《Goddess Reborn: An Isekai LitRPG 📘[Please Read Book 6 by April 21!] 📕》 Chapter 1: To Mirror the World Sammy was super pissed because someone had stolen her goddamn tarot deck yet again. She had no idea who or why, but four times in six months was slapstick insanity. It was a prank skit; it was Candid Camera. The problem was she couldn¡¯t study in her dorm room, and usually not indoors at all. She needed variety or she¡¯d go nuts. She liked being out. So she did it in the park, or outside a cafe, and if the weather wasn¡¯t right, maybe the library. But on occasion, she napped or practically passed out from math-induced exhaustion, and four times her tarot cards got five-finger discounted from her leaving them out. Was it somewhere with a camera in the right spot? Of course not. She reported each prior incident, but it did jack all. Who cared about infinitely petty theft? She was advised to ¡®keep valuable belongings stowed away.¡¯ Well, usually she remembered, but nobody was perfect. She did tarot for breaks of calm from studying that were a lot more therapeutic and a lot less endless than surfing the internet. Sammy wasn¡¯t exactly a believer, but she had played the cards for fun practically her entire life. Mom had taught her, bought her multiple sets over the years as she started collecting them. She loved the feel and look of them as well as the intricate readings she could puzzle over. The art of the Empress and the Queens she loved most of all. She¡¯d tried sketching them herself, but at best they came out looking like anime aliens drawn by a ten-year-old. Not her talent. One of many not-talents. As Sammy pushed through the doors and endured the jingling bell sounds of the magic shop on 5th and wherever, her anger was beginning to mix with fear and a profound sense of weirdness to it all. Was she being stalked? That was exactly the kind of thing a stalker would do, right? Wait. I binged that serial killer series with Jen Saturday, that¡¯s where- C¡¯mon, Sammy! You¡¯re not being stalked for fuck¡¯s sake! There¡¯s just a¡­ tarot thief out there. And so the Twilight Zone feeling came again. She up-nodded to the old guy who was always at the register ¡ª he somehow returned the gesture without fully looking her way, head and eyebrows rising from his reading of Pagan Portals: Dancing-, but the rest was obscured by the angle of legs stretched and propped up on the counter. He was a weird dude, but fell shy of creepy thanks to an aura of careless hippie cool, like he¡¯d seen and smoked everything. And he wasn¡¯t one to badger, which to Sammy was all that was needed to be giving five-star service. Stubbornly, she marched to the tarot shelf she already knew the way to by heart and stubbornly she searched through the various sets, right below the incense samplers labeled ¡®Smell Me!¡¯. Sammy was quite intent on owning a usable deck ¡ª her collection was back home, a thousand miles away. She wasn¡¯t going to give up on doing tarot. No way. It would just have to become ¡®dorm room only,¡¯ annoying as it was. She¡¯d hide it from stalkers, pranksters, tarot gremlins, whatever the fuck. Maybe it was that guy, Jeff? He seemed like he might- no. No, I¡¯m being ridiculous! Thieves are just opportunistic, and they wouldn¡¯t be named Jeff. Maybe a Jake. Sly Jake, Thief of Cards. And that one girl had her textbook snatched¡­ Okay, Sammy, let''s focus already¡­ She looked through the cheaper sets, trying not to ogle the bigger, prettier versions ¡ª Steampunk Tarot? No-no-no, don¡¯t look ¡ª maybe Pagan Cats? Black Cats? Cauldron Chic? Regal Cats? What was with all the cats? Classic Gold¡­ Psychic Seer¡­ hmm. Ultimately she grabbed the ¡®Angels¡¯ set, a few bucks more than the cheapest but the art was nicer. The old man set aside his book and stood as she approached with her purchase. Sammy steeled herself for the interaction. ¡°How are you?¡± he asked as always, in a way that was somehow too genuine, while looking her dead in the eyes with a piercing gaze of pale blue. And she¡¯d always give a fake smile that probably looked even worse than it felt and say, ¡®Fine! How are you?¡¯ ¡°Fi-¡± she began, but the words caught in her throat like she¡¯d puked out all the lies she could over the year. Petty thefts thrown on a pile of sophomore frustrations, on classes like Statistics that she was too dumb for, on a lame part-time retail job dealing with Karens and an over-enthused manager, on persistent insomnia and fear of failure. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m pretty shit, honestly,¡± she said instead, stewing inside. ¡°Life is shit, and today was an extra shit sandwich on top. Which I have to just eat with a smile.¡± The man nodded to this in the sort of saintly sympathy only someone with a tie-dye-colored pentagram emblazoned on his shirt could. ¡°I hear that, little sister. But what can we do? We gotta live through the one we¡¯re given, right?¡± Sammy exhaled sharply through her nose at that. ¡°Yeah.¡± Why did I even say anything? It¡¯s not like it was deep and poignant. I¡¯m so dumb. Fuck. Glancing down at the little cardboard tarot box, the old man mimed a clearly fake surprised expression. ¡°Oh, would you look at that, this one¡¯s on sale. Half off.¡± He punched some things rapidly into his register, then added, ¡°Fifteen and forty-five.¡± ¡°Oh. Wow, uh¡­ thanks.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but smile despite her mood, as she fished into her backpack for her money purse. That was always kept secure. As the old man waited, he said, ¡°Gonna sound out there, but I read a lot about other worlds, you know? Realms, dimensions. Crazy to think about all kinds of other opportunities waiting somewhere. What do you think? If you had the chance, would you?¡± ¡°What?¡± She had only been half listening, and she was caught in his expectant gaze with a twenty in her hand, slightly confused. ¡°If you could, would you leave this world behind for another, more interesting one?¡± She blinked. ¡°Uh¡­ sure. Yeah. Fuck this world, am I right?¡± It was not a serious statement, naturally. ¡°Exactly.¡± He chuckled and nodded along, appearing downright chipper as he took the bill and processed it. The deck had already been put in a little black paper bag with a garish, white pentagram on it. Just before he dropped the change into her hand, he smiled wide and said, ¡°May you be granted what you desire.¡± It was a bit odd, though not exactly out of bounds for a magic shop type of person. Or a hippie. She gave an awkward smile and said, ¡°Thanks, you too,¡± before pocketing the change and departing. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Back at her dorm ¡ª which she had to herself with her roommate out ¡ª she cracked open the deck to look at the cards. Gorgeous angel art! She was quite satisfied with them, especially for the ¡®given a break¡¯ price point. She did a quick three-card reading of Past, Present, Future, as she always did with a new one. Tradition. Five of Pentacles in Past. Death in Present. Fuck my life! The World in Future. Well, that was good ¡ª unlimited potential, joy, contentment. Enlightenment. Archangel Michael, looking slick. But the Present¡­ archangel Azrael¡­ spiritual transformation. Intense change. Moving on. It¡¯s a good thing, right? I don¡¯t like the current. Change from this is good. Unless it ends up worse. Meh. It¡¯s just for fun. Might as well focus on the positive that I¡¯m apparently going to achieve enlightenment. Mom will be so proud. To begin her great ambitions, she felt like sleeping. Before she crashed, she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, her dad¡¯s voice in her head as ever chiding ¡®unless you want another root canal?¡¯ in that ¡®would you please god just listen to me¡¯ kind of fatherly way. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror rather blankly. Brown hair, brown eyes, too much of her dad¡¯s bold nose, small, thin. ¡®Not terrible¡¯ was the thought she had about her appearance a million times. Makeup did wonders, though she rarely bothered. She wasn¡¯t very social and didn¡¯t like going out. She had to spend twice as long as anyone else on her subjects. That and a few decent friends took up enough of her time. Her roommate was like the sister she never had, and she barely had the energy for that silly, bubbly girl. She felt a weird urging in her pocket like it was calling for her attention. Toothbrush stuck in her mouth, she pulled out the change that was still in her shorts. Bills, receipt, a quarter, and¡­ It was not a nickel. She held up a reflective chrome disk ¡ª a tiny mirror ¡ª and the instant the light caught it and showed her too-clear reflection in it, it expanded and grew to envelop and swallow the world into a void. To swallow her. Immediately, she rejected the whole thing as impossible, thought she was seeing things somehow or it was a weird optical illusion. Some sort of prank. Mirrors can¡¯t eat people! She thought to simply flick the thing away, but her brain very slowly realized she could not. She could not move at all, and she was literally trapped in a black void, able to see and perceive nothing but for her full body reflection caught with surprise. She couldn¡¯t see or feel or sense even her own body as hers. She was on the outside looking in. There was a final sort of ¡®click¡¯ as if a stopped clock re-started and began to tick, then her reflection went hazy and distorted ¡ª a pool disturbed by ripples. Something like instantaneously imprinted boxed text flashed in her mind, if it was read by something soulless within instead of her own brain:
User samantha_elizabeth_reine44444, your token has been accepted and you will be integrated into the System. Plane and world are unspecified. Please select your primary class.
Chapter 2: I Choose the Goddess Class! Her immediate thoughts to the great mass of insanity that assaulted her was that it was a harrowing nightmare. I haven¡¯t even smoked anything in days! Did I eat something weird recently? Have I spontaneously learned lucid dreaming? The text with the soulless voice came again:
User samantha_elizabeth_reine44444, your soul has been transported into the domains of the System. Please utilize the visualization aid to select your primary class or you will be randomly assigned.
Wake up! Wake up! I¡¯m not here! I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not waking up. Okay. Okay, we can do this, it¡¯s a little better than sleep paralysis¡­ just play along, I¡¯ll wake up any second now¡­ She did not need to think hard before the blurred, vaguely humanoid image in front of her began to try and materialize. At first, it was right on the cusp of forming a feminine figure with a big hat, a flintlock pistol, and a cutlass ¡ª a pirate. But it faded out before completely generating. Okay, no, not a damn pirate. Maybe a warrior princess? Once more, a half-baked image tried to form, a buxom Amazonian warrioress in black leathers. But somehow, her brain or her heart wasn¡¯t into it enough to bring it fully to ¡®life.¡¯
User samantha_elizabeth_reine44444, this is your final warning before random assignment. Select your primary class.
She felt a bubble of panic in that hovering, disembodied black void, mixed with hysteria. The whole matter was so absurd. But she knew she wanted no part of that random assignment business. It was guaranteed to be an even worse nightmare. Her head first spun with a cornucopia of things, all the templates of fiction morphing together, but then in a eureka moment, everything clicked and her mind zeroed in on one thing, visualized effortlessly: the Empress of so many tarot sets. The Goddess. Her favorite. The image of a stately, beautiful figure materialized, clad in a dazzling dress of ice blue and white bedecked in reflective crystals as if she were draped in a mirror made into fabric. A great crown of pure crystal sat atop her head and more of the same adorned her as jewelry, all of it glittering. She was majestic and had only a smidge of Sammy in her at all. Her smile was perfect, and Sammy realized she was smiling. Like they were one and the same. Weird. What¡¯s with the mirror stuff? Guess I tossed that in there from how this dream-
[Goddess] class selection acknowledged. Sending request¡­ Request has been accepted and [Goddess class level 1] granted with starting domain: mirrors. Congratulations. Integration commencing¡­ integration complete. Transportation to planar designation Sendrek-Rovoss 43, world designation Calrenazzod Atka complete.
