

Now that she mentioned it. "I don't think she ever did."

"Not once?"

"I don't think she had the capacity for it."

My mom expected love to come her direction, but she was never willing to give it back. She was a vacuum that sucked up all the love for herself, only ever faking affection to get more of what she needed. I don't think she ever said those words to any of her kids growing up.

"I'm sorry." Coozin's head was tilting downwards. She can hear my narration so I guess she just heard some details about my life she normally wouldn't have.

"No, don't apologize. You just made me realize something I never knew about myself."

"It still sucks though." She said, holding her own hand and rubbing them together contemplatively. "I think you deserved to hear it."

I was glad she felt that way. Though, it made me realize something. "Coozin, did your mother ever say that to you?"

"Oh, I mean, she used to when I was really young. But when it became clear I was never going to master the art well..."

The love dried up. Like a well during a drought.

"But it's fine. I didn't really deserve it."

"What are you talking about!" I shouted.

"Panchi?"

"Of course you deserve it! You deserve it simply for existing! For-" I was getting worked up. I took a breath and brought myself down a bit. "You're amazing the way you are!"

She was stunned, her eyes trembling as she looked at me. It was thanks to this conversation that I realized that we both needed to hear it.

"Coozin." I reached out and took her hand. I looked her in the eyes and spoke from deep within my heart. "I love you."

Tears welling in her eyes, she was practically beaming. "I love you too, Panchi!"

That night, Belovi came back to the mansion. She was full to the brim with things she observed, and she was still spilling them out as we all prepared for bed. "There was a fighter lackee and a science lackee! Oh! Hey Mama, there was a Chef Lackee! His food isn't as tasty as yours, but it was still SOO GOOD!"

"Hehe, maybe I need to sample his cooking sometime."

Now that I think about it, I don't think I've had dinner at the local lackee cave, just the Annesville one. Maybe I'll go with Belovi next time and try it out.

"Now that's a great idea!" Coozin stated. "Maybe I'll come, too!"

"Mama and Papa in the lackee cave? Hurray!"

She had that same amount of energy up until it was finally time to get into bed.

"Ooh! There was a ballerina lackee!"

"Haha, now, now Belovi. I'm sure you have plenty more to tell us, but it's time to sleep."

"But I don't want to sleep! My brain is all think crazy!"

I picked her up and laid her down in bed. "Just then think where it's comfortable, okay? And silently."

She seemed to understand. "Alright. Good night, Papa! I love you!"

"I love you too, Belovi."

Her smile deepened when I returned it. Despite her complaints, she was out like a light. I guess it had been a busy day for her. Hearing those words this time only warmed my heart. The fear and panic I felt this morning was long gone. I guess it really helped to say how you feel sometimes.

Seems to be the same for Coozin, as she had a spring in her step. "Maybe we should sleep as well." She suggested.

The two of us got in on both sides of Belovi and we held our hands over her again like that night she moved in.

"I love you, Panchi."

"I love you, Coozin."

-----

Panchi POV:

"...there's someone I need to introduce you to."

Raina and Anne had finally come home, and it was time for them to meet my new daughter.

"DAUGHTER?" The both of them said in unison to what I assume was my narration. Admittedly, if someone told me I would be looking after a kid a week ago, I wouldn't have believed them.

It's then that their eyes drifted down to my lower left. My kid was hiding behind me, peeking out nervously at the pair. I patted the back of her head. "It's okay. These two are friends of mine. They can be trusted." I turned back to the duo. "This is Belovi. I'll be looking after her going forward."

Raina was entranced by her, her eyes shimmering at the sight. "So cute..." She muttered.

Anne however, knelt down before her and offered her an arm. "Greetings. I am Princess Anne O'Maley. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

The little one’s eyes were fixed on her arm. "No hands?"

"No hands, no bones! See for yourself!" She extended out her arm even closer.

This prompted her to move out from behind me as she touched the noodle. She gasped. "It's squishy!"

"That's right! Very squishy!" Anne laughed.

Then suddenly, Belovi noticed Raina. The mage spotted her gaze and did a little wave in her direction. "Hello! I'm Raina."

The little one's eyes were locked on Raina, they were brimming with curiosity and wonder. She ran up to her and reached out her arms to her, she was rocking back and forth on her hooves with anticipation.

The monster princess glanced between me and the child awkwardly. "Uh, do you want me to pick you up?"

Belovi nodded vigorously. I taught her that gesture recently. I gave her a nod too, so the princess bent down and then lifted the little one up. She lifted her up to be eye level, and then suddenly the child pushed herself forward, covering the princess' face with her body as she felt her hair with her paws. "FLUFFY!" She yelled with glimmering eyes.

"Yeah. Yeah, it's um, fluffy." Raina said, her voice muffled against the lackee on her face.

Coozin POV:

It was my turn to look over Belovi, so I had her sitting on the counter watching me prepare dinner for the evening. I'd been slowly cooking two different mato sauces, one was mushroom while the other one was loaded with meatballs.

