Book 7: Chapter 18: Favors
Victor, please. Va gently tugged on his wrist, urging him to sit back down. Give the man a moment to gather himself.
Victor glowered, and when Vas eyebrows drew together, mimicking his expression of irritation, it felt like someone had sshed cold water on him. He looked inward, at his roiling rage Core, at the heat in his pathways, and he sighed, sumbing to her pull and sitting back down. Not trusting himself to speak, he folded his arms and made a point of not staring at Erd Van, who still knelt before the couch.
Maybe to change the subject or ease the tension, Lam spoke up, Erd, or is it always Erd Van?
The man sat up straight, smoothing his long, pink hair back. You may call me Erd at your pleasure, Lady.
Lam smiled and leaned against the couch arm, shifting to cross her legs more easily. Can you tell me what you mean by test of steel? Ive never traveled to Sojourn before.
Ah. Erd lithely stood, ncing at Victor as he did so, then almost eagerly looking back toward Lam. The term originated here on Sojourn. Our founders had a flowery way of speaking and a poetic way of looking at things. When Lams face didnt betray any understanding, and Victor and Va remained silent, he continued, Its all based around the idea that were forging our ss during the iron ranks. You know, until the synthesis at level one hundred.
Lam frowned, looking over at Victor and Va with an arched eyebrow. Forgive me, Va said, stealing Erds attention. The people in my world rarely ascend beyond level fifty. Those who do are secretive. Would you mind exining this synthesis? It wasnt lost on Victor that both women had phrased their questions saying I rather than we. Were they worried his Quinametzin pride was still bristling?
Oh, of course, of course! On System-controlled worlds, just as most races receive a ss refinement every ten levels, at level one hundred, the System will guide you through a process in which you build a ss based on the aspects of your previous sses that youve most fully mastered.
Well create our own ss?
Yes, which leads to the test of steel, thanks to our founders'' creative sensibilities. You see, most people, when they first build their ss, end up with something at the base level. In the ranks that follow, a person must sharpen and hone their steel until it reaches a level of ascendancy, whereupon they can move into their lustrous veil, something Im far less knowledgeable about. You see, for every one hundred iron rankers, theres likely to be only a single person working on their test of steel, and for every thousand of those, there might be one person in their lustrous veil. At least thats the old adage here on Sojourn. Im sure the numbers differ from world to world. For instance, ording to you, there may not be many outside the iron ranks in your homeworld.
Or Zaafor, Victor said, looking at Va.
She nodded. Perhaps only the Warlord and his closest supporters.
Lam cleared her throat. So, do I have it right in my understanding that the test of steel is not the same for everyone?
Yes! Erd nodded enthusiastically. Some people begin their test by creating a more advanced ss, so their journey is shorter. Some jump multiple tiers at their first refinement, while others struggle to move out of the base tier. Everyones journey is different.
So you cant just grind it out? Victor asked, and when Erds frown signaled puzzlement, he borated. I mean, you cant just keep gaining levels, eventually moving into the next stage?
Ah, correct, sir. There are many in the test of steel who have reached a level beyond which they struggle to grow, and their ss is still in the lower tiers. They are collectively known as steelbound.
Still more powerful than anyone we likely know, Lam said, shaking her head, grinning at the absurdity of it all.
Oh, there are steelbound who can shift the tides of culture, who rules and systems, who . . . he trailed off, ncing nervously at Victor. Perhaps I could acquaint you with my mentor? He has passed through his test of steel, and though he disappears for decades at a time working toward his mysterious goals, hes currently in the cityhe also spends years and decades in recreation, you see. It may be that your timing is just right, for Ive scheduled a consultation with him next week. For a small fee, Id be willing to spend part of my precious, allocated time with my mentor, asking about your friends situation. Hes the only person I know who can guide me as I approach my seventh ss refinement, and Im sure hed have some insights. He nodded at Edeya.
Couldnt we make an appointment of our own? Lam asked, uncannily guessing the exact question Victor was about to voice.