The text-voice accompanied her through a bewildering kaleidoscope of blinding flashes her mind poorly processed the details of. For a split moment, she was aware of something like outer space expanding from a pinpoint to suddenly being everywhere with her made into the pinpoint, comparatively. Another flash of a star that got slightly bigger, then things went black. True awareness sparked like coming out of a daze. She realized she was in a body, and looking down at well-manicured, white-painted nails pressed down onto something like white marble. ¡®She¡¯ was on her hands and knees as if she¡¯d fallen over. But she didn¡¯t feel like Sammy at all. She was occupying another body entirely. She was someone else. Feeling an onset panic attack, she whirled upward onto her feet. Her panic was drowned out temporarily by the sheer amazement at what she beheld around her. The marble was like a massive disk floating in a sort of starry black void, but most of the space was filled with endlessly rotating spirals of mirrors with distorted, cloudy reflections. It was like a clockwork of them spinning around the disk, giving it only a small spherical clearance. Any void space was only temporarily seen, as some mirror or another would cross it. In the center of the disk was a great throne of crystal and ivory, every facet gleaming clear but warping the light that touched it into contorted imagery. The light around the area was more of a great ambient glow than from the briefly-seen stars beyond. It distracted her only so long from the body issue. She looked down at herself in a mix of horror and fascination. She knew what she was looking at ¡ª the same image, the avatar she¡¯d chosen. She was inside it, was it. What the absolute fuck?! She felt it too. She was bigger, taller, stronger, healthier, thicker, prettier. More aware. Sharper. Yet it was mortifying because it wasn¡¯t her. She hadn¡¯t been ecstatic about her body image before, but not enough to want a new skin. None of it felt like a dream anymore, and even if it was, she had no idea how to get out of it. ¡°What the hell is this?!¡± She called out loudly in a voice also alien to her. It was more mature, powerful, and rang like a chime in that place, like it echoed with her distress, her fear that she was alone and abandoned. And the text-voice came again, this time pared down into a simplified, quick imprint: This is your deific domain, User samantha_elizabeth_reine44444. ¡°Stop calling me that!¡± She yelled, voice going shrill. She felt stupid for yelling at a voice in her head, but she couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°I¡¯m Sammy, goddamn you!¡± The statement made tears well in her eyes because she really wasn¡¯t sure anymore. Nickname registration acknowledged and accepted, User Sammy. This is your deific domain, User Sammy. It is attached to Calrenazzod Atka, your potential world of influence. ¡°This isn¡¯t a dream, is it?¡± No. She nodded even as her lip quivered. As she refused inwardly to cry. Two tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°Well. That¡¯s what I would expect a¡­ a dream demon to say.¡± There was only dead silence in answer to this. Questions only, is it, you fucker? The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Just what the hell do you call yourself, then? Who are you? Why did you do this to me?¡± This is a limited interface with the System. The System exists as a tool for users to interface more directly and effectively with reality, utilizing a variety of proprietary cosmic manipulation methods and vectors, simplified for the benefit of the end user, available in perpetuity within participating universes. Void where prohibited. Tokens are provided to recruiters as a limited lottery for promotional purposes, to reach out to less fortunate universes outside of full transformative vectors. Any further information about your circumstances or universe is not available. Is this really all from some corporate bullshit?! I can¡¯t get away from it even in another fucking universe! ¡°Look, I don¡¯t care, okay? Just¡­ send me back. I don¡¯t want this, whatever it is. I want to go home.¡± That is not possible or desirable, User Sammy. ¡°What the hell do you mean it isn¡¯t desirable? I just said that¡¯s what I want! Just make a way. Or I swear I will sue! I don¡¯t know anything about a token and I didn¡¯t agree to this. My dad¡¯s a lawyer.¡± A lie. The System exists to provide permanent opportunity for users and is the superior interface with reality, allowing endless advancement potential. This chance of multiple lifetimes cannot be passed up. Sammy found herself squinting upward, as though at the source of the ¡®voice,¡¯ though that was nonsense because it was in her head. But what was in her head was also insane nonsense. ¡°That¡¯s not an answer. Look, just pass me up the chain. I want to speak to a manager.¡± It made her feel traitorous and dirty to go into Karen mode, but she had to. The System is self-sustaining, and your query was already processed and integrated by the primary order. There are no managers. It was quite ominous. You can¡¯t even be a Karen, then. I guess I can¡¯t blame them for that¡­ Tired of ¡®hearing¡¯ the text/voice in her head, trying to nonetheless conceive of what she could possibly do, she sighed and ran a hand through her hair ¡ª or tried to. Her hand touched the crystalline crown atop her head. She immediately grabbed it with both hands and threw it off with a little scream. The crown did not shatter, nor even break or clatter away. There was a mild chime-like sound and it simply went flat like it was held and controlled by a magnet, appearing utterly unaffected. She scowled balefully at it, then wandered over to the only place she could sit down ¡ª the big ass throne ¡ª plopping into it with all the pout and angst her only-child self could bring to bear. And she didn¡¯t even have a door to slam. As soon as she sat, she suddenly had a greater awareness of all the mirrors flying around. She could feel them like they were connected to her by threads and could hear a tremendous cacophony of voices like whispers of varying volumes, combined with thousands of flashes of movement somehow inside the otherwise undisturbed mirrors. With a frightened yelp, she immediately jumped out of the throne chair. Her strength and speed in such an act surprised her enough that she tripped and practically dived head-first for the marble. She didn¡¯t hit, however, nor did she break her neck as she should¡¯ve. She floated slowly into an undulating summersault, gently landing back on her feet upon the platform, slightly dizzy but otherwise fine. Even her hair just naturally fell back into place. After regaining her bearings, she yelled upward, ¡°What the hell was that?!¡± The throne provides access to every mirror on Calrenazzod Atka through your [Mirror Sense] and [Mirror Communication] powers. ¡°Mirror comm¡­ powers¡­ wait, why are you naming them like that? And that class selection crap. What is this, a roleplaying MMO? I swear to god, if-¡± This is not a game, though even less fortunate universes are provided with mechanisms to prepare potential users for a proper, System-based reality. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be shitting me. So because I played Mario Kart and Zelda, I got sent to video game fantasy dreamland?¡± This limited interface does not have access to information pertaining to your recruitment or universe. Hands on her hips, Sammy sighed once more. ¡°So what are my other powers? What, do I have a goddamn status screen? A character sheet like DnD?¡± Yes. And then a status splash screen flashed and embedded into her mind.
Sammy, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors ______________________________ Goddess Level 1; Fledgling Deity Domains (1/2): Mirrors Faith Energy: 0/1000 Brute: 0 Rogue: 0 Wizard: 0 Bard: 0 Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Mirror Sense (at will), Mirror Communication (at will) Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (0/30), New Deity Grace Period (0/7)
Sammy was completely slack-jawed for a moment at the continuing absurdity. But then she fixated on one particular annoyance within it. ¡°Virgin Goddess?! What the fuck?!¡± It is accurate, User Sammy. You are a virgin, and you have no progeny, which is relevant as a deity. ¡°I-I¡¯ve kissed!¡± she said defensively. Some within a world can regard it as a trait of virtue, if you choose to remain chaste and emphasize it in the future. ¡°Oh yeah? Well, fuck them! And fuck you, too! It¡¯s none of your business.¡± She crossed her arms, perturbed with the matter. ¡°No one else can see that, right?¡± System User Statuses should not be regarded as private, as various abilities can reveal them. As a deity, what you are will inevitably be discovered unless you take extensive precautions or corrective measures. ¡°Well, remove it. I don¡¯t need or want such a title.¡± That is not possible directly via this interface, User Sammy. Making a frustrated growl in her throat, she walked away from the throne entirely. She came to the sheer edge of the marble and sat there with her feet dangling into the starry void. Somehow, she intuitively knew it held no danger to her. And she could see more of the stars that way, instead of the mirrors. An excellent distraction. Beautiful. Clear, like being in outer space. She still felt the mirrors somewhat, even away from the throne, though it was heavily muted. Direct proximity seemed to matter. One of them seemed to jump out at her, draw her, the voice and the image stronger ¡ª without really thinking about it she focused on it out of instinctive curiosity, as one would glance at a close-passing figure talking loudly. The entire clockwork of spinning mirrors slowed, and one mirror slid out of it all and floated up to her at a smooth but rapid pace. As it did, she saw an image of a woman erupt over the shimmering surface and heard a voice caught seemingly in the middle of speech. ¡°... don¡¯t know what else I can do. I just wish I could help him. I¡¯d do anything.¡± It was a middle-aged woman in strange clothes, leaning over a counter and wash basin with water dripping from her face, talking while directly staring at Sammy¡¯s¡­ viewpoint. It was precisely at the bizarre angle of view that a mirror would be. As soon as the last of the silvery shimmering of the surface disappeared and the image was completely clear in front of her, the woman¡¯s eyes widened and shifted, and suddenly it seemed like she was looking right into Sammy¡¯s eyes, like she had just seen her. With a horrified scream the woman grabbed the top of the mirror and smashed it down into the washbasin, shattering it and Sammy¡¯s ¡®viewpoint¡¯ into pieces. Chapter 3: Stretching Those New, Deific Mind Muscles Sammy immediately shot up onto her feet with a yelp from the shattering of the mirror/portal, though no physical harm came to her. Inwardly, it was somehow like a slap in the face to her extended senses. Like someone had broken something that was hers. ¡°Why did she do that? How dare she!?¡± The words just blurted out and felt off after she said them. ¡°Wait, why do I care? Not like I only have one or something.¡± She gazed curiously at a network of little broken shards of various sizes and shapes, all floating in front of her. They showed many different angles that had become blurry and unfocused. Like the snap of a finger, though, she brought them all to clarity. She could see a small, dimly lit bedroom through all the little visual windows, some pieces on the washbasin, some on the floor. She also could see the woman, in distress looking down, hands up on her head. Her attire looked something like a more worn, dressed-down Renaissance fair costume. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy, I¡¯m not crazy,¡± the woman was saying to herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t see that, there¡¯s no mirror demon, mirror demons aren¡¯t real¡­¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Sammy called out as she focused on the piece of mirror that caught just the face of the woman, from the floor. It came fully into clarity. ¡°Can you hear me? What gives?¡± With another cry the woman brought a boot down to smash the shard, squeaking out, ¡°Don¡¯t eat me!¡± Despite herself, Sammy still jumped when the ¡®portal¡¯ shattered, this time much of it into tiny pieces that disappeared from her perception entirely. She shifted her focus to the other pieces, but it appeared that the woman had fled the scene. ¡°Why did she think I¡¯d eat her?¡± Sammy asked the System. The System cannot provide this information. Sammy blew air out of the side of her mouth. ¡°Can I go through these portals? Affect things? I don¡¯t feel like I can.¡± Your intuition is correct: you do not yet have the ability. ¡°Yet? So it¡¯s possible. But probably dangerous. Still, what else am I going to do?¡±
Avatar Construct: Any deity can conduct investiture into a physical avatar construct at a minimum of 1500 Faith Energy, or FE. Once created, it persists in-world under the perspective and control of the user until dematerialized or destroyed, which sends the deity¡¯s perspective back to their demiplane domain.
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Walk Amongst Them¡± ¡ª Create an avatar in-world. ¡ñ Notice! Requires Quest: ¡°Gather the Faithful¡± complete. ¡ñ Rewards: 10% FE investiture rebate; free minor [Bound] magical weapon.
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Gather the Faithful¡± ¡ª Reach 1000 Current FE. ¡ñ Notice! Requires all quests in the ¡°Fledgling Deity¡± chain complete. ¡ñ Rewards: +1000 maximum FE; obtain Goddess level 2.
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Fledgling Deity: The First Believer¡± ¡ª Obtain your first Follower. ¡ñ Rewards: +25 FE.
Sammy stood there blinking upward under the assault of mental text notices, a sour frown on her face. ¡°Quests? I¡¯m in a fucking MMO!¡± But the System had nothing to say to this. Sighing, she found herself going back through the quest details in her head as if they were a concrete menu she could summon and scroll through. ¡°Okay, what happens if I just, like, don¡¯t bother at all? Lay around and sleep indefinitely, hope I wake up out of this?¡±
You do not require sleep. If you do not participate, nothing will happen during the [New Deity Grace Period] of 7 days. Then normal deterioration begins. Faith Energy Deterioration: Daily deterioration of FE and equivalent Max FE is at a rate of 10 - Follower count per day. If your Current FE is 0, Max FE is instead reduced by x5. It cannot go into negatives. As Max FE is reduced, the overall percentage of your deific interface with reality is as well, dulling perception, senses, and the psyche as a whole as you are detached. When Max FE reaches 200, you are disconnected entirely from any world and will begin to fade from existence at a slow rate of -1 Max FE per 100 years. If a deity left artifacts or hidden knowledge, it is possible for them to be resurrected by new believers, though the deity¡¯s state of consciousness can be questionable by that time. When eventually Max FE reaches 0, the deity is reincarnated elsewhere within System reality, assigned a random class and likely having no memory.