"Next I'll fill a pot of water until it's full." I did exactly that. "Once that's done, I salt and set it up on the burner. Turn the heat on to boil."

She was watching me intently. I always explain to her what I'm doing whenever it's a new recipe. Usually she shies away from things new to her, but explaining things in direct and literal language seemed to calm her nerves. It makes her more accepting of new things, in fact, downright curious.

"What is the water for?" Belovi asked.

"It's for the spaghetti." That's right, I was making pasta tonight. I just knew the collateral damage from the sauce would lead to another ill fated lackee bath, but I had to test out a theory I've had.

Early on, Belovi would eat everything we served her, but as soon as she got used to my cooking, she started rejecting a lot of the meat we were serving. She said something about how the 'texture was all wrong.' So I began to wonder if maybe ground up meat like meatballs and hamburgers might suit her sensitive mouth better.

She cocked her head. "Spaghetti?"

I showed her the raw noodles. She grabbed one and tried to bite into it. "It's hard." She said with a scrunched up face.

"Of course it's hard! It's not cooked yet!" I stifled a laugh. "If we put that in the hot water for a while, it'll become soft and nice!"

I put the spaghetti in. I know some chefs break it in half, but that's actually a crime in some areas. Sanctuary doesn't have those laws on the books, but as a royal chef, I have to practice proper decorum. Of course I stirred occasionally to make sure the noodles don't stick.

11 minutes later, I fished out two noodles for Belovi and I. She was surprised that it was floppy, but she was even more surprised when she bit into it. "It really is soft!"

"I told ya!" I said with a grin.

I plated the meal and started serving the dishes. Anne, Raina, Lexine, and Sotokeh were getting the mushroom sauce, while Foxman, Panchi, Belovi, our special guest, and I were getting the meatball. I was sure to have fresh grated local parmesan to top it, courtesy of the cows of Merry Dairy.

"Do you want to ring the dinner bell?" I asked the kid. She nodded and I lifted her up so she could reach it, ringing vigorously with a huge smile on her face.

Slowly, everyone arrived in the dining room.

"I'm eager to see how the meals here compare to lackee chefs!"

"You won't be disappointed. We can only expect the best from my zucchini!"

Panchi walked in chatting with Second, our special guest for the evening. Belovi started to wiggle in my arms at the sight of them, so I let her down and she ran up to the pair. "Papa! Uncle Second!"

We wanted her to spend time with her own kind every now-and-then so she can understand herself better, so we've been slowly getting her used to Second in Command for inevitable cave visits. It'll be scary for her, but if she already likes someone who lives there, it should be easier for her. Thankfully, her uncle explained lackees to her, and that endeared her to him.

He patted her on the head and ruffled her hair a bit. "Hope you've built up an appetite, Vi." 

"Mhhf!" She nodded. I'm glad they are getting along.

We all got seated. Belovi sat in between Second and Panchi. We started to dig in and just as I predicted, the meatballs were just the right texture. One step closer to understanding her eating habits!

O'Bea POV:

A serious crime had been committed. The bear girl had been snuggled to death. This was a case for Detective Belovi, and her trusty sidekick, a clone of the same bear!

"What do you deduce, Detective Belovi?"

She felt my... I mean, her wrist. "Her heart is still pounding."

"No no no." The me on the floor sat up. "We're playing make believe! We are only pretending the other me is dead!"

She looked between me, and then to me, and cocked her head in confusion.

It was at that moment I decided to change strategies. "How about we have a tea party?"

"Tea?" Belovi's eyes lit up. "I heard Papa say that tea is water that has been made to taste good."

"That is accurate!"

"Though Papa said it tastes like boiled water."

I laughed. "I could see him saying that."

"I didn't understand what he meant by that. But Mama showed me what boiled water is." She explained. "If it mouth feels like that speghetti, it must be good!"

"I'm pretty sure it's different, but let's find out together!"

"Hnnh!" She nodded enthusiastically.

I took her hand and I brought her to one of the spare kitchens. I treated her to some tea and we enjoyed some sweets along with it. It was a good time, even if we needed to add a ton of sugar to the tea in order for her to like it.

Raina POV:

I didn't really volunteer for babysitting today. I just kind of found myself in the thick of it. Belovi was laying on the top of my head, using my hair like a bed as I was doing my spellwriting. 

I don't really enjoy the company of kids. I have little experience in dealing with them as I was the only child in my family and the refugee camp didn't have anyone younger than 13. I know I entertained the idea of having some one day when Anne and I were ready, but I wasn't expecting to have one in my life so soon.

Usually, she'd be taking a nap up there, so I didn't assume she was paying attention to my actions. Because of that, she's been easy to deal with so far. However, today, she apparently had been watching. "What are you doing?"

I've been warned about her epic curiosity, however as she'd been using me as a pillow so far, I've never had to suffer the brunt of it until now. "Uh, I'm spellwriting."

"What's that?"

"Um... Basically, I'm writing uh..." I tried to think of a way to explain such a complex topic to a kid. "Basically, I'm changing how the world works."