Yes, absolutely. Youll find his waiting list for consultations is something like three years out.
Victor groaned. Seriously? Do you think hell even help?
I think hell be intrigued. I think he may . . . want to meet you, sir. He paused while he spoke as though weighing his choice of words.
Why? Victor had to fight hard to suppress the urge to snarl the word.
Your spirit Core, sir, is uncannily potent for an iron ranker, let alone one closer to the middle than the top. His eyes widened with horror at his words, and he hastily scrambled to add, Forgive me! I saw much before you veiled off your Core! I dont mean to. You see, um, seeing into people is second nature to me. I have a legendary ss called Soul Diviner, which grew out of my original Scryer ss. When I look at an unshielded person, its actually quite difficult for me not to see things like that.
Forget it, Victor waved his hand. He was smart enough to notice how hed felt almost appeased by the idea that this guys master might find his Core interesting. Impressing people was what his Quinametzin alter-ego lived for.
Even if hes interested in Victor, how does that help us? You said his next appointment is in three years, Lam asked, lifting Edeyas hand, their fingers interlocked. Shes not going to make it three years.
No, no, Erd waved catingly, thats how long it would take to schedule an appointment with him without a sponsor to make him aware of you. You see, he doesnt make many appointments. If he finds something interesting, believe me, hell make time for it.
All right. Do it. What kind of fee are we talking about? Victor looked into his storage ring, the one where he kept most of his easily traded wealthgems, precious metals, Energy beads, and the like.
Well, youll find that, in Sojourn, favors are usually paid for with favors.
Victor felt his Core begin to bleed rage into his pathways, and he fought against it, buckling down with his will, forcing it back, concentrating on maintaining a neutral expression. He wasnt a bully, and he wouldnt let his bloodline make one of him, not without a fight. Im listening. He didnt look at Va, but Lams expression was surprised enough for both of them. She arched both her eyebrows and shook her head slightly, grinning crookedly.
Well, sir, as you can no doubt discern by the deference I give you, not all iron rankers are built the same. Im skilled with auguries, counseling, and guidance. I make good money helping people to ovee mental trauma, and, in so doing, I continue to improve those aspects of myself that make such thingse easily. As you might guess, such a peaceful existence, while pleasant andfortable, especially here in Sojourn, doesnt afford me many opportunities for the true breakthroughs that will eventually allow me to surpass these iron ranks and then find sess in my test of steel.
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And we can help you somehow?
Just so! I require an artifact, something that will allow me to impress my mentor significantly. If I can do that, hell aid me with my particr affinity. However, the item I see is well out of my reach at the moment.
But not out of ours? Lam narrowed her eyes quizzically.
I would think not. I have the location of the world on which this artifact is purported to . . .
What a fucking minute. Victor held up a hand. You want us to travel to another world?
Oh, well, yes. I''d not need your aid if it were an item avable on Sojourn. I will pay your fare and, if things go well, you shouldnt be gone more than a few days . . .
Sir, would you mind if we stepped outside to discuss your proposal? Va asked.
Lets hear the whole thing first, Lam said. What will it take to get this artifact of yours?
What I require lies at the bottom of an insect hive. The insects are called ivid. Are you familiar?
Ivid? No. Victor shook his head.
Theyrergeperson-sized, though more like me than you, sir. They arent intelligent, per se, not individually, but, as a hive, they function with a single mind, one that is formidable.
Victor groaned. Do they fly? Do they sting? Like, what are we talking about here, man? Ants, bees?
I will provide you with a dossier on the creatures. I believe they all have six legs, though there are different castessome are simple workers, others are tasked with warfare. As I said, they arent intelligent enough for sses or sophisticated Energy maniption, but they have instinctual abilities that can prove quite dangerous. What I require will be in their of the hive matriarch.
The queen? Victor shook his head, liking this idea less and less.