Sammy read/listened rather numbly to it all, turning back to her ledge spot and sitting down to ponder everything. She deliberately cast away the shard pieces of the broken mirror viewpoints, though she was certain she could pull them up at any time. The information about consequences wasn¡¯t that surprising, though the idea of slowly going mad in isolation was perhaps more terrifying than just dying in a snap moment. ¡°Will I ever see my family again? Is that possible?¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. No. ¡°Then it¡¯s really like I¡¯m dead, then. This is my afterlife.¡± She waited, but the System made no comment as usual, so she asked, ¡°Why can¡¯t I ever see my family again?¡± This limited interface does not have access to information pertaining to your recruitment or universe. ¡°But that just means you don¡¯t know whether I¡¯ll see my family again, right? There¡¯s still a chance.¡± No. Sammy closed her eyes and shook her head in frustration. She was getting a form letter response and a clipped, personalized one for the same question. She certainly didn¡¯t trust the System¡¯s determinations, motives, or anything else. It could be lying or too limited to accurately determine her question. No matter what, she had to play the System¡¯s little game or suffer the consequences. Perhaps if she did well she¡¯d schmooze with ¡®greater gods¡¯ or something down the road who¡¯d provide her with more lively and nuanced information. She rose and walked over to the throne, staring at and inspecting it, her reflection caught and distorted in the facets of the mirrored crystals at the back every which way. The ivory portion encased the bottom and the inner arms with the seat a plush, white cushion. ¡°Alright, Mr. System,¡± Sammy began, then sat on the throne, settling into the contours and her hands at the arms like they were made just for her. ¡°I¡¯ll play your game. But I don¡¯t fuck around. Just ask anyone who¡¯s played Monopoly with me. I play to win.¡± Dad was a ruthless bastard at games, and he¡¯d taught her to be by crushing her over and over until she quit or got even. Crying didn¡¯t help. Eventually, she started getting even, and in her early teens, the battles were the stuff of unforgettable, epic memories. I may not have a choice, but I can still pour my all into making something out of it. And, of course, shit talk. She felt the flood of info from the throne¡¯s greater connection: thousands of mirrors like windows, some in the dark, some in the light, and so many of them converging into a mass of motion and sound. One immediate thing she found was that she could rearrange them however she liked. She experimented: turned them all into a big ring with the largest facing her like pristine silvery doors slowly turning around the whole of the platform, the rest behind them. It gave her the best view of the stars, though it wasn¡¯t as effective for sifting through them. An excellent default for the aesthetic quality¡­ When she returned them to the clockwork network of multiple spinning rings, she began to study them and feel it out for something interesting. ¡°Help me out, here, System ¡ª Sys, I think I¡¯ll call you Sys, actually ¡ª how do I get a follower, exactly?¡± The means are your province. Tangible admittance of belief in you as a deity is 1 FE, a Follower that worships and prays to you another 1 FE upon conversion, then 1 FE every day they remain a true believer. ¡°So they don¡¯t have to be a fanatic.¡± A Fanatic provides 3 daily FE, and a Devout 2. This is an ¡®intensity¡¯ grade. There is also a bonus for ¡®dedication¡¯ but this is not yet available to you. ¡°Like a priest.¡± Correct. The thought made her feel strange. What would a priest of Sammy do, exactly? Doesn¡¯t matter, we¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there, if ever¡­ She became aware of someone speaking directly into a mirror again, drawing her attention randomly, so she plucked the portal out of the mass and drew it to her ¡ª a rectangle. ¡°What do you think, Margaret?¡± A mature man was seated before what seemed to be a body mirror, in colorful clothes and a large feathered hat. He was speaking directly into the mirror. What she could see of a bedroom seemed large and resplendent, like the guy was of late medieval nobility. The image came into perfect clarity much faster even than the last time, and that look of shock was there again. She was seen! Thinking quickly, Sammy pointed her finger at the man and tried her best to look queenly. ¡°Y-you! Supplicant! Uh¡­ kneel and worship a-a- Sammy! The Quee- Goddess of-of Mirrors!¡± The man, mouth wide open, croaked out something throaty, then his eyes rolled back and he passed out, falling off the chair to the floor. Fuck me! I should¡¯ve rehearsed¡­ ¡°Hey! Hey, dude, wake up! Shit¡­ uh¡­ Someone! Help!¡± She raised her voice to a shout. ¡°Hey! Old guy fallen and can¡¯t get up! Is there a butler named Jeeves out there, maybe!?¡± She heard a door open, and a quite spooked woman¡¯s voice call, ¡°Hello? Mr. Taemon¡­ are you-¡± A gasp, a sound of rushing feet on carpet, and more exclamations. Sammy, not wanting to start a comical pile of fainting bodies, pushed subtly the portal just ¡®behind¡¯ its full resolution, to where it was showing mostly the same details but through a silvery sheen. A woman came into view, in servant¡¯s garb, flashing a perturbed look at the mirror but apparently not seeing enough to worry about it more than the fallen man. She began frantically trying to help and calling out for further assistance. ¡°You can¡¯t hear me, either, can you?¡± Sammy queried, and certainly there seemed no reaction to show she did. Sammy¡¯s senses, her control ¡®gripping¡¯ the portal gave her a contrast of when they couldn¡¯t hear and when they could: a vibration seemed to ripple it when she had spoken to the man and yelled for help, and then it was still as she had pushed the portal away. The woman kept glancing back at the mirror as she was trying to resuscitate the old guy, as if she sensed a little of something off. ¡°You¡¯re wondering whose voice you heard before, calling from his room. Suspicious, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sammy decided to try something. She gripped the mirror utilizing her control of it, then began to whisper, letting that control absorb the whisper¡¯s vibrations as if synching up with it. ¡°If you want to speak,¡± she said as faintly as she could. ¡°Come.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes shot up in fear, flitting around, showing it to have worked. ¡°Hello? Who¡¯s there?¡± Sammy sat back, not responding to the confused servant girl¡¯s plea. But she did drum her fingers on the chair arm audibly, which was subtle but clearly creepy enough based on the way the woman visibly swallowed. Letting the scene play out, Sammy watched as a man came in, perhaps a butler, and they helped the dazed and confused old guy from the room. It was silent for a while. Still, she waited, just to see. The servant girl returned a bit later, looking at the mirror while straightening up a room that didn¡¯t really need it. Finally, hesitantly, she approached the mirror. She had her blonde hair up in a ponytail and was maybe sixteen. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, almost turning to go. But she didn¡¯t. Finally, the servant looked through that portal that Sammy thinly restrained from two-way communication. The girl somehow had found the exact point to look right into Sammy¡¯s eyes. She whispered, ¡°I-... is someone there? Are you a ghost?¡± Sammy smiled. Perhaps she had finally found someone to talk to without freaking out, and maybe could conspire to make into more. Chapter 4: Dont Forget to Register Rituals Taking a deep breath, Sammy knew she needed to respond to the girl immediately, but she wasn¡¯t exactly used to speaking as someone who was majestically projecting from a throne to a potential subject. She¡¯d taken and enjoyed drama class in high school, but¡­ I¡¯m a goddess, damn it ¡ª I can do this. The thought unexpectedly triggered something, a connection she understood immediately to be tied to that concept: Goddess 1. A class. She drew upon it to speak with a certain authority, power, and clarity, channeled from the intent within her, though the words remained hers. ¡°I am so much more than that, girl.¡± Short and mysterious, and the words had an ominous, dramatic echo. The servant girl¡¯s eyes widened and she took a step back, her breath caught. But she didn¡¯t flee. Swallowing what must¡¯ve been a dry throat, she asked, ¡°Y-you¡¯re not hostile? Did you do something to Mr. Taemon?¡± ¡°I merely revealed my presence to him, and he did not handle it well. I mean him no harm, nor you, servant girl. In fact, the opposite. What is your name?¡± Her eyes shifted briefly as if she might withhold it, but a moment later she said, ¡°Estara, My Lady.¡± She curtsied toward the mirror, though the oddity of it made it awkward. ¡°A pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± My lady? Perfect! This is going well. Oh shit, I have to drop my name now¡­ ¡®Sammy¡¯ doesn¡¯t exactly sound like a goddess. Or maybe they did have nicknames. Hercules and ¡®Herc?¡¯ But that¡¯s a demigod, right? Gah! ¡°Likewise, Estara. I am Samantha, Goddess of Mirrors.¡± Status updated: Deity name Sammy changed to Samantha. Estara¡¯s eyes widened again, and a hand went to cover her mouth as she whispered ¡®goddess.¡¯ ¡°But how can that be? The gods abandoned the world long ago! Or at least the civilized lands. The sages say anything of the spirit that has come since then are horrible monsters and parasites!¡± Sammy barely kept herself from saying, ¡®Well, fuck them!¡¯ She considered for a moment how she might best answer such a challenge. It had not been intended as an insult, in any case. Pulling the portal finally into full and complete clarity so it was two-way, but slowly and dramatically, Sammy drew herself up for a regal pose and let her ¡®class¡¯ shine as much as possible as she declared, ¡°Do you truly think the sages know all there is? You tell me, Estara. Do I look like a parasite to you?¡± Estara stared in awe rather than fear and slowly walked toward the mirror as if she were enchanted. ¡°No,¡± she said heavily in wonder. ¡°You¡­ you are surely a goddess in truth, My-... Your Majesty.¡± The last was breathless as she then seemed to come out of a daze and knelt, bowing her head. 1 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: not yet a Follower. Yes! Score! I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised a servant is quick to acknowledge a higher status. Royalty, effectively the highest. Divinity. ¡°Estara, your boldness and quick acknowledgment impresses me. What if I told you I¡¯d give you my ear? That whenever you spoke my name, I would answer you. Would you serve a goddess?¡± Estara looked up into the portal and whispered, ¡°Yes.¡± It was tinged with uncertainty, with ¡®maybe this is bad,¡¯ but also a passionate choice, like she still wanted to believe. It wasn¡¯t cajoled or charmed forth. Sammy could feel it. Someone that reached out for a change¡­ Just then, someone from beyond yelled, ¡°Estara! Where are you? Come here!¡± Scrambling like a girl caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Estara half-jumped up ¡ª then stopped, eyes flashing to Sammy as there was some internal angst about who had priority suddenly. Smiling, Sammy nodded to the girl. ¡°You may go, Estara. Speak my name before any mirror and I will hear you. Soon, Estara. Our secret ¡ª for now.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡± the servant girl squeaked-exclaimed, curtsying one final time before gliding away. Sammy soon pushed the portal/mirror away, then sighed and tossed her head back. ¡°Sys! I can already tell she¡¯s not yet a damn follower. Why?¡± You did not perform a [Ritual of Conversion]. This connects a believing Follower to a Deity. It is the first true form of prayer. The user has only agreed in principle. ¡°Yeah, well, we didn¡¯t have time for that anyway. So what exactly do I do?¡± The only default rules are that you reach out with the offer to be a Follower via your psyche, briefly touching it to theirs. It is available if they are receptive and there is a point of contact. They will understand what they are agreeing to intuitively and can reject it at that last moment. It is effectively a contract but hypothetically can be canceled at any time. However, the title of [Ex-Follower] will remain with them forever. You may create a religious experience or add additional requirements to the ritual. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Wow. So, she could still get cold feet and run out on me at the-... I¡¯m not gonna say altar, I¡¯m not gonna say altar, I¡¯m so weird, oh my god¡­¡± As Sammy thought about the Ritual of Conversion, she realized there was indeed a kind of simple ¡®registration form¡¯ to it, so she¡­ filled it out.
Ritual of Conversion Form (Note: Do not add superfluous text to this form.)
Requirements: Touch a hand to the mirror and say, ¡°I swear my allegiance and pledge my faithful service to the Goddess Samantha, may she reign forever.¡± (Does that work ok?) Religious Experience: I dunno, a high? I want people to feel happy, after. Peaceful. Is that doable? Authorized Officials: N/A
She submitted it, then asked, ¡°I can edit it later, right?¡± Yes. Ritual of Conversion Form received and revised to remove superfluous text.
Ritual of Conversion Form (Note: Do not add superfluous text to this form.)