"Changing?"

"Yeah, if I write this correctly, do the correct math, I can change reality." I pointed to the spell I was writing. "The spell I'm writing here will tell me where in the world I am. It can tell me how far away from home I am and how I can get there."

I've been perfecting the Odd's built in GPS network. This is crucial for teleportation spells, but it should also help refugees find Sanctuary. It'll also help our enemies find Sanctuary, but that's the trade off for hospitality I guess.

"Woah, really?"

I saved my progress, reset my magic, and then planted the pen back into its place. This caused the scroll to roll back into the tube that makes up my wand. With my magic implement back together and in my hand, I conjured up a holographic map. I pointed my finger at it. "This is the bakery Panchi found you in." I dragged my finger across the map. "And here's the mansion we're currently in."

It formed a line of the route, even giving us the distance in miles and an estimated walk time.

"Woah." I don't know if she fully understood, but she was nonetheless impressed. "Teach me this thing you called 'math.' I want to learn it!"

"Huh?" Now that I think about it, she hasn't been living here too long, so I guess it makes sense she wouldn't have gotten that lesson. As the resident nerd, I had to right this wrong. So I ended my spellwriting session for the day and set up a little demonstration. I conjurated 5 apples and lined them up in a row. "Okay, so there are five apples here. See?" I pointed to each one as I counted. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Now what happens if I remove 2 apples?"

"There would be 3 apples!"

"That's correct! And what happens if we add 1 apple."

"4 apples!"

"You're a natural at this!" I said beaming. "At this pace, you'd be doing multiplication problems, like 8 x 14."

"114."

I blinked. Wait what? Did I hear that correctly? "108 ÷ 6?"

"18."

Okay, that wasn't a fluke. "222 × 6."

"2904."

We kept going at that for a while, ever escalating the math problems.

"She did calculus?!?" Exclaimed Panchi.

That night, I told the others about what happened. "That's right. Certainly blew me away."

"But, she can't even read yet! How is that supposed to work?"

"Well, I guess it makes sense when you consider Lackee's expansive knowledge archive." I looked at her. She was too busy playing with her food to really pay attention to us. Or maybe playing with her food is how she pays attention to us? I guess I should watch what I say just in case. "Lackees can pull from an information pool based on their type of lackee. I guess whatever Belovi is, it's something that uses math."

"...but not the ability to read..." Panchi muttered to herself quietly.

It certainly was a mystery.

Panchi POV:

I had a lot of thoughts swirling in my head after Raina told me about her innate math skills. What kind of lackee could she be that she would need to know math, but not have the ability to read? What kind of job would that be required? I couldn't think of any.

Belovi tugged on my clothes. I glanced down and she was wearing a sad face. "I'm sorry I can't read."

Oh no, I was making her feel bad. I placed a hand on her head. "We all learn things in our own time. Don't worry, I'm certain you'll get it eventually." I ruffled her hair. "Especially with that genius brain of yours!"

She giggled. I was glad that smile returned to her face. "Aunt Raina said she could teach me spellwriting sometime. Think I can?"

I needed to thank the mage. I know she wasn’t a huge fan of kids, so it was kind of her to volunteer for that. "I have no problems with that. Go right ahead!"

"Yeeeeee! Thanks, Papa!"

She ran into the room where Coozin warned her about running. I watched as she tried to get her to wear sleep clothes, only to toss them away again. My zucchini has been trying to get her to wear clothes for a while. Watching the pair's antics brought peace to my heart.

I've always dreaded becoming a mother. My whole life I've had the pressure to become one thrust on to me, to become a matriarch, to push out hundreds of kids. I saw my infertility as an escape from that responsibility, but then the shaming.

Not to mention I've been surrounded by bad examples. Between Leahdah and Smothee, I could fill an entire book on anti-procreation propaganda.

Because of all that, I never want to become a mother. I will avoid it to my dying days.

(CONTENT WARNING: Neglect, implied dementia, death, euthanasia.)

Soon after my 150th birthday, I had left my clan to live the life of a ronin minutian. It was a long time coming, to the point that I had already known where I'd travel to first.

I hitched a ride on a void ship, offering my protection as payment. I was heading far into the uncharted regions of the multiverse, the new frontier. A number of settlements had been established in the sector I was traveling to, so there were many people heading in that direction. It was convenient for me as I would have had to rabbit hole for decades to get this far out.

I was dropped off in one of the most popular hubs of Saint Nowhere, a bustling travel port city. My destination wasn't going to have any traffic now-a-days, so I had to make it there on foot. I engaged my rabbit hole device, creating a tunnel through space that connected me to two worlds and I simply fell through. I went from world to world. After weeks of that, I had reached it: a cold frozen rock called the planet of Respite. The rabbit hole device dropped me on top of a cliff overlooking a giant mountain range. I was 30 miles away from where I was headed.

Unfortunately, it was hard to aim with the rabbit hole device when you're really close up, so I walked days to reach my final destination. I guess I could have rabbit holed to a nearby planet and tried to get closer, but with the shitty aim of the device, I could very easily find myself further away from my target.