They reproduce byying eggs, you see, and every so often, one of their eggs will not hatch. Rather, it will enter a kind of permanent gestation. The unborn ivid in the egg bes a being of nearly pure spirit, growing connections through the Spirit ne to other realms of existence. I must acquire one of those spirit eggs in order to present it to my mentor. With it, he can enter into a ritualmunion with the spirit egg and, over the course of years or decades, learn from it.
How big is it? Victor couldnt imagine theyd be able to put the thing into a dimensional container.
At the same time, Va asked, Surely you could hire someone better at thievery than we three? Someone who can hide and even teleport?
Ah! Astute questions! The egg wont berge, perhaps about like so. He held his hands apart from each other, miming an object about the size of a football. As for more qualified adventurers, Im afraid youd be quite mistaken. Remember, together, the ivid hive creates a formidable minda mind which actively defends their realm from invasionportal or teleportation magic will not work to pierce their strange, dimensional space.
The hive is a dimensional container?
Of a sort, aye. Its almost like a natural dungeon, not unlike the System-controlled ones. I wont lie to you; Ive needed a relic like this spirit egg for a long time and sent quite a few intrepid iron rankers after it, never to be seen again. In the years since thest excursion, Ive had a rather talented alchemist develop a concoction that may help. Its a perfume of sorts that you can spray to mask your presence in the hive. I sponsored a test by the alchemist in question, and he returned with promising results.
Victors frown deepened. How promising?
Well, it seems to do a good job of preventing a hive-wide rm due to an invaders presence, but some of the more alert ivid will still attack if they encounter the invader, um, you.
Victor abruptly stood. Well discuss this outside.
No need; I dont mind stepping away. I hate for you to have to stand around on the street . . .
Its fine. Edeya could use the air. Lam, too, stood, pulling Edeya toward the door. That only left Va, and she was quick to follow Lam out.
Before he pulled the door closed, Victor briefly locked eyes with Erd. Well be back in soon.
Well? Lam asked as he turned toward her. It wasnt chilly, exactly, but it wasnt warm now that the sun had slipped below the horizon. Victor never really felt cold anymore, but he worried about Edeya, so he stepped closer to her, putting one of his warm arms over her shoulders and pulling her against his side.
Well, I think weve got a decision to make. Go on this guys quest, which sounds nuts, by the way, in the hope that his master might want to meet with us about Edeyas problem. Or . . .
Va interrupted, smiling as she tried to guess what hed say, Or we can waste time trying to find another demigod to listen to our tale?
Demigod? Lam frowned.
Victor calls those up there, Va pointed to the glimmering rainbow lights of the city heights, such. He says its like a person whos part god.
Lam nodded. Whatever it means, its an apt term if what that man said is true. One in a hundred iron rankers reach their test of steel, and only one in a thousand of those makes it to the next stage? How many might be experts on the spirit like this mans master?
Victor thought about the math, his enhanced intelligence making it a lot easier than he would have found it in the old days. He probably could have used a proper equation, but he just brute forced the division and multiplication a couple of times and said, I guess if there are, I dunno, ten million people in Sojourn, that means theres only something like a hundred whove gotten out of their test of steel. If this guy has an in with one of them, maybe we should consider his offer. He pulled Edeyas frail, still form closer to his side and added, I mean, I should. We wont all go.
Now, Victor . . . Lam started to say.
Im going with you! Va growled, grabbing the strap for Lifedrinkers harness that crossed his chest, pulling him close. You will not leave me here!
Okay. She red at him, and he said, more forcefully, Fine! I was thinking Id go with Lesh, but he could stay here with Darren and Lam.
And Edeya. Lam nodded. I wasnt going to argue that I should go along; I wont leave her. I just didnt want you to go alone. You should take Lesh, too. I can keep track of Darren.
Victor shrugged. He wouldnt mind taking Lesh, that was for sure, and he supposed Lam was right; Darren would be all right without Lesh to hold his hand for a few days. Right. Lets give Erd the good news and get the details.