Requirements: Touch a hand to the mirror and say, ¡°I swear my allegiance and pledge my faithful service to the Goddess Samantha, may she reign forever.¡± Religious Experience: A high. Follower feels happy and peaceful. Authorized Officials: N/A
¡°Well, excuse me. I¡¯m just winging this whole thing, you know.¡± She sat and considered what information she did have to go on. At least one country, land ¡ª whatever ¡ª was apparently godless, and from the sound of it, not friendly to the idea. She could easily be labeled in a negative light at some point. Her first encounter was someone quick to call her a demon ready to eat her, after all. The best bet was to gather more information about the land from Estara and go from there. Probably without randomly revealing herself to the wrong person. Fortunately, she was pretty sure she could spy through mirrors at will without revealing herself. Probably about time that I read my powers.
Mirror Sense (at will): All open mirror faces in the material world are a part of you, your sense of them increasing with their clarity and your deliberate focus. You can see and hear through each mirror. Subjects can be focused on to narrow a search. An enshrouded or hidden mirror can only be very vaguely sensed and provides no input. Level determines versatility and sensitivity. Level 1: See/hear through mirrors of the highest level of reflection quality and manufactured design. Passive awareness is minimal, requiring high engagement or activity. Familiarity (with a mirror or subject) increases sensitivity.
Interesting. She absorbed the information and drew up the other power.
Mirror Communication (at will): You can send sound (such as speech) or visual imagery (such as your own form) through mirrors of the material world, replacing their normal reflection as desired. Full portal interface provides a real-time, two-way transfer. This ability does not vary with level.
¡°Whoa! Sys, does this mean I can do illusions and stuff in the mirrors? Make someone¡¯s reflection wink at them or something?¡± Correct, User Sammy. Imagery and sound is as desired and manufactured from your imagination. Having the notion in her head, she understood ¡®where¡¯ in the interface to conduct such things immediately. Just before drawing the portal completely to two-way was a more nebulous zone. It had been at a kind of outer periphery when she was observing Estara, where the girl must¡¯ve seen or felt some hint of weirdness. And that zone had a little more depth before forming the two-way, where illusions were probably possible. Sammy knew it would be a little bit before her Follower-to-be would be free from her duties. Starting from her sense of the mirror she¡¯d just used, she sought out other mirrors nearby and found them in several other bedrooms. A hallway. Bathroom. Looking through them, there were only a couple of sight angles of activity, in what appeared to be a kind of manor or mansion. She saw an indiscernible figure walking at the end of a hallway before disappearing. She found a smaller mirror in the kitchen, where a mustached butler was talking with a stout sort of woman in white who must be a cook. Sammy brought the portal close enough to eavesdrop. ¡°So I hear, the old man ¡ª he¡¯s going to be alright, then?¡± the cook asked. ¡°He seems fine. He was muttering about Margaret again, says she spoke to him, even. He¡¯s resting in Talsen¡¯s bed.¡± ¡°Ah, good, good. Spoke to him? Rarer claim, ain¡¯t it? He¡¯s going to think that new hat is special magic, now.¡± The butler had a mild chuckle as he was stirring something in a large glass, which he soon left the kitchen with. Sammy dismissed the viewpoint. Not Margaret, old man. Poor guy. At least he has a cool hat. And at least that¡¯s one relative failure of a communication with the world that will probably go under the radar. The mansion was perhaps tapped out of useful information until later. But it was a good test of her spying skills. It was time to look around for more opportunities within her domain of reflection. She had enough control to avoid bumbling about, so she could target people and subjects of interest with some measure of strategy. Sifting through, something caught her attention: the loud chime of a glass. She zeroed in on it and saw that her mirror was in some sort of dining hall, looking down on a table dinner in progress, a bunch of well-to-do¡¯s gathered around and one large man at the head was dinging a glass with a spoon, obviously calling for a toast. ¡°Friends and family, a toast! Tonight we celebrate the alliance of Houses Kenstrom and Burnstire, may the Seven Sages smile on it for all time, and may the strength of our ships and our swords protect the shores from all barbarians, demons, pirates, and monsters, as prescribed!¡± There was cheerful response around the table, but the very last and somehow most relevant from a man in yellow robes, little glasses, and a fancy, tall hat, also sporting a long, narrow white beard. His toast was sedate and serene, but all took notice of his aura of gravitas. Well. Isn¡¯t that something? Chapter 5: Dealing With Divinity At the feast table Sammy was observing, the man who toasted finally sat back down, and no sooner than he did another well-dressed nobleman at the opposite end rose, which drew everyone¡¯s attention. With a smarmy smile and a ¡®tipsy¡¯ demeanor, he toasted with his own great, ornate cup. ¡°To the alliance indeed! Double and triple to the Seven Sages and the Dominion of Wisdom who guide civilization to thrive and, of course, make the worthy rich.¡± Scattered laughter. ¡°The Southern Shores find challenge in these days, and House Burnstire is apt to provide aid for the mutual benefit, especially by the kind support of the Dominion.¡± His final ingratiating smile and gesture were especially directed at the yellow-robed man, who wore more an expression of steely, patient tolerance than anything. There was nothing to show he appreciated the gesture. Someone pushed for more cheers and clapping, and the man sat back down, with everyone settling into dining and aggregate chatter after the cheer. Sammy was pretty sure the first toast-guy had not much cared for the content of the follow-up to his, nor the man conducting it. Smells like a necessary alliance more than a beloved one. She also was curious if it had been a marriage, since that was what she¡¯d figure went into a medieval alliance, but she didn¡¯t see anything conclusive on such a front. Man am I glad I didn¡¯t burst onto this scene as my first one, yeesh. I think I¡¯ll pass on crashing the party, though I¡¯m sure the reactions would be priceless. Sammy tried to eavesdrop, but she could only get little snippets over the great din, and it didn¡¯t help that the closest two nobles conversing were having a loud, vigorous argument about which bean produced the best flavor. She heard ¡®duke¡¯ several times, likely in reference to the two hotshots. And she did glean the title and name of the yellow-robed guy: Elder Savant Greizer. Dominion of Wisdom, eh? Sages, enlightenment types, not big on gods? Wonder how bad the old ones were¡­ might¡¯ve been overblown. I¡¯d like to not be a crummy god. What¡¯s that saying about the road to hell and its pavement, though¡­ There was one individual who looked bored and detached, a younger man who mostly stared at the table, picked at the food, and did not converse much. He was the only one that ever really looked at the mirror ¡ª not apparently seeing anything, yet his eyes were drawn there. She was just zoning out on even paying attention to the scene herself when another thing caught her attention ¡ª someone familiar speaking into a mirror. When she shifted her perspective, she was disappointed when she realized it wasn¡¯t Estara. Through a small, broken shard piece was her very first encounter: the woman that had smashed the first viewpoint mirror. She seemed less dressed down, in a leather coat with a flamboyant hat, from the little Sammy could see, but she was even more haggard and seemed to be walking while holding the shard in a leather glove. She was outside in what looked like a town atmosphere in dwindling twilight. ¡°And if you don¡¯t appear,¡± she said, largely to herself, ¡°okay, fine, it just means that I was seeing things. Everyone sees things sometimes, right? But if you¡¯re there, I¡­ go ahead and do your thing. Go ahead. I¡¯m ready.¡± Sammy sighed and rubbed at her forehead as she looked into the face of this woman that had freaked out twice on her. Should she even bother? She seemed shaken and frantic, possibly even desperate. ¡°Please. I have to know!¡± The woman shook the little shard as she spoke. Yep. Desperate. Instead of appearing, Sammy arranged the portal for the ¡®sound-only¡¯ effect, then said, ¡°Are you just going to smash it again, lady? If so, it will be the last time I bother with you.¡± The woman stopped dead and stared. Squinted. Voice faint, she said, ¡°I-I don¡¯t see you.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m trying not to spook you this time.¡± The woman squeezed her eyes shut once, real quick, then opened them. ¡°Right. Right. Alright. Are you- is this magic? Are you just some wizard messing with me?¡± ¡°Am I?¡± Sammy found that she loved being a coy goddess. The woman looked away, seemed to deliberate, then shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to fit. What are you, then? A spirit?¡± ¡°Before I tell you, two things. One, what is your name? And two, what is it that you want? You came back just to grab some broken shard leading to something you thought would eat you. Why? And why did you think I¡¯d eat you?¡± ¡°Three things, then,¡± the woman muttered, then cleared her throat. ¡°Daxerris Stoneboro. Most call me Dax. I thought you¡¯d eat me because there¡¯s legends about that, old ones. When no one dared to even use a mirror, but accidental reflections could suck your soul out. They say the name of the entity was banned and stricken from any record. But I¡¯ve heard stories around plenty of campfires, had a nightmare or two¡­¡± Fuck, that¡¯s not good¡­ guess that explains the freak out then. Good thing those specific stories didn¡¯t make it to Estara¡¯s ear. That or she¡¯s damned brave. Dax paused, collecting herself before the last thing. ¡°What I want, why I went back... it¡¯s my brother. His mouth gets him into trouble and it happened again. He got falsely accused of stealing from a merchant that he bought from, and there¡¯s a witness that¡¯s swearing he did it. My brother swears the guy was there and saw a payment, but must¡¯ve been bought off.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. With a growl in her throat, Dax shook her head helplessly. ¡°I tried hunting this guy down, but he¡¯s being hidden and I got guardsmen looking at me side-eyed, suggesting I leave town. Thing is, this is Dominion territory. They don¡¯t just mete out a punishment and send you on your way. They take you for¡­ re-education. Glorified prison.¡± ¡°This merchant can just dish this all out so easily?¡± ¡°He¡¯s got the right connections. That¡¯s just how things are. And I am running out of sensible actions to take to fix it. Anyway, your turn.¡± ¡°Oh, r-... hear me true, Daxerris Stoneboro. And see the truth with your own eyes.¡± Sammy slowly made her throne and form visible, though it was sadly rather zoomed out in such a small window. ¡°I am Samantha, Goddess of Mirrors.¡± Dax stared a long moment, took a deep breath, then shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re lying. There are no more gods in these parts.¡± Sammy could not help but slip in her facade. Her mouth dropped as she made a face and said, ¡°Fucking excuse me?!¡± ¡°Anything even close to trying that shit gets squashed like a bug by the full power of the Dominion. They don¡¯t allow worship, even of the Seven Sages.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Then what am I, genius? Look, I don¡¯t have to put up with this, I¡¯ll just go-¡± ¡°Wait! No!¡± Dax sighed, staring down at the shard and wincing. ¡°Fine, whatever you say, you¡¯re all I¡¯ve got in this miserable city. If you can help. I¡¯ll call you whatever you want to be called if you in any way help me save my brother.¡± Sitting back a bit, drumming her fingers on her chair arm, Sammy had to think about it. What could she do? Something tricksy at best, that was for sure. It was worth a shot though, if she could secure a ¡®loyal¡¯ subject. Finally, Sammy asked ominously, ¡°If I do help you, will you pledge yourself to me? Could you believe in me, pray to me, as the god I say I am?¡± Dax pursed her lips but nodded almost immediately. ¡°If we save him, I¡¯m yours. I¡¯ll be in your debt forever. You¡¯ll doom us both, but anything is better than handing my brother off to go lose his soul. Deal?¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Doom us both? What a Negative Nancy.
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Justice Begets Faith¡± ¡ª Save the brother of Daxerris from prison. ¡ñ Rewards: Automatic conversion of Daxerris (serves as ritual). +5 FE. 5 exp credit to most relevant sub-class used during quest.