The terrain was perilous, but for a master like me, it was a good work out. After traversing a dozen peaks, I finally could see the city in the distance. It was the city of Salvation, or at least what was left of it.

Salvation was huge back in the day, being the first colony to reach this far. If you wanted to explore this part of the multiverse, you had to go through here. However, ever since more convenient stopping points were established like Saint Nowhere and La Parada, there wasn’t much use to go to Salvation anymore. That neglect was clear from even far away, the place was in terrible disarray. Walking through town I saw a number of skyscrapers completely abandoned and left to collect dust. Homes that once were lived in were now devoid of life. I couldn't see anyone around. Was there anyone left?

However, it didn't take me long to find what I had been looking for. It made sense, they were a people known for protecting, they would have wanted people to find them. A mansion was built out of minutian architecture towards the end of main street. As I got closer to the front gate, I was met with a sign that read "Distant Rim Clan Manor: Where help was always waiting for you!" Despite the message, this place looked just as abandoned as the rest of town.

I opened the front gate and headed inside. I stepped into the building, the floor boards creaking under my feet. Dust wafted in the air, this place hadn't been occupied in a long time. I used #76 Life Sense, shutting my eyes and sending my energy in the air to feel for any signs of life in this building. I wasn't expecting anything, but to my surprise, there was one signal in an upstairs bedroom.

I headed up the steps, trying not to make a sound on the way up. I really hoped it was just a homeless person. It was better than what my sinking feeling had indicated. I made my way to the room and stepped inside.

I was immediately hit with the smell of the sick. It reminded me of the infirmaries that I would often volunteer in growing up. I walked through a small hallway and was met with a large, master bedroom complete with an ornately decorated king sized bed. That was when I saw her, and my heart sank to the floor.

In the bed was a woman, 4 feet in height. A matriarch. Her clan must have left her alone in this place as they left for greener pastures. She had messy green hair and a golden tan skin. Her eyes, sunken, stared vacantly up at the ceiling. All over her body, were patches of white. Not saying her skin was white, they were holes in reality. Void Decay, #100. The ultimate price of becoming a master was that if you were to lose yourself, escape the confines of grace of mastery, the very void that gave you your status would slowly consume you alive. This woman was dying, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

At least there was one more thing I could make sure of: she wasn't going to die alone. At least, if she didn't want to.

I walked up to the bed. "I'm sorry to bother you. Can you hear me?"

The woman's eyes suddenly swiveled in my direction. The abrupt movement took me by surprise. "Oh. Who are you? Why are you...?" She stuttered.

In retrospect, I should have been more wary that I was basically intruding in this woman's home. The fact she was not as alarmed at the stranger in her house spoke volumes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here." I gave her a little bow. "My name is Pi-" I was about to give the name my mother gave me, but I didn't know how she would react to that. Instead, I altered course. "Panchi. My name is Panchi. I've come far to visit this minutian clan. I'm humbled to be in the presence of its Matriarch."

She seemed surprised at my polite greeting but she quickly pulled herself together. "Oh. I am honored by your visit, Ms. Panchi. I am Matriarch Smothee DistantRim. I'd roll out the red carpet, but as you see, my chicks have all left the nest."

"I don't need the red carpet." I said. I knelt down beside her and held her hand. "As I am but a wayward ronin, I'm here for your guidance, if you are willing to provide it. I will enter your service as payment."

Looking at her condition, she couldn't have more than a few days left, a week at most. I couldn't leave her alone like that. However, just saying I wanted to be her caretaker for the remaining days would be an insult to her. Having your children leave the nest is the highest honor of the matriarch, I could rob her of that. So instead, I framed it differently.

She had a pained expression on her face. She saw right through me. However, she sighed in defeat. "I will have you enter my service.

For days, I was her caretaker. I did my best to clean. I cooked for her. I'm a terrible cook, but thankfully she only ever wanted simple microwavable conjurated meals.

Following breakfast everyday, I'd sweep the floors, knock out the cobwebs, dusted, all in the wrong order. Thankfully, they had minutian sized tools for the jobs stored here, but that didn't account for the lack of skill. After spending my mornings cleaning, I'd sit by her bedside until it was time to prepare dinner. I thought the company might help her.

On all other afternoons, she would fill the time with aimless chatter. Stuff like the weather, current events (nice to see her phone was still working,) and sometimes she’d bitch about specific members of her clan. 

However, on the third day, she was quiet for a long time. After a while, she began talking. "Panchi? Can I tell you something?"

"Anything." I weathered through her long discussion of storm clouds, I could handle anything she threw at me.

However, she didn't speak with confidence like she would days prior, this time she was much more reserved. It had the tonality of a confession. "My very first child was named Belovi. She looked just like me, something that I loved about her. I gave her everything she needed, toys, food, and attention. Before long, I was neglecting the rest of my kids."

That explained why her clan left her alone to die. I could relate to them a lot.