<strong>#</strong>
Y-seven bobbed and floated around Darren, the wisps of his strange, incorporeal form brushing his shoulders asionally. The tendrils felt chilly and tickled the hairs at the nape of his neck, almost like someone was gently blowing on them. Describe what you see when you look inward, Darren. Theyd been practicing something Darren had already sort of learned from friends back in First Landing. Hed contemted trying to build a Core, trying to do the little quests and introductions to Energy the System had offered them all, but something had rankled in him, some stubborn desire to show the new world that they had what it took to seed and flourish without the tricks. Looking back, he could see how shrill and tiresome his objections had be, and he felt ashamed.
I see a ck space, but not like a void. I feel like the ck is bordered by something, like . . . it has structure. Its sort of warm. Even though I cant feel it, thats the impression I get. I can see a soft golden misty ball at the center of the space, though its borders are undefined; its not a perfect sphere.
Verry good, Darren! Your inward eye is seeing clearly. You should be pleased; on asion, Ive spent days trying to guide novices through this process. Y-seven moved away from him, lowering toward the floor so he floated at Darrens eye level. That was wonderfully quick and leaves us time to study your affinities. Would you like to learn what types of Energies you have a proclivity for? Knowing that will help us determine what sort of Core you should attempt to form.
Yes! I would appreciate that, Y-seven.
Very good. There are many methods to achieve what I just described, but I have a means that always seems to work well with candidates who can clearly see their nascent Core. Thats the ball of misty golden energy you can see with your inner eye.
Darren nodded. Ive had colleagues tell me as much back home.
Excellent. My method is simple for you. You must keep your inner eye open, staring at that Core and telling me what you see. I will be conjuring different types of Energy into this space; your nascent Core will react to some of them, most strongly with those you have an affinity for. Does that make sense?
Yes. What sorts of things will I see?
Mostly colors or movement. Just describe any change you see; Ill do the interpreting. Are you ready, Darren? Close your eyes and tell me when you have a clear view of your Core space.
Darren did as he askedhed taken to thinking of Y-seven as he simply because of his voiceclosing his eyes, peering into the ckness of his eyelids, and then <em>shifting</em> his view to that ce that didnt used to exist when hed lived back on Earth. Suddenly, he was looking in at that soft, glowing ball of formless Energy, feeling very much like he was there with it in a dark, warm chamber. I see it.
Good. I will begin in a few moments but wont speak again until were done. Do not stop viewing your Core space until I say weve finished. Understood?
Understood. True to his word, Y-seven didnt speak, and the silence became heavy. Darren allowed his bodiless consciousness to drift around in the space where he could see his nascent Core, watching the very gently pulsing golden cloud, waiting for something to happen. After a while, when he began to fear he wouldnt see anything, some wisps of that cloudy, golden stuff began to flicker and lift upward like a draft was passing over them. Their golden tendrils darkened to red-gold, then to bright crimson, dancing atop the cloud like flickering mes. Ah! he gasped, excited. My Energy looks like red mes! Part of it, anyway!
Y-seven didnt respond, but the red tendrils began to fade, shifting back to gold and falling back into the cloud. Darren continued to watch until another change urred. The whole cloud of Energy just turned green! Again, Y-seven didnt respond, but the change reverted, and soon, Darren was looking at the formless golden cloud again. After a while, that cloud began to shimmer and shift, remaining golden but moving almost like a whirlpool. He described the change, then the next, and the next, and soon he realized he might be there a while; apparently, Y-Seven was going to be quite exhaustive in his search for Darrens affinities.
He settled in, suddenly feeling impossibly fortunate. How big a boon was it to have an expert helping him with this process? How much could the people of First Landing benefit from something like this? A slow smile spread on Darrens face as he continued to watch his Core. He aimed to learn and intuit as much as he could. If nothing else, hed have this to bring home. It might not elevate him to greatness among his people, but it was a hell of a lot better legacy than being theughingstock whod tried to fight a titan with some steel tanks.