¡°Stop that!¡± Sammy whispered furiously ¡®up¡¯ at Sys. Abandon quest? ¡°Wh-... no.¡± Acknowledged. Quest retained. Even utterly without emotion, even delivered as nothing more than pure informational confirmation, Sammy felt like it was so fucking smug. Meanwhile, Dax¡¯s eyes were cast upward as well, and she said, ¡°Well my quest has been updated. Shit me down a barrel, you are a goddess. Doubt I could convert to some pretender. Mirrors, is it? Weird.¡± 1 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: not yet a Follower. I guess it makes sense that others interact with the System on some level¡­ A random voice seemingly passing by Dax suddenly said, ¡°Hey, are you talking to a piece of glass?¡± Dax could be seen sneering off in another direction and saying, ¡°How about you mind your own nugget-licking business, chum?¡± ¡°Right, sure¡­¡± Sammy gloated a bit at the admittance, smiling at Dax. ¡°I¡¯d say you owe me an apology, but I¡¯m not that petty.¡± A wan smile in return. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that a relief?¡± ¡°I need to contemplate how I¡¯ll help, but we¡¯ll figure something out, Daxerris Stoneboro. How long do we have?¡± ¡°Not sure. A couple of days maybe. But it¡¯s night here, anyway. Maybe I can even sleep a few with a little hope in the wings. Depends on if we¡¯ll need light for¡­ whatever.¡± ¡°Can you return to where you were, collect the other shards of the mirror you broke? Not essential off the top of my head, just¡­ useful.¡± She seemed a bit embarrassed as she shrugged. ¡°Yes¡­ I think so. I was kind of skipping out on a semi-rented room of an acquaintance¡­ might still be undiscovered since they¡¯d assume I¡¯m still renting it. I can try sweeping in and out to collect it. Not going to do them much good now¡­¡± ¡°Mm-hmm¡­ also, the name and description of this fellow. Perhaps I can track him down.¡± ¡°Gentam Cutter. Skinny, late twenties, scruffy mat of brown hair, goatee, green eyes. Little red mark on his cheekbone. Supposedly he¡¯s a messenger.¡± ¡°And you can overpower him if necessary?¡± She sniffed. ¡°With my eyes closed, My Lady. I¡¯m a level 4 knight. There¡¯s a reason they¡¯re trying to ¡®suggest¡¯ me out of the picture. If there¡¯s a fight, some people are dying.¡± Sammy¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°You¡¯re a knight?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story¡­¡± ¡°I see. After this is all over, then.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll even sing you a story if you make this into an all-over that isn¡¯t from the pain of death.¡± ¡°Get the shards and get a little sleep, Dax. We¡¯ll figure it out. And keep a mirror near you and open to the air.¡± ¡°Understood, My Lady. Farewell.¡± Sammy leaned her head back after dismissing the portal, contemplating the stakes she¡¯d gotten tangled in. She was already invested. It wasn¡¯t an earth-shattering matter in the scheme of things, but if she pulled it off, it would probably be the most significant victory of her life. Graduating high school didn¡¯t really compare to saving an innocent person. Justice Begets Faith¡­ that¡¯s more than a game quest. I¡¯m literally trying to help another human being. Not a game piece or an NPC¡­ And then she felt another familiar tug, this time from her name being spoken. Estara! It was time to finally get a Follower. If she doesn¡¯t get cold feet at the altar. Damn it, why does my brain go there?! Continue Reading Now on Amazon, Amazon KU, and Audible! ????¡ã???¡ã??????????????¡ã???¡ã??????????????¡ã???¡ã???? Books 1-3 are on Kindle and Kindle KU, and Audible! Well, if you like reading on Kindle and/or from entertaining audio narrators (yes, that''s plural), then you''re in hog heaven, my friend! The entirety of Book 1, aka Volume 1, aka Chapter 1 through Chapter 70, of the bold and daring adventures of Samantha Elizabeth Reine is available on Amazon & Amazon KU as well as an audiobook on Audible. All courtesy of Royal Guard Publishing! Book 2 is available HERE! Book 3 is available HERE! Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Really great audio though, so if you''re into that, don''t miss out. (^_^) If you are new and reading this, I hope that you are able to jump on board! The more the merrier. ?????? If not, I''m really sorry! :-( I hope it is possible in the future. Take note that if you do get caught up, you can eventually follow here for free and stay caught up, so it''s entirely possible to arrange a one-time (best deal might be KU for 3 books) purchase. Thank you to everyone here on RoyalRoad ¡ª my lovely readers and the site itself ultimately, since it would be impossible without it. But most assuredly not without everyone who made it noticeable simply by their continued interest, comments, following/favoriting, high ratings, and general encouragement. It is greatly appreciated and I hope that I can continue to make the story enjoyable for everyone here and elsewhere. Here''s to success! Trust me, I need it. The story will continue to be updated here, with advanced chapters on Patreon. Ideally, as books are completed they''ll eventually make their transit over to Amazon. As you probably already know, it is due to exclusivity requirements on Amazon KU that so many have to do this and Yours Truly is no exception. Happy Reading! ????¡ã???¡ã??????????????¡ã???¡ã??????????????¡ã???¡ã???? Goddess Reborn Books 1-3 available on Amazon, Amazon KU & Audible! It''s official ¡ª she''s available on Amazon & KU and on Audible! Reddit Post ¡ª for funnzies! Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Thanks so much, everyone! It''s exciting! ?????? It really is a dream come true to be published in this fashion, with even a physical copy possible. Mind-boggling! Inconceivable! Hopefully, we can take ''Zon by storm ¡ª it would be great if Sammy charmed and cussed her way further into the collective unconscious and so forth. Hey, we need more cabbits in the world, after all. Totally underutilized, right? Someone has to eat carrots and it ain''t gonna be me. If you eat carrots, well... thank you for your sacrifice, friend. But is it the little tiny ones that are in salads? Cause that doesn''t count. But otherwise, yeah. Solid. Feel free to give the pages a look. There are some added intros to characters on Amazon that I collaborated with the publisher for. Have I already lovingly stared at the page for long periods? Um, no. Not at all. Moving on! I would be immensely grateful for purchases, downloads, or whatever you can swing. Reviews are super huge, so if you have some time and wordery to do so that would really help it kick some butt. That would be awesome. ?? Cheers and happy reading! Quests by Volume 2, Chapter 69 (and later, all under spoilers) Spoiler Warning! Don''t read unless you''ve read up to Volume 2, Chapter 69!!! ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== Quests Below... ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== New Quest unlocked: ¡°The Spellslinger''s Threads¡± ¡ª Learn 2 Core spells and design your own spell to 50% completion. ¡ñ Rewards: 3 exp in [Wizard], final X% needed for unique spell, 50% completion of another Core spell. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Spiritual Inroads¡± ¡ª Establish and persist in (until completion) good relations with 7 distinct factions of spirits/gods, to a grading of 4+. ¡ñ Rewards: +50 FE, 6 exp in [Goddess], 3 exp in [Bard], [Diplomacy] special skill granted. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Freed to Fake It¡± ¡ª Travel to the Lake Yura Elven community as Stillwater and gain at least 1 Follower. ¡ñ Rewards: +30 FE, 3 exp in [Goddess], 3 exp in [Bard]. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Eyes That Mark¡± ¡ª Find Kerakora, clarify involvement, and report to Zadkiel. ¡ñ Rewards: +40 FE, 2 exp in [Goddess], 2 exp gained in [Wizard], [Bard], and [Rogue]. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Minor Deity: Filling the Church¡± ¡ª Reach 100 total Followers. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡ñ Rewards: +750 FE, +1000 Maximum FE, +5 exp in [Goddess], 3 free Priestly Ordination uses granted, 1 Free Minor Divine Enchantment (Weapon, Armor, or Accessory), Consecration unlocked, 1 free Consecration granted, Service Blessing (via Consecration) unlocked. New Quest unlocked: ¡°To Ultimately Be Another¡± ¡ª Make an entirely separate Avatar under a different deity identity, reveal it to at least 3 Followers therein, and make them Devouts. ¡ñ Rewards: 250 FE, +15 FE (Illusion), 3 exp in [Goddess], 3 exp in [Bard], 2 exp in [Rogue].
Spoiler Warning! Don''t read unless you''ve read up to Vol 3, Chapter 9!!! ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== Quests Below... ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== ========================== New Quest unlocked: ¡°The Spellslinger''s Threads¡± ¡ª Learn 2 Core spells and design your own spell to 50% completion. ¡ñ Rewards: 3 exp in [Wizard], final X% needed for unique spell, 50% completion of another Core spell. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Spiritual Inroads¡± ¡ª Establish and persist in (until completion) good relations with 7 distinct factions of spirits/gods, to a grading of 4+. ¡ñ Rewards: +50 FE, 6 exp in [Goddess], 3 exp in [Bard], [Diplomacy] special skill granted. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Freed to Fake It¡± ¡ª Travel to the Lake Yura Elven community as Stillwater and gain at least 1 Follower. ¡ñ Rewards: +30 FE, 3 exp in [Goddess], 3 exp in [Bard]. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Spreading the Word¡± ¡ª Send 7 priests to 7 different, new locations/communities where they must gain at least 3 Followers. ¡ñ Rewards: +77 FE, 5 exp in [Goddess], 2 in [Wizard], 2 in [Bard], exp for ALL clerics, Priesthood Head FE bonuses unlocked, Community Bonuses unlocked. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Lesser Deity: Company of the Divine¡± ¡ª Reach 333 total Followers. ¡ñ Rewards: +1000 FE, +2000 Maximum FE, +7 exp in [Goddess], 3 free Priestly Ordination uses granted, Domain Slot unlocked. ¡°To Stir One Within¡± ¡ª Find the means to help Azure out of her coma. ¡ñ Rewards: +100 FE, +7 exp in [Goddess], +2 exp in [Bard], +5 exp distributed in one or two unlocked subclasses of choice, other hidden rewards. New Quest unlocked: ¡°Dedication to The Material¡± ¡ª Spend over 1000 FE on Avatar upgrades. ¡ñ Rewards: +5 exp in [Goddess], Avatar Upgrades maximum total ranks become Goddess+1. (Vol 6) Chapter 1: Balance In a place without light where life was inverted to something else, footsteps rang out across a void. It should have been somewhere deep below Calrenazzod, but this would ascribe to it something natural. It was not. The substance of a spiral staircase was an affectation, forged of a mind-bending and unseeable contrivance of timeless purpose. You could know it was there, perhaps, just as you could know at the bottom was a pit somehow carved into the void. The most knowable thing of all was at the bottom of that pit ¡ª a pool. The footsteps rang and rang, disturbing the peace as foul activity. Even a pantomime of flesh and life like the Sage was an intruder there. The echoes he made were violations worse than the constructs, because they, at least, didn¡¯t move. Think. Act. Finally, the footsteps touched the pit and there was no more sound as the pool was approached. The pool was something contorted and twisted from the furthest ¡®distances¡¯ ¡ª not just in the sense of space but of time, too. It was from Beyond. As the Sage stopped before it and gazed into it, the pool shimmered with a kind of radiance. It was heat in the cold nothingness, and this violation was worse than the presence of the wiseman. It set off a terrible scream in the void, a howl. Horrible as it was, the Sage simply tuned it out. The pool showed the image of a figure turning, cloaked in a dark cowl. His face was either hidden or didn¡¯t exist, other than his eyes. These were two glowing, white rings, the same as the Sage. Twins ¡ª or mirror images distorted ¡ª stared at one another. As a thought-broadcast, the Sage began to speak. ¡°I have confirmed-¡± ¡°Needless statements without questions or useful permutations for Oblivion.¡± The figure in the pool did not thought-broadcast. He forged whispery words to resonate through the place, torturing and traumatizing it. The vibration of its pain channeled into syllables made the sounds. ¡°All that you do is clear.¡± The Sage paused briefly. ¡°The last of the titans was not Seeded. Am I to interpret that our vision remains on course despite this?¡± ¡°Is it not already in your discernment?¡± ¡°In my assessment. Only you can verify.¡± ¡°Your assessment is correct. His improved health means nothing. The Totality of Oblivion for this worthless structure remains well in hand. The future is converging into nothing. Stay the course.¡± The Sage was silent for a long moment. ¡°I tire of civilization. I tire of my failed experiments.¡± ¡°Do as you will. Bring them Below and Invert them now. They are all meaningless. You know this. Do not forget the Truth I¡¯ve shown you.¡± Another long pause. ¡°One last chance. The Sage of Truth has finally tasted it ¡ª earned his title. And he survived. Hubris is slain and he may have the right balance of fear and calm. His potential could exceed the last. It would be my finest work.¡± The pain of the realm spiked up with intense, formless tremors, then died down. ¡°Dalliances and playing with toys. Hobbies clutched in anxiety. You still hold to your ancient principles.