"She took so long to become a master. I was worried she might never make it, but after 200 years, she persevered." She had an odd little smile on her face, a proud smile. "She gave hope to late blooming minutians everywhere. She was really something, ya know?"

And I already knew where this story was headed.

"She was offered to become the Matriarch of the Crossroads, a place that had been overrun by crime forever. The other matriarchs saw her potential. I couldn't be more happy." She sighed blissfully. "She would call herself Matriarch Leahdah. As long as she's guiding the Crossroads to a brighter future, then everything was worth it."

With that same smile on her face, she drifted off into sleep. I wish my heart was just as restful, but this story hit way too close to home.

That night, I used #91 God Recollection. I revisited the memory I had found years before, the memory that led me to this forsaken planet in the first place.

It was shortly after I was born. My mom had run away from her duties to the Crossroads with me in her arms, garnering her the ire of every minutian in the multiverse. Everyone knows how she became a vagabond clan of two and toured the infinite cosmos, but not many know that she actually tried to go home first.

Mom walked through the streets of Salvation. Back then, it was bustling with activity. Creatures of all shapes and sizes brushed past us. If Anne could see this, she would be beside herself with excitement just from the diverse population.

Mom made her way to the Distant Rim Manor and invited herself in. "I'm home!" She shouted seconds after she already pushed the gate open and didn't bother to close it. One of the other minutians had to do that for her. Did she think she was royalty or something?

Speaking of the other minutians, they were all glaring daggers at her. I guess news travels fast when you have magical internet. Soon, Matriarch Smothee exited the residence and stood silently on the stoop.

My mother, not reading the area in the slightest, laid her eyes on the Matriarch and ran up to her. "Mom! I'm home!"

"Why are you here, Belovi?"

She was taken aback by the tone of her mother's voice as she spoke to her. However, she shook it off like it was a bug. "The Crossroads didn't have the amenities I wanted, so I decided to come back home! I want you to meet my daughter, Pipsqueak!"

"You have some nerve coming back here after what you did."

Leahdah was stunned silent. However, Smothee continued.

"After all that time I spent on you, this is how you repay me? You embarrassed me, humiliated me! Now you expect me to coddle you once again?"

"Uh, yes, that would be nice!" She said, nodding her head.

"Get out of my mansion."

That finally got through her thick skull. She could only stutter.  "W-what? Wait! You haven't-"

"GET OUT OF MY MANSION! You and your spawn are not welcome here! I never want to see your face EVER AGAIN, you understand?!?" She walked up to her and glared her deep in the eyes. "If you return, I'll kill you myself."

Those final words held in the air. No one watching dared to make a sound. My mom was horrified, tears welling in her eyes. Then, as if nothing happened, her expression shifted to that of indignation. "Come on Panchi, we don't need these losers." She stormed out in a huff, leaving the gate door open on her way out.

I hoped that after the failure that was my mom, maybe the old matriarch stepped up for the rest of her children, but from the looks of things, she gave up on them too. Now with nothing left, she only has delusions to keep her company.

Days later, the void rot was spreading too fast for her to manage. She had hours, maybe minutes. I stayed by her side the entire time, holding her hand.

Apparently, she wasn't oblivious to her situation as before the end, she said something to me. "I'm sorry Panchi, but can you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"When you get a chance, can you visit Matriarch Leahdah in the Crossroads and tell her of my death?"

That took me off guard. I wouldn't even know where she is right now if I looked for them. I didn't want to lie to her. "I'll see what I can do." It was the only concession I could give her.

"Also," she continued, "Can you please give me a proper send-off? I know it's much to ask someone who isn't my own-"

"I will, don't worry."

She gave me one last smile, her eyes were filled with joy. I was glad I was here for her right now. 

However, the peace was swiftly broken by a panicked expression spreading across her face. The void has seeped into your lungs, and now she is suffocating to death. I manifested void in my palm and then punched it directly into her face. She died instantly as most of her brain had been consumed by my void. As her body dissipated, I prayed to the minutian hero that she would be guided to a peaceful afterlife.

I would make a headstone in front of the manor. "Matriarch Smothee DistantRim, died in the manor on May 10th, 10,001." Unfortunately, I didn’t know when she was born, so I couldn’t put her age.

Our group headed toward the Sanctuary Citizenship Registration Office. It was just going to be Coozin and I as Belovi was joining our family, but the others decided to join us considering they might help with some of the identification process.

"My scanner can determine how long she's been around." Said the Scientist Lackee as they held their pad device up to Belovi. "Let’s see here, she manifested 53 days, 14 hours, 14 minutes, and 33 seconds. That places her time of birth as January 28th at 7:05 PM."

That was almost 2 months ago! Heck, that was even before the diplomacy summit! She's been alone all that time?!? Also, that would have been the tail end of the night phase, she would have been born in the dark! I glanced down at her again. She had apparently dozed off at some point as she was breathing gently in my arms. I had apparently adopted a hardcore street survivalist!

