Illithid behind the Curtain: Calm and Quiet Days (Patreon)

That little meeting with Ruby changed everything.

Yang soon followed suit, her only reaction being to ask me if I pooped and then I found the courage to show myself to Taiyang. At first, he had been alarmed but seeing the utter lack of fear on the part of his girls, he had been embarrassed and apologized to me. From that point, my quiet days only grew all the dearer as I was able to expose more of what I was and where I had come from.

"There are planes and existences far beyond your sphere. Worlds upon worlds, full of wonder and the exotic." We were finally inside my tower now, in a room where the ceiling and walls were inlaid with gems to resemble stars, gleaming in the dark as the children let out appreciative noises. More so, when the sight of solar systems and other places appeared in turn, revolving around as their father watched on.

"I come from a world among them, named Toril. Deep within the earth, among the darkness. Understand as well, my people do not have the best reputation and for good reason. I cannot impress that hard enough."

"Why?" Ruby asked innocently and for a moment, my eyes and Taiyang's met and I didn't need to know his psionic signature to realize what a bad idea it was. He knew a little-I would not have him ignorant as to what it meant to have a Mind Flayer as a neighbor and friend, and while it didn't change his stance, it was too brutal for Ruby to know. So, I simply changed an illusion, the visage of a solar dragon emerging from the sun as I said simply.

"My people... Are bad. Very, very bad. I myself am an exile from them and if I was ever discovered, they would kill me if they could. But none know of this world."

"Is that why you're here?" Taiyang asked, deeply interested as I floated and shook my head. "It was by accident I found myself on this sphere. But a happy one. It is... Peaceful. And I find myself with better neighbors this time around."

"He means us!" Ruby whispered to Yang, both girls preening as Taiyang and I both chuckled quietly as I floated over. "Indeed, I do." My hand lowered, patting them both gently on the head as Taiyang added. "Girls, why don't you head over to the kitchen? I have to talk grown up things with Mr. Wizard here."

Both let out gagging noises, turning and racing out. When they left, Taiyang took a deep breath as he contemplated before speaking. "There's someone I'd like you to meet. He's a friend of the family and more knowledgeable than I am. I've kept your secret, but it's ultimately up to you. I feel like you both would have a lot to talk about."

Ozpin. He was talking about Ozpin, and I couldn't help the faint twitch of displeasure that came from me, thinking about it. "I revealed my secret because Ruby and Yang knew. And I would not betray your trust in such a manner and leave you ignorant of the dangers. I am loath to extend that to others, more so those in positions of power."

Taiyang nodded, understanding before he spoke. "I know, I know. It's just he's way smarter than I am and for your issue, I just feel bad I can't help more." I stare and for a moment, I think of Taiyang in general. He had always been a side character before, someone who simply existed but there was little focus there. Now? He was a person to me. Someone who had my back, who I could call friend. Who even now, knowing what I was and how I ate, entrusted his children to me. That deserved a serious response and I spoke, far less annoyed now.

"My friend, you've helped me far more than I had ever thought possible."

Taiyang laughed, one hand rubbing the back of his head like some feckless schoolboy and we headed for the kitchen together, one of the oddest pairs this side of Remnant I could think of.

As it turned out, having a Hunter for a friend who knew your secret opened up doors I had no idea was a thing. Taiyang had a lot of contacts, helping me with paperwork to establish a new identity. When I asked him why, he said simply how villages tended to be crushed all the time and a network was in place to assist as such.

"Now normally, there's a serial number connected buuuut I greased a few palms, shouldn't be a problem. So, what name would you like to have?" I thought for a moment, sitting in my kitchen as outside, the children played in the yard before I spoke.

"There are two names dear to me. One was the catalyst for truly breaking away from my people. The other, was an identity I adopted when my party and I came to civilized towns and cities."

"The one you're using now?"

I leaned back, contemplative as I nodded. "It's a bit more human, but as far as I can tell it's the closest, I can get to the person Hannibal was before." Taiyang looked interested, but it was not a topic I was comfortable with. He was already uneasy about my chosen diet; I had no wish to drop on him the secret of how my race reproduced.

Taking up his drink, he sipped from it and looked at me as he lowered his drink. "So, what about the other one?"

I turned to look at him and a spell later, suddenly Taiyang's mind felt like a train wreck as I sat demurely opposite.

In a much different, softer voice now I spoke. "Research of surface folks told me that they tended to act differently, confronted with non-threatening features."

I blinked, slowly and Taiyang stared before shuddering as he looked away. "Change back please."

Amusement radiated between us and the sweetest smile I could invoke crossed my features as I crossed my arms and leaned back.

"No."

In the end, we opted to make two separate identities which I felt would help more down the line. Hannibal Rincewind, the local eccentric and country doctor (to explain my money) and Esmerelda Weatherwax, a wandering herbalist.