¡± ¡°So it seems. But only by a thread. The last thread. You know a successful prototype would-¡± ¡°Obsessing over minute efficiencies is your strength and your weakness. There is only one conflict that matters, and you cannot lose if you execute the plan ¡ª with patience, with precision, with perfection. Do as the prescription we¡¯ve conspired to write is writ and She, The Imbecile, will be removed from the equation once and for all. This broken reality will unravel¡­ right into our hands ¡ª to remake properly.¡± The Sage came close to a smile. ¡°The lies of [Fate] will be no more. All will be whole, true, and harmonious. Balanced. One. Perfect.¡± The rings of the Sage¡¯s eyes flashed and pain shook the void. ¡°Forever.¡± ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Deikmorn Brakka was not having a good time. In and out, in and out he had brief stints through the darkest of nightmares that plagued his psyche. In and out of tremendous anguish with only the worst of it waiting for him in consciousness. His body was always hot, a fever to answer the cold grip of entropic death. Still, he refused to give in to that corruption. Mostly just to say, ¡®Fuck you!¡¯ But also because he was aware of his brother hanging around him almost constantly. You stupid boy! That I protected you, that I cultivated you, it was not to be loved! Don¡¯t throw away your own path to carve out in this world just for a dying soldier. Don¡¯t throw it away for the clan, either. Self-sacrificing fool! But he could only give the instruction to the taunting phantoms in his head, as in his brief spurts of fevered consciousness, he could barely open his mouth and sputter or growl, much less talk. ¡°I¡¯m here, Deik,¡± Heskar said once, not long ago, one hand on his shoulder, eyes insistent. Worried; caring. ¡°I should¡¯ve been there, in the battle. I¡¯m sorry.¡± No! Not to die. Idiot. But Deikmorn could only shake his head, the words trapped behind the hideous contortion and paralysis of his body, and he went under again. If only he could die, but that would trap Heskar to die, too, in taking up the call of vengeance. Deikmorn needed to live long enough to find words and a day or two of stability, and he could order a retreat. Assuming they believed he was in his right mind, anyway. Shalkans would dismiss a grudge or an insult only grudgingly. If at all. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Somehow, he discerned things had gone worse, though. Words overheard perhaps, that he didn¡¯t fully remember. And he noticed they were in a hold, unmoving. He¡¯s going to die with me. Pruskin would take over, likely, and he¡¯d clear a grudge with our family to deny us ours. Not to mention suit his own skin-saving. Damn it! Why can¡¯t Heskar think like this?! Try as he might, sheer force of will didn¡¯t wake him up. Instead, he dreamed of arguing and it blurred into fighting and a hundred other things, hot like the terrible fever gripping him. It was a far more horrible fate to die knowing his brother would because of him, than if he had gone instantly against that sage. It might not have changed anything in reality, but at least he¡¯d be ignorant. Not like this! Not like this. Save him, at least¡­ save him¡­ please¡­ In the midst of the fever dreams, suddenly there was a light. The light cascaded over him and penetrated through him, a balm that soothed the heat and the fever from the skin to the marrow. The cold contrast of death waiting for him was banished. The nightmares evaporated and the agony subsided, leaving in its wake the dull, weakening ache of heinous injury. When he opened his eyes in a small, soft bed ¡ª under a tent, surprisingly ¡ª he was already in amazement. What greeted him was doubly amazing. Two Naugite beauties, one red-skinned, one blue, stood over him, both in impressive, stylish armor, their forms both of heroic stature. The blue one had a strange, crystalline sheen to her skin, and the red was glowing brilliantly with that light he felt. They had one set of their hands interlaced together, while the others were directed over him from which the light emanated. All of their eyes were just peeling open, as if rapturous from a miracle they¡¯d performed. Deikmorn marveled, a bit dumbstruck. ¡°Am I¡­ in Heaven?¡± The two goddesses smiled as they exchanged glances, then laughed. The red one, who had a very impish look and general aura, shook her head in answer. In a burst of hysterics, his brother practically fell on top of him. ¡°Deik, you¡¯re awake! Haha, you¡¯re really awake!¡± Tears welled and fell from his eyes, such was the bleeding heart overcome with emotion. His hand took Deikmorn¡¯s. ¡°Is it gone? Is it really gone? Completely?¡± Deikmorn ripped his hand from his brothers, scowling at him and glancing in embarrassment at the women. Was he blind?! ¡°Every speck, every twinkle. Gone. As far as I can tell.¡± He looked back at the two Naugite ladies. ¡°Thanks to them, it seems.¡± They draw not just the eye and stir the gut, but the heart. A spiritual compulsion. I have my practice resisting the masculine version. I am ill-prepared for this. Hyoo. Heskar ignored his brother¡¯s demeanor, laughing again in joy and grasping Deikmorn¡¯s shoulder to shake. ¡°You¡¯re alive! You¡¯re going to be okay!¡± He only relented when Deikmorn grimaced and hissed from his treatment. To this he frowned and opened his mouth, turning his head to the healers. ¡°He is healed but permanently damaged,¡± the red one oozed like the touch of silk bed sheets turned into sound. ¡°The Gleam does miracles but cannot reverse time. I am sorry, but he won¡¯t be the same.¡± Heskar was stricken, but Deikmorn coughed a bitter laugh and grinned at the ''news.'' He already felt it. A malus inhibiting him. ¡°I appreciate you giving it to me straight. I¡¯m glad there is a¡­ Gleam at all. I will adapt. And I¡­ owe you one, whoever you are.¡± The red one smirked in a mysterious, mischievous way as her chin lifted. ¡°I am Puck the Magnificent, Goddess of The Gleam and Pandemonium, recently earning the name Puck Hillraiser.¡± Heskar interrupted somewhat excitedly. ¡°She vanquished Dreixia Hillcrusher. She¡¯s dead.¡± Impossible. Deikmorn managed not to blurt it out loud, for which he was impressed with himself. But he stared at Puck incredulously. It at least gave him the excuse to look her up and down. Then again, Dreixia did get Entropified, too. Puck ignored the interruption, never taking her eyes off Deikmorn. ¡°And ¡ª Deikmorn Brakka ¡ª you owe me more than one. You owe me your life.¡± This made Deikmorn wince. Here I was hoping for a ¡®Helping others is thanks enough.¡¯ Should have known better from a gal with two horns. Heskar frowned worriedly. ¡°Hey, wait just a min-¡± Deikmorn almost slapped him with a hand as he stopped Heskar from continuing, forcing eye contact and shaking his head insistently. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him. He¡¯s overprotective and nourishing, like a mother.¡± ¡°I think you mean nurturing,¡± the blue one said in amusement. ¡°Yeah, that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Magia, by the way ¡ª counsel, guardian, and paramour of Puck.¡± ¡°I see. The pleasure is all mine. Okay, Puck Hillraiser. Let¡¯s say I owe you my life. What do you want for it?¡± Puck crossed her arms, squinting her eyes as she rubbed her chin. ¡°Hmmmm. How about your undying service to my worthy cause?¡± Oh so casual. Deikmorn sighed grandly. Heskar added, ¡°You missed a rousing speech at the fortress of Prie Moraan, over the corpse of the Hillcrusher. This one has set a fire in the blood of the demonkin. It is spreading like¡­ fire! Zadkiel lives, Brother! He recovers from terrible wounds worse than yours, but he will return to defend Merrington. The war is not done. The plan will be to crush them there and rekindle the conquest!¡± ¡°Liberation,¡± Magia corrected. ¡°For what that¡¯s worth, at least. Puck, Zadkiel, and Redberry are in alliance. Things will be a little different, but destroying the Dominion remains the key goal.¡± Deikmorn frowned as he looked between them. Heskar seemed to have already been won over. Zadkiel, you survived, you shitstain. You old devil dog. Are you trying to score these two? And Redberry? Pah! You wish. I¡¯d bet against it. Puck grinned Cheshire and spread her hands out. ¡°Care to fight on with that broken body, hero?¡± Deikmorn scoffed and dropped back on his bed, suddenly feeling extra weary. ¡°I think I¡¯d rather lead from the back at this point. Maybe even from the bed.¡± He glanced at the hopeful face of Heskar and rolled his eyes. ¡°Fine. We¡¯re in. But it hardly clears the debt ¡ª I¡¯d be joining anyway. In this situation, a Shalkan has no bloody choice.¡± Heskar grunted and grinned in satisfaction as he clenched his fist in front of him. At least this idiot will live a little longer. That¡¯s the real debt I have. Puck shrugged in a mysterious way ¡ª a terrifying way, to Deikmorn. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll figure something out, oh noble compatriot.¡± (Vol 6) Chapter 2: A Devilish Fraternity The time following the deadly duel with Dreixia went quickly and smashingly for Samantha/Puck and her realm of supposed ne''er-do-wells. Dreixia¡¯s body was stripped of possessions, put in robes, and burned in a great pyre inside the fortress. This became a backdrop for immediate withdrawal proceedings. As far as Sammy could tell, any ¡®succession¡¯ issues about who¡¯d be the clan leader were put on hold. Remembering Dreixia¡¯s last words, she asked casually about an ¡®Ogdellos,¡¯ it was confirmed he was a high-ranked general present, known as a powerful fighter. Unlike most medieval scenarios involving a formidable fortress, leaving some small force was useless due to their enemy being the magic-heavy Dominion. Without copious magic-capable or anti-magic types, the opposing army would utilize air superiority and wipe them out without much loss. Instead, they set traps and delayed spells of various kinds, to waste the Dominion¡¯s time for the most part. If they wanted the fortress, they¡¯d have to tediously check everything for suspicion of these traps. Puck went to Deikmorn¡¯s brother to insist he withdraw along with the others, pointing out that she could cleanse Deikmorn¡¯s corruption so long as he lived to dawn. But the Naugite said he had planned that either way because he wanted to join the war effort again with the ¡®good news.¡¯ He believed in the cause and said many others did, too. I need to get on the whole ¡®Puck Followers¡¯ thing, soon. Dreixia¡¯s distribution of items was up to Sammy, which she delayed to conduct in a safer location. But she was definitely taking the cracked weapon artifact and the ring. The armor was scrap no one wanted due to the corruption eating it. Identification she delegated to be reviewed later. Because she was on a time limit, she selected her reward class for the quest: [Saboteur], naturally.
7 exp gained in [Saboteur]. 3 exp gained in [Brute]. 3 exp gained in [Bard].
[Saboteur] level 3 reached. [Sabotage] improved to [Sabotage+1] and upgraded. Avoidance upgraded.
Okay then. She checked the changes in both real quick, focusing on the pertinent paragraph for Sabotage.
Sabotage+1 To have a chance at permanent or semi-permanent breaking, you must conduct a sabotage for 10 seconds of uninterrupted, constant concentration on the act of your foci. If you spend a full minute, add +1 Effective Levels to the attempt, or +2 with an hour. Rushed Sabotage attempts at 3-5 seconds are at -1 Effective Levels and at most can only cause brief malfunctions, dependent on success level (you will know a range of time that it lasts).
Hmm. So it¡¯s a little more viable for quick use and combat use, then. Level 3, with [Magineer] addable as multiclass¡­ a level 6 effect in combat. That¡¯s worth keeping in mind.
Avoidance So long as you are no more than Lightly Encumbered, you have +1 to Dodge OR +1 Effective Levels to Defense as a [Dodge] modifier ¡ª this can only be bypassed if you do not properly perceive the threat. In addition, if combined with Rogue¡¯s Luck, add an additional +1 Effective Levels to the comparison. You have an additional +1 to Dodge for any sort of trap effect, magical or otherwise.
I can dig it. Always the chance that a hazard isn¡¯t detected. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m super specialized at doing so, either. Sammy took a gander at the new status [Slayer], ignoring [Spirit Terror] under it, which had not changed.
Slayer You have a reputation (on one or more of your varied identities) for killing great and powerful foes. You can leverage and showcase this general potential and dangerousness for intimidation purposes, to impress warriors, those who need such help, and so on. Note that subtle gestures do depend on the intelligence of the target. This adds +2-4 Effective Levels to the attempt, depending on the target''s susceptibility. Specialty effects and bonuses exist based on particular slayings. Hero Slayer (Dreixia Hillcrusher): This is particularly effective on most Naugites who knew of the specific hero ¡ª double the potential intimidation/awe bonus if at all susceptible. In addition, against any humanoid foe of equal or higher level than you (base, with multiclass), you may add +2 Effective Levels for the purposes of wound severity, if dealing a Major Wound or greater already, with a physical weapon. This does not apply to upgraded Minor Wounds.