Suddenly, she made one loud snort as she blinked awake. She looked blearily up at me. "Papa?"

I held back a sigh. I might have to give up on the nickname. "Yes, it's me."

My zucchini gleefully walked closer to me to get a better look at our new daughter. The small lackee turned to glance at her and their eyes met. She'll be living with both of us, so it's best I introduce her.  "This is a very good friend of mine. Her name is Coozin. She lives with me, so you'll be living with her, too!"

"Coozin?" She muttered. She gets her name right?!?

"That's right, I am Coozin! It's an honor to meet you!" She extends out a hand to shake.

She didn't shake her hand though. Instead she immediately explores her hand with her little paws. The bunny robot doesn't stop her, patiently just lets her do it while she tries to keep up with our stroll. Finally, the child's fingers rested on her wrist, which gives her a bit of a start. "No pounding?"

"Oh, that's because I'm a robot."

"Robot?" She tilted her head.

"Oh um..." She wracked her brain on how to explain the concept. "I lost my body, so someone made me a new one. This body doesn't need a heart."

"But a heart is good." Belovi couldn't hide her frown.

Coozin extended out her hand again and smiled. "Feel my wrist again."

The little one reached over once more and touched the stump of her hand. Her eyes lit up. "It's pounding!"

"That's right! Just because this body doesn't need a heart, doesn't mean I can't pound, too!"

The pair giggled. I was practically beaming at their interaction.

Before we reached the registration office, Belovi had somehow wound up in Coozin's arms. It gave me a much needed break, I was about to sweat. I completely forgot how much warmth children radiated. I could have used a technique, but it would have been weird to use one against a child’s body temperature.

We stepped into the office and in the front desk was a bored looking capybara woman flipping through a magazine. I swear I've seen that same woman in that position every time I've been in this office. I really hoped it was a coincidence. 

She spotted me. "Lord Panchi." She gave me a slight head nod of respect.

"Hey, I'd like to register this little one here." I said as I pointed to the kid in my partner's arms.

She saw her and suddenly her eyes grew several sizes larger as she immediately cooed. "Awww the cutiepie!"

I was briefly stunned at her showing me a face I've never seen her make before. However, I pulled myself together and got back on task. "Uh, yes! She just came into existence recently, and I'll be looking after her."

"Of course, let's help the little one!" She dashed into the back file cabinet with a spring in her step. What weird alternate universe am I in? She came back and slapped a paper on her desk. "What is her first name?"

"Belovi."

"Oh, that's cute as fu-" Her eyes suddenly shot open as she realized what she was about to drop. "Uh, that's the cutest name ever!" She shrugged off her almost misstep and wrote down the name. "And last name? Will it be Tanglefoot?"

"Actually, give her Coozin's last name."

"Really?!?" My bunny partner exclaimed.

"There's too many Tanglefoots in town as is. It's your turn!"

She was practically moved to tears by my decision. Then a huge smile spread across her face and she turned to the Capybara. "Cottontail. Belovi Cottontail, please!"

"Oh, it just got cuter." The front desk lady seemed to be having an aneurysm from sheer sweetness overload.

With help from Second and the Scientist Lackee, we filled out the rest of the information and we got Belovi's card printed. The pair of lackees had other things to do, so they bid us farewell before going back to their cave. Second arranged to check in with us in the coming days and to contact him if anything happens.

Our child had moved from Coozin's arms and was now walking between the two of us, holding both of our hands.

She seemed to be opening up to us, as she asked a hundred questions on the way to the mansion. "What's that?" She asked, looking at a green person with a pig face running a tea stall.

"That's an orc. He's serving a drink called tea."

"Tea? What's that?"

"It's like water but it tastes better." At least according to Coozin. It tastes like boiled water to me.

"Ohhh!" She responded. Then looked at the being with antlers. "Why does that person have pointy things on their head?"

"That's a deer person. They think having spikes on their head makes them cool."

The buck gave me the stink eye briefly after hearing that, but he quickly looked away when he realized who I was.

Then Belovi's attention was stolen by the bird person flying overhead. "Woah! How are they so high up?"

"Because bird people can fly. I mean, they move through the sky like how we can walk on the ground."

"Can I fly, Papa?" She looked up towards me expectantly.

I glanced at Coozin, and she gave me a knowing smile. She seemed to be on the same page. I glanced back down at my child. "The only way you can fly is if we do THIS!"

We both lifted her up in the air so both her hooves were off the ground. She immediately let out a happy sound. "Yeeeee!!!"

That night, Coozin fed her plenty. Second mentioned that Lackees could eat anything, but they mostly ate meat. I was glad we could all have the same meals.

She scarfed it down like no tomorrow. Seeing her eat so much made my heart ache. How many days did she have to go without food? When was the last time she had a warm meal in general? I'll have to make sure she never goes hungry again. That's my responsibility now.

We were sure to give her a bath and washed her tube top. She was weirdly resistant to baths, so it was a bit of a struggle. By the time we finally got her cleaned up, it was already time for bed. We debated earlier in the night how we should handle the sleeping arrangements, but we eventually decided she would just sleep in between the two of us. We felt she'd be happiest like that.