And if I derived a bit more amusement, messing with Taiyang from it, well that was just a bonus.

=====

Winter came. Gentle snow, white and pure as I intended as every day. With magic on my side, I'd make it a point to ensure the weather remained enough to prevent much in the way of damage, yet enough to give my chosen small town a white Christmas.

Establishing an office of my own at my tower brought a lot of people to my door. Normally the work of ages, my little stunt had brought me a LOT of good will and when it was clear I had skill, word of mouth did the rest. And over the past few months, Patch changed from a simple footnote into a living, breathing entity.

My potions and teas I'd brought over from my world ensured a very high standard of health, all brewed and crafted to reduce sniffles, aches and pains. I kept back some things like my potions of healing, but on the whole with my psionic abilities and knowledge, I made for a very good doctor. I started installing resonance stones in the portions of my tower for patients, and gained amusement from how what had once harmed was now being turned to good, as calm, serene feelings of peace pervaded my working office and waiting room.

The thing was, by putting myself out there, I found myself saner than I had ever been. Good will, gratitude, joy, happiness was something of a constant for me now. I could imagine myself fully human again, with every patient that came through and life became routine. Peaceful. For the first time, I felt as though I could call this place my true home.

Enough that on Christmas Day, I felt as though I wanted to do something better for my friends.

====

Einzbern and Zwei sniffed at each other, before haunches began to wag and they turned and leaped. Running and bounding through the snow, barking and happy as the girls likewise did. Taiyang looked surprised, looking at me as he asked.

"You want to what?"

I raised an eyebrow, in the guise of Dr. Rincewind as I spoke. "No, you heard correct. I'd like to take you and the children to another world." There was a deeper silence, as Taiyang registered this before he spoke slowly. "... Sorry, trying to get my head around this. You can just do that?" I nodded, once. "I have spells for that sort of journey and my... People have ships, that specialize in such. But for myself, it's an item I uncovered a long time ago, when I was still adventuring. It will be safe, I promise."

He took another deep breath, still amazed before he chuckled. "Every time I think I have an idea of what you're capable of, you spring something new. And Qrow was on a mission...." I kept my wince back as Taiyang chuckled. Qrow was still hunting on a wild goose chase, worried by my little attack. Which was partly why I had asked, knowing he'd be out of the way. It was selfish and I knew Qrow was a good person, but he was still Ozpin's agent and I wanted to stay out of that mess for as long as I could. Not that I believed it'd be long, the children were growing up and I was unreasonably attached to them. And adventure or not, I knew the hardships before them and had already resolved to give them tools to help them. I would not stop their adventure, but neither would they be disarmed in the face of it.

But a choice was coming soon, and I was smart enough to know that I had made my choice, regarding it. Until then, I'd cherish the days I had and would give them such memories as to hold against for the days that would shatter them.

And unknowing of my thoughts, Taiyang smiled broadly as he spoke. "Sure, it sounds great!"

"It will be for a day. I dare not keep you all from home, longer than needed."

I paused and then added, with an uncharacteristic grin.

"And wear something for the tropics."

====

Confused as Ruby and Yang were when their father said to dress for a hot climate, when they realized I was going to do magic, even Ruby was hard pressed to get ready first, semblance or not as they all came down to the living room. A space had been cleared and I floated, in the guise of Esmerelda now due to my connections in the area we were going. Before them, a dark hole rested and I grinned, giving them a nod as I floated over and let myself drop.

The familiar sensation of being between worlds was felt, the astral plane rocketing as I emerged, headfirst out into a familiar world. The heat was the first thing that hit us, the sun bright and hot as the children emerged with their father, the dogs likewise as they barked in confusion. Taiyang looked between the buildings we found ourselves, as I winked and gestured.

The ground shook, and stepping out into the busy street, the children gasped in awe, Taiyang not far behind them as they got their first look at Port Nyanzaru. Great Chult, ancient Chult. A jungle domain of goblins, dinosaurs and gods know what else out there, but we were not adventuring today. And there were few exotic places I could recommend on Toril as exciting as Port Nyanzaru, for those new to the planes.

Dinosaurs were everywhere, used as mounts, as familiars and I knew before the day was out, the girls would want to ride them too. It was cleansing to me, being able to do something so simple and for a moment, as we all walked further into the port, it felt as though life couldn't get better.

So of course, it had to get weird as somehow, in the space of a few hours Taiyang was cold clocked by the massive half orc, flying to the ring side as the crowd cheered and Yang screamed bloody murder, supporting her father as I carried Ruby. Taiyang grinned broadly.

I sighed and hid a smile, watching Taiyang enjoy the boxing rings of the port city as I wondered why I expected anything else.