Ooh. That¡¯s nasty. That will usually boost it to a Critical Wound, I think. The soak ranges vary, though. Someone like Dreixia might still reduce the shit to Minor, even. She had some kind of huge, though expendable, pool. A pencil-necked wizard might take a Mortal Wound immediately, instead. But¡­ a physical weapon requirement. My staff specialty increases! Her best bet on offense amplification seemed to be continuing on that route. But perhaps she should have a backup weapon, too, instead of how she used her phantom matter blade on Dreixia. Or the random rondel dagger she used underneath Huntress. Fuck, a weapon for close-in grapple range sure is handy, isn¡¯t it? Even better if it can be summoned instantly somehow. Hell yeah¡­ a specialty shank. Right up my alley. An alley where you get shanked! Hehe. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It somewhat disturbed her she was thinking like this, as her thoughts when she created her staff once upon a time were to avoid killing people. She¡¯d tried with Dreixia. More or less¡­ it had seemed like the best attack at the time, regardless of lethality. Regardless, it had almost caused her the very costly loss of her Avatar and an allied army. Eh. A unique enemy. An honest mistake! We can Knockout most people! She caught sight of the last person she¡¯d successfully knocked out ¡ª the wizard Dart had handed off to the Naugites at some point. His head was on a pike outside the walls. I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. When she asked around about a cloaked figure in gray armor, she got a lot of blank and puzzled looks. It wasn¡¯t the Twin, who was a surprisingly average-looking chap in simple leathers ¡ª easy to miss if he wasn¡¯t the only human in the army. Looking out for the individual turned up nothing, either. I got a mysterious someone¡¯s attention. Tall enough to be a Naugite, certainly. Here¡¯s to hoping it was a good thing. Puck aided the withdrawal of the army by taking some heavier gear and the wounded back toward Merrington, through disguised mirrors she made look like warped, twinkling ripples supposedly utilizing [Pandemonium] to slip people in and out through dimensions. This included Deikmorn, naturally. It was too costly to do for everyone, but noticing the sheer need, she lent her Dark Pegasi to the retreat efforts as well. It massively sped up their movement by removing the drag of supplies and the injured which was the real limit on their speed. The Naugite endurance was such that they could jog for stretches on the march if their encumbrance was mild enough. Coordinating with Ba Ra and the generals, Puck motivated them to go for it while she and her Servitors screened and dealt with stragglers. Dominion skirmishers were a constant potential issue, but her brutal ambush had apparently made them cautious and they never appeared. Several times, she was aware of vague magic in the distance. Investigation with Resemblants indicated some teleportation but mostly the auras of clairvoyance and scrying use. You can look, but you can¡¯t touch! Operation: Early Morning Jog worked smashingly, and they covered the entire distance to Twin Wells, where an exhausted army broke for camp. When the dawn came, Deikmorn was still alive, and she had her little session to cleanse him of Entropy, though he would still be weakened. Lessened though he was, Deikmorn undoubtedly remained a powerful warrior. Besides that, she kinda liked him, the gnarly curmudgeon that he was.
The hidden quest ¡°Clannish Purification¡± (Specifications: Save Daekmorn Brakka¡¯s life) is complete. 20 FE gained. 2 exp gained in [Goddess].
Surprisingly, the moment their eyes met, she knew he would be her Follower. She didn¡¯t think that would be immediate, though ¡ª unlike his brother, who was ready and rearing. Before she wrapped up her Puck Time, Sammy configured her Ritual of Conversion form for the deity.
Ritual of Conversion Form (Puck) (Note: Do not add superfluous text to this form.)
Requirements: Perform a trick, play a prank, or make a joke, then recite, ¡°I, NAME, hereby swear to pray to, praise, and honor the goddess Puck the Magnificent, Puck Hillraiser, may she steal hearts, luck, and maybe a little gold for all of time! I will spread her name, deeds, and wild aspirations far and wide like wildfire! In so doing, luck will come to me, for she holds its keys.¡± Religious Experience: Feel-good high (60%), and inspiration (30%). Authorized Officials: N/A
With that done, she solicited Deikmorn¡¯s brother, Heskar, to become the first Follower, and he readily agreed. Once he was caught in the drunken haze of that first REX, he swore he¡¯d recruit more. In between giddy laughter, that is.
New quest unlocked: ¡°Lies Like Wildfire¡± ¡ª Acquire 44 Followers and 1 Devout under the Puck persona, and obtain 77 FE (Illusion) from their prayers. ¡ñ Rewards: +33 FE, +33 FE (Illusion), 5 exp in [Goddess], 3 exp in [Bard], [False Priestenses] synergistic enhancement added to [Priestly Investiture].
Oooh! False Priests? But if they can do what [Priests] do, they aren¡¯t false! Haha. This is gonna be good. And oh my goddesses, what a pun! Puck decided to spend a little time among the soldiers bantering and entertaining, sometimes at the expense of this or that mark or another, whether by witty verbal setup, not-so-witty verbal setup, or a cheap jump scare. Though she hadn¡¯t really intended it, she got some requests for songs, and she went for it, knowing the weary warriors could use an uplift during what amounted to their dinner before passing out, dawn or no. Invoking [Bard] with support from [Goddess] was rather miraculous in producing things right out of the ether. So they were infused with Earth¡¯s pop hits and a little too much of Swift, so what? They loved it! She told a few stories, too, drawing once again from Earth. Figuring the Naugites could handle it, she did her go-to campfire story she¡¯d heard her dad do dozens of times if not more ¡ª Bloody Mary, the witch burned at the stake who¡¯d come to kill you if you spoke her name three times in a dark mirror. They nodded along soberly and someone said afterward they had a similar tale, only her name was ¡®Twisted Blue.¡¯ A remnant from Azure¡¯s past life? Crazy. In every case of her roaming through the camps, she picked out people to offer Followerhood to, especially the jokesters, the charismatic folks, the gamblers, and the easygoing, more free-minded among them. Having intuitively screened them through interaction, she was almost always successful. A few declined, two of them simply flat out saying they were Followers of Zadkiel. But she snagged over twenty just like that. A few she didn¡¯t even ask ¡ª they came to her. And so she acquired the first crop of Puck believers, sure to multiply with great speed. She was not too concerned with perfect screening, ultimately, having been selective mainly to identify those who¡¯d best pull in others of reasonable like mind. Puck was not going to be the head of a rigid organization with sensitive secrets. It was more informal. She gave a Phantom Construct bronze disk to each of them, just over twelve centimeters in diameter, just big enough a Naugite could palm it at a stretch. It was slightly curved like a shield, and the outside was emblazoned in red with a kind of eight-pointed star, but each edge was a different size so it was asymmetrical. It otherwise appeared unremarkable, but it had an illusion over it. In actuality, it was all polished perfectly into a mirror. Puck simply said that if it was kept pristine and undamaged, communication with her was possible through it physically. Pretty damn sneaky if you ask me! (Vol 6) Chapter 3: The Second Point With the Naugites beginning to pass out in the light of the morning ¡ª some of them aided by her REX ¡®buff¡¯ ¡ª Puck departed from the midst of the camp for a while. Dematerializing, Sammy returned to Heavenpeak to get on with her realm¡¯s dealing. Before anything else, though, she checked on the noteworthy item descriptions of Dreixia.
Ta¡¯kla Od, Great Vibrator Bell (Arcane ¡ª Various, Physical Enhancement; Enchantment) This polearm flail has a number of separate enchantments and also provides +2 Effective Combat Levels when wielded, stacking with any other source. It has 1 level of Improved Penetration. Resounding (Disabled): On any given strike, all wounding can be converted to the (Sonic) type, dealing standard totals +1 Effective Levels, as a physical effect. In addition, a successful parry attacking or defending, allows a free attack sending reverberations back through the weapon, potentially damaging it and requiring a comparison test with a +2 Effective Levels bonus to avoid dropping it. Cone of Sound (Disabled): Any strike can be converted into a cone AoE of the physical (Sonic) wounding type, out to 4 meters, by flicking and ringing the bell, or simply slamming it into something. This ignores physical Armor values. Anyone hit must also succeed in a comparison test against Caster Level 13 or be deafened, stunned, and afflicted with the [Vibrated] malus for 20 seconds. They must also succeed against your total attack value or be knocked 1 meter (with effects varying depending on angle of impact and strength). Striking the ground makes footing nearly impossible as it causes a mini-earthquake in the zone ¡ª a contest of your total attack value +4 Effective Levels is required to avoid falling down. Incredible Durability: This weapon cannot be damaged without specific types of magic which must exceed an Effective Caster Level of 13 (either directly or by ritual support). Four castings are required for the majority of spells. Note: Due to exceptional circumstances, this weapon has been damaged and requires repair. Most functions are disabled, but it still provides ECLs and Improved Penetration capabilities.
Pff! Wow, what an unfortunate name. ¡®Face the might of my¡­ Great Vibrator!¡¯ Please, no! Tsssh! Anyway. She could alter the AoE somehow, probably through special abilities. Same thing for the air-hopping maneuver. She planned on getting it to Tashome and potentially fusing it with Foolmaker due to the synergies and the fact that they¡¯d quite spectacularly collided in a ¡®special artifact event.¡¯ It sounded like just the thing he could exploit. Time would tell, though. And then it was time for the ring that almost beat her ass.
Ring of Anchored Flight (Arcane ¡ª Alteration; Enchantment, Charged, Spell-like Level 14) Upon activation of this ring, which uses a charge and requires a simple action, a target enemy within two meters of you that is utilizing some form of flight, levitation, or telekinesis is pulled down to the ground as though magnetized. Any ongoing effects of theirs are similarly affected. They are paralyzed and unable to move, pinned to the ground. This effect is not normally resistable, but any ¡®deactivation¡¯ or successful dispel will free them. A natural flyer can do this by stopping their natural attempts to fly. An airborne enemy will plummet to the ground at double the normal acceleration of falling, effectively paralyzed. If they deactivate their flight, they will slow to a normal speed, and can move their limbs and body normally while falling. This effect lasts for two minutes. It has an Effective Caster Level of 22. Certain spell effects of level 14 or greater automatically dispel or counter this effect, including Absolute Freedom and Antigravity Zone. Charges: 7/14.