Coozin tried to get her in a nightgown. "No!" She would simply say while resisting. She wound up sleeping in her tube top thing. If we knew what kind of lackee she was, maybe we'd find clothes she'd like. I knew her kind didn't wear much clothing to begin with, but she was living in a palace, I'd like her to wear something appropriate for the setting.

Giving up on the clothing issue for now, I picked up Belovi. "It's time to sleep." I told her.

"Okay Papa!" She said happily.

Jumping up onto the bed, I laid her down in the middle, resting her head on a small pillow we got her. I made sure her spikey tail was facing towards the foot of the bed so neither of us would be poked. By the time I pulled the blanket over her, she was already asleep.

"She's so adorable..." Coozin said, her eyes on Belovi as she climbed into bed next to her.

We both got settled in and watched her sleep for a while. There was something precious about her subtle little breaths as she was off in slumber land.

I wound up placing one of my hands on top of her. Coozin apparently had the same idea as our hands met in the middle. Our eyes met, her smile was so wide at that moment.

"Good night, Panchi." She said in a whisper.

"Good night."

Chapter 141: It Takes a Village

Belovi as viewed by many.

(Wattpad)

Raina had gotten herself mixed up in some sort of frame job, so Anne and Lexine had run off to help her with her court case. This meant that I was left alone to hold up the fort in Sanctuary. Well, as the Chief of Security, it was my duty to do that to begin with, so I didn't mind. I doubt the court case would have any fights for me to help out in any way.

I had finished with my morning briefing, dealing out orders for the various departments. With everyone knowing what they had to do today, I left to go patrol with the blue shawls. I wouldn't be much of a lord if I didn't walk the streets of the town I'm protecting as many times as possible. It's important for a person in my position to see things with my own eyes instead of relying on reports to tell me everything.

Despite it being Sanctuary's nighttime cycle, it was a peaceful day today. Between the Lackees and I, we were pretty quick to stamp out criminal activity, which meant these people could live their lives without fear. Though, that didn't stop the whispers. People were talking about Raina's arrest, fearing for her safety. While I knew Raina wouldn't be done in by some dragons, that wasn't so certain for the average citizen. The death of one of the big three would be a huge blow for Sanctuary's morale. It was all the more reason for me to patrol. If they see my confidence and calm, that gives them permission to be calm, too.

Protecting people isn't just about busting bad guys.

As I was halfway down main street, a lackee ran in my direction. I could tell from their outfit that they were some sort of scientist lackee. "Lord Panchi! We have a situation!"

"Is it an emergency?"

"No, but you better come anyway. It's inside the new candy shop."

Ah, I heard Coozin talking about that. A rabbit named Tou had moved into Sanctuary and is setting up shop. They've spent the last month building the entire place out of candy per usual for her kind, and she’s been working on their wares as of late.

"Well, in that case, I'll head on over there." Went off in a brisk walk towards the shop.

When I arrived, I saw a number of people talking out front. Second was there, talking to members from security, a rabbit who I assume is Tou, and Coozin. She was there, too?

Second lit up when he saw me and ran over. "Lord Panchi, I'm glad you could come at such short notice!"

"My Zucchini is here?" Referring to my robot partner.

"I was helping plan merchandise." Coozin explained. "And we were reminiscing on the past, too."

Ah, fair enough. They were from the same world, they both would share memories from there. I turned my attention to the lackee leader. "So what's the situation?"

"I think it's easier for you to see." And he led me into the shop.

I hadn't seen this place yet, but I was kinda in awe how they actually made this place out of candy. I could smell the peppermint of the support beams, and the gingerbread of the walls. I'm not huge on sweets, but even the smell alone was making me want some. The countertops and tables were made of polished marble rock candy, and the chairs had to be some sort of hard chocolate.

My awe of the place was interrupted by the sound of a small sniffle. I turned my head in the direction of the sound and I spotted something sitting on her knees in one of the corners. There sat a small child, about a head or two shorter than me. She wore huge glasses on her face which was getting steamed from her tears. Her bubbly blonde hair was practically pouring out between her giant head pincers.

Wait a minute... "Is that a lackee?"

"From the looks of it, she is."

She had greenish fur covering her hooved legs. While most lackees I've seen have hair all over their bodies, her upper body was completely furless. In place of torso fur was dark skin. If she didn't have pincers on her head and tail, I would have confused her for a satyr or a faun. The only clothes she was wearing outside glasses was a tube top that was yellow with black spots all over.

"I thought your kind didn't have kids."

"Typically, we pop into existence as adults. However, there's a lot of missing records of our kind. Maybe sometimes we pop into existence as children? It could be possible."

That was puzzling. However, figuring out the mysteries of his species wasn't why I was here. "So she was found in the bakery?"

"Yes, she must have been lured in by the smell." He postulated. "Lady Coozin and Ms. Tou were working on treats when they heard rummaging in the back. When they approached the child, she ran. None of us could even get close without her fleeing to another hiding spot."

I see, so we have a scared little child they can't get out. Knowing that, I slowly stepped towards the kid, and her eyes locked on me. "It's okay, I'm here to help." I wasn't sure if she could understand, she only kept watching me.

I tried moving as slowly as possible, not to make any sudden movements. I gradually lifted up my arm as I got closer and closer. Her eyes winced at the sight of it. Maybe it was the grabbing motion that was making her afraid? Instead I upturned my hand so it was palms up. "I won’t touch you if you don't want to. I'm just giving you my hand."

Repositioning my hand seemed to lessen the kid's fear as she let me approach. Her eyes were fixed on my outstretched palm. Her glance now filled with curiosity instead of fear. As soon as I was close enough, she took my hand with her paws and felt around it. She was surprised initially. Maybe she wasn't expecting me to be warm?

She inspected my hand further, squeezing it to feel my bones underneath. She even squeezed my wrist and she looked shocked.

"It's pounding." She said in a weak trembling voice.

She could speak? Even Second looked shocked from clear across the room. However, I buried my natural reaction to shout that out loud. "It's pounding?"

She looked me in the eyes. "Under your soft layer. There's a pounding. Like, thump thump."

By 'soft layer' does she mean my skin? "That's my heartbeat."

She cocked her head. "Heartbeat? What is that?"

I gently took her hand. She flinched, but she didn't recoil. I guided it to the left side of her chest. "Hold your hand there, you'll feel it too."

I knew from Second's studies that lackees had hearts too and their beats aren’t far off from a minutian's. As she touched her chest, her eyes went wide with realization. "There is pounding here, too!"

"Yes, it's inside you. It's helping out your body."

"How?"

I thought for a second. She probably didn't understand what blood was yet, so I tried to construct the most simplified understanding I could muster. "That pounding is your heart working hard to send stuff to the rest of your body, like food, water, the air you breathe."

She felt her own heart beat for a short while. "My heart is good." She said with a smile. The first one I've seen so far from her.

"It is very good." I returned her smile.

I moved in closer and gently scooped her into my arms. She didn’t resist. In fact, she rested her head on my shoulder, pressing her ear against my chest as if listening to my heartbeat. “A good heart.” She muttered. Those horns were very narrowly missing my face at this angle.

"She seems to have taken a liking to you, Lord Panchi."

Tell me about it.

"Panchi?" The child said briefly looking up at me.

"That's my name."

"Name?"

Oh, I guess she didn't understand the concept. "Name is what we call each other, to differentiate each other."

She thought for a second, then with a small voice she said, "Papa."

"Uh, no, it's Panchi."

She didn't listen, she just smiled, held me closer, and repeated. "Papa."

We stepped out of the shop with the girl in my arms. Coozin ran up to me. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she seems to be fine."

"Papa..." The child whimpered in my arms.

Coozin was taken aback. "Papa?!?"

"Ignore that."

"I was surprised how articulate the kid was." Second observed. "She didn't stutter her words at all, as if she was born to say them. Considering she's a lackee, that might actually be the case."

"And yet she was born needing glasses?" The spectacles bent against the press of my chest. I have considered taking them off for her, but I didn't want to scare her. I only just gained her trust.

"So what next?" Coozin asked.

Well, the obvious thing was to have her stay with her own kind, however, Second suggested something ridiculous. "I think she should stay with Lord Panchi."

The bunny robot broke out in a huge smile and clasped her hands together. "That's a splendid idea!"

"Coozin? What are you saying?"

"She already trusts you, and she's already calling you 'Papa.'"

"She's just mispronouncing my name." I say when we just established her perfect English.

The bunny robot booped my nose. "And you did say you wanted a lackee child." (REF: Chapter 105)

"Well, I DID say that." Though I said it knowing Lackees didn't have children.

Suddenly, I felt a small paw grasp my shoulder. I peered down to see the child was looking right up to me. "I want to stay with you, Papa."

I couldn't say 'no' to her when she was looking at me like that. By the minutian hero, this child was adorable. I sighed heavily. "Okay, I'll take her."

She wiggled around in my arms happily. "Yeeeeee!" I guess that was her joy noise?

Coozin was almost as happy as the kid was. "We have a kid in the family!" She was practically bouncing with joy. "Panchi, you need to think up a name for her!"

"A name? Lackees don't usually have a name." I figured they'd call her 'kid lackee' or something.

"While only our demon lord can name us," added Second, "nicknames seem to be fine, and if it would make things easier to communicate among your family, you probably should give her one."

Well, this puts me on the spot. It's difficult to come up with a name out of the blue. I looked down at her, who was resting comfortably in my arms.

Then it suddenly came to me, the perfect name. If she's going to be my child, then she should have a name that'll always remind me to be the best parent that I could be.

Chronicles of Panchi: Proud Matriarch

We briefly interrupt the cute arc for a very depressing chapter. It's important for context but yeah, brace yourself.

(Wattpad)