Hmm. Has strong exploit potential, right? She asked the System, ¡°Can someone resist a buff, like say, Flight?¡± Yes, User Sammy. The buff will function like a curse on a distrusting enemy and require a contest if they refuse and resist. However, activation-based effects that are normally turned on and off will default to allowing the target¡¯s control therein. ¡°Okay. Damn. But can I create a custom spell that is, like, always on and not shut-offable?¡± Yes. ¡°Righteous. Would take some action-cramming, and isn¡¯t long-range, but possibly worth considering. Still ends up requiring a ¡®disablement¡¯ contest. Maybe I can get a bonus on it somehow. Now, if I trick someone into receiving a flight effect that can¡¯t be turned off, then we¡¯re talking¡­¡± Most of Dreixia¡¯s other items were just basic good-ish stuff Sammy didn¡¯t need personally. A decent throwing axe. A dimensional satchel. A protection ring. Her potions had been all but entirely blown through, which was no surprise with her affliction. She had probably just chained through the variety for some edge against it. She did have something fairly cut-and-dry, but also awesome:
Bracers of Supreme Knocking (Arcane ¡ª Physical Enhancement; Enchantment) Add +4 Effective Levels to any melee knocking effect you deal, and add one meter of distance to any successful knock.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Yep, I¡¯m using it. Could help against tough defenders, and amplify the consequences of what is otherwise a lesser hit. Magic items didn¡¯t resize dramatic differences automatically, and Dreixia was a big, big lady, so the ring and the bracers would need configuring in Geirkos as well. It was a fairly simple enchantment alteration by a magical smith, so it wouldn¡¯t be too much trouble. She wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d keep the ring on her person or not. She was considering eventually sticking it with Azure to delegate and distribute the maneuver¡¯s potential. Sammy''s next big target action was finally biting the bullet and diving back into the Bridge of Edges. Azure insisted on being there, even if she wouldn¡¯t be moving around in exploration. Despite that it was logically useless, Sammy appreciated the support. She at least went with her to the spot they¡¯d found previously that led to the Land of Naug, the area now pristine and clean of any blemish after her altercation with the archer. Want to make sure this is still there. Sure enough, they found a kind of window bent down from many angles coming together, the very point of it a doorway. The closer they approached it directly, the greater it widened, so she stopped there. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get stuck there or the other location,¡± Sammy commented, holding onto Azure¡¯s hand and pulling her back. ¡°I need to find a place in the Southlands pronto.¡± ¡°Ah. Of course.¡± Azure peered with squinted eyes at the little window they could see in the distance, hinting at a stormy coast. It was clear she wanted to go. She grinned suddenly. ¡°It¡¯s Raining in the Bay of Mengior.¡± ¡°Yeah, I can see that. Looks like a storm.¡± Azure¡¯s grin widened as she turned its unusual radiance on Samantha. In that realm, she looked more like a crystalline construct than usual. ¡°It¡¯s an ironic saying. As in, of course, it is. It always is.¡± Samantha had to return that smile. ¡°Oh, I see! Like, ¡®Gee, what a great observation; also, the sky is blue.¡¯ ¡± ¡°Yes! Exactly.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go there soon, Blueberry. I promise.¡± Though Sammy offered to let her hang there, she insisted on being at the ¡®center¡¯ for response purposes, so Sammy relented and brought her there before she set out exploring. Intention guided her way ¡ª that, and invoking [Pneumamancer] to navigate the kaleidoscope maze that the place always was. Referentially, she understood vaguely where she¡¯d find Southlands locations. Unfortunately, this was a vast labyrinth in and of itself. Over warped landscapes collapsing into themselves, through tunnels and crawl spaces of impermeable light, and suspended bridges over pools of multicolored water, she crossed in leaps and bounds. There were many dead ends and overshoots where she had to go back from another angle. Always angles and points, here. Every direction leads somewhere, just not always where you want to be. A good thing, right? Strangely, this bizarre place holds no illusions, not to me. Other than the rare marring, there¡¯s no danger, either. I¡¯m the tightrope walker that¡¯s done it a thousand times. It took tedious hours and hours, but she began to get a feel for something. An itch, and the good kind rather than what she¡¯d experienced before. Getting warmer¡­ It was like two magnets getting closer by feel. She missed the route a few times, and then suddenly she hit it dead on and¡­ Boom! There it was! An end, a convergence of points, the edge of an angle. What had to be a window at the final sharp point. She approached gradually. At coin-sized, it was completely dark and too condensed to make out details. At coaster size¡­ she decided to beam light into it to see. An interior. Stone deteriorated. A fallen pillar. Dust. Azure was paying rapt attention in her head. ¡°Don¡¯t move another step! I¡¯m coming with you. And we¡¯re pre-buffing!¡± Sighing, Sammy acknowledged her. ¡°Of course. Waiting, dear¡­¡± We might as well get married already, she¡¯s completely my wife¡­ Once Azure spawned like flowing glass next to her, they layered long-term and medium buffs and finally set forward. She was sure the zoom-in was quick, so Sammy eased in, watching particularly for danger or movement. Just as expected, it inexorably pulled them in the rest of the way like a flash. They came in hot, spells and weapons ready, spinning back to back, and Sammy had her light radius already blasting hard to illuminate everything. You have discovered a [Transition Point] on the Bridge of Edges, preliminary designation ¡®Point 2¡¯. Avatar position moved¡­ Anchorage and transition in-world complete. It was an ancient chamber, stone so old it was crumbling, and it was damp and moldy. From above, minute amounts of water dripped. In every direction there were walls, and inset into them were many rows of sarcophaguses, but each was fallen apart or broken into. In the very center was a massive sarcophagus, also broken apart. Bits of bone were everywhere, with some whole bits such as skulls. Remnants of the giant occupant of the central sarcophagus could be seen, but they were scarce. ¡°I see no threats!¡± Azure called. ¡°Yeah, me eith- Ah! I see a threat ¡ª I see it!¡± ¡°What?! Where?!¡± Crunch! Sammy brought her foot down on the threat. ¡°It¡¯s vanquished, Love! It was a roach.¡± Sammy turned to Azure with a smug, shit-eating grin. The Ring of the Cheater also snickered behind a hand. Azure glared at her. ¡°You-! Mmph!¡± Sammy turned to look around again in curiosity (and change the subject). ¡°This place is mega old, huh?¡± ¡°Not as old as your jokes.¡± Azure sniffed a final time, then took a few ginger steps around the debris. ¡°It¡¯s ransacked. Tomb raiders as ancient as sin themselves came. Are probably many layers of ages that they did so.¡± ¡°Wonder how far down we are¡­¡± Sammy took a few steps herself, eyeing a place that looked like it was once the entrance. It had collapsed entirely. She also blinked at the subtle feeling of her balance being off and squinted her eyes as she looked at multiple angles of the floor. ¡°It¡¯s cockeyed.¡± ¡°Beg your pardon?¡± ¡°The floor is slanted a bit.¡± ¡°Oh. Hmm, yes, so it is.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try and get out of here, then. See what we see. I don¡¯t feel an obvious mirror within range, but I kinda want to see anyway.¡± She walked over to the pile of rocks and utilized [Create Phantasms] to make some giant floating hands to begin clearing the way. Azure assisted with a Telekinesis spell herself. In short order, they seemed to clear a short tunnel of sorts, but immediately there was daylight. She used her giant helper hands to push through the rest of the way. It was a recently rained-on, lush jungle outside, as thick as she¡¯d ever seen, and the place they¡¯d come from was a leaning top temple to what seemed like a pyramid almost entirely buried in the ground, jungle growth curling or sprouting all around it. A crowning statue on the top of the temple was in half, the bottom part fallen and broken apart with his head still discernible. His other half was still up top. Behind where he sat, there was a ring-like halo with swirls on the edges. A sun god. (Vol 6) Chapter 4: No More Platitudes Sammy stared at the symbol of the sun for a long moment, then looked down at the indistinct, sober face of the statue, seemingly mournful. I¡¯m sorry you¡¯re dead, dude. Bet it was a hell of a run. I bet you were a killer, too. We all are. I am. But life goes on, doesn¡¯t it? The outside of the ruined temple showed only wildlife as far as activity went. They were almost certainly buried in some barren wilderness. Azure studied some vines covered over the deteriorated stone. ¡°Speckled spiny creeper. We¡¯re likely close to the central swamp.¡± Sammy did a fist pump. ¡°Hell yeah! That¡¯s a great fucking location. I could build an outpost or something like that here. Ooh.¡± She noticed something in the air and felt excitement. ¡°Ooh! Azure, Azure!¡± ¡°What? What is it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you feel it?¡± ¡°Feel what?! Tell me!¡± Sammy smirked and crossed her arms, feeling smug. ¡°Young padawan, you must reach out with your senses. Become one with your environment.¡± Her expression became serene, her clothes changed to a certain well-known robe style, and then she mimicked some deep breathing meditation exercises with her hands out to either side, eyes closing. ¡°There is no emotion, there is peace¡­¡± She peeked an eye open, though. Azure was scowling at her. She glanced around judiciously and her eyes flashed. ¡°You can stop, now, Ms. Insufferable But Cute. It¡¯s a high mana area.¡± Nodding and smiling as she banished the phantasmal robes, Sammy brought her hands together to rub them greedily. ¡°Bingo! Quick travel potential, isolated, high mana¡­ Jackpooooot!¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the ground isn¡¯t very stable, but I suppose you could fix that.¡± ¡°The ancient temple must be the source. I should probably only alter the environment after studying how much I can without accidentally ruining the benefits.¡± ¡°Ah. Good point. Perhaps renovation? And making sure it doesn¡¯t sink any more.¡± ¡°Mmn. In any case, it¡¯s about time we found out exactly where we are.¡± Azure nodded slightly and peered at her. ¡°Are you alright, Samantha?¡± ¡°Hmm? Sure.¡± ¡°The battle with Dreixia was brutal and bloody. The death haunts you, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Sammy opened her mouth to deny it but swallowed it. Denials were pointless with Azure. ¡°Yeah. Not like the other fight. This is¡­ different.¡± ¡°Yes. The nature of the killing stroke, hmm? Unlike any you experienced before. Just know that not only did you do what you had to do, but what you did was noble, however ignoble it seems. Or feels. Lives were saved from where she sought to drag them ¡ªafter her to the grave.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Sammy looked out at the jungle landscape, feeling awkward. ¡°I have to just eat this, Azure. There¡¯s too much to do. If I suffer for it, so be it.¡± I deserve it. ¡°I¡¯m not taking a break. Let¡¯s continue.¡± Azure nodded slowly. She gestured at the temple and smiled softly. ¡°Like last time, hmm? Track me down in your spirit world. Easy peasy?¡± Sammy returned the smile and nodded. ¡°Easy peasy.¡± Dematerializing, Sammy left Azure at the temple and shifted over to the Limbo wilderness of the spirit world of Calrenazzod. From there, she followed her connection to find Azure and know exactly what spot on the globe they¡¯d secured. It was relatively close to Lake Yura, perhaps 70-80 kilometers southeast and maybe 30 kilometers from the coastal bay. Useful. Hopefully, I can get something closer to Geirkos at some point since this is over 300 kilometers away, but I¡¯ll take it gladly. With the location secured and locking her Avatar there anyway, the door was open to go and also secure the Bay of Mengior in the Land of Naug. Sammy handed off dealing with the location to Jeeves and her realm. Mirrors would get arrayed to bridge from the existing path to Lake Yura, and intangible Resemblants would scout the location thoroughly. Perhaps a more physical team would go in after them. That¡¯s the delegation life, I guess. Soon, she and Azure found themselves basically sucked through another mind-bending, 3-dimensional portal. They stepped through hand-in-hand to set foot on rocks overlooking the Bay of Mengior, in the midst of stormy weather with rain falling. Nearby were some indistinct ruins, perhaps once a lighthouse considering the position. The choppy ocean was nearby, with sandbars peeking from underneath. In the distance, a port city could just be made out through the rain. You have discovered a [Transition Point] on the Bridge of Edges, preliminary designation ¡®Point 3¡¯. Avatar position moved¡­ Anchorage and transition in-world complete. ¡°What was the name of it, again? That city.¡± Sammy asked as she formed a big phantom umbrella over their heads. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Azure was staring at the ruins nearby. ¡°Sovar Ska. Was once an isolated pirate¡¯s meeting place, hideout, and neutral zone. Grew to be one of the greatest ports in the world. A rogue¡¯s den that makes Zek Sephel look tame in comparison.¡± She continued staring, though. ¡°What is it? We could go check out those ruins if you want.¡± ¡°No. I¡­ mustn¡¯t do that, now. I¡¯ve been before, as a child. Many times. It¡¯s just that my memories feel different. Deeper. And wrong versus what I see. In my mind¡¯s eye, it is whole and gleaming, the walls and the tower like a pearl seashell. It glows, practically ¡ª it resonates with power.¡± She shook her head in haunted wonderment. ¡°And I hate it whole. I was the one who destroyed it.¡± ¡°Whoa. Really? Well. Your past life.¡± ¡°Yes. It was long before even Sovar Ska existed. It was akin to a temple. There are terrible memories there¡­¡± Sammy frowned. She wanted to ask, but not only was Azure probably hazy, she likely didn¡¯t want to dredge it up. The memories of the Hall were curated in some way, and they could still cause trauma. Out in the wild, such triggers could be much, much worse. Putting her arm around Azure¡¯s waist, she made a scoffing sound. ¡°Yeah, fuck that place! It looks lame. How about we get the hell out of here, hmm? We don¡¯t really need to be here right now, anyway.¡± Azure smiled faintly. ¡°Indeed not. But at least we are noticing a pattern, hmm?¡± ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°The three locations. All are connected to dead deities. Or perhaps to us? Me? Regardless, there is some correlation along those lines.¡± ¡°Mmmmn. Yeah, you¡¯re right. The sun god could be connected to you or me. The sun thing, connected to [Light]. Or your prior self might have done that crazy transmutation shit to him just like the archer.¡± Azure stared at her, and realization began to dawn. ¡°Transmutation¡­¡± Shit. The archer. She wasn¡¯t supposed to know! Me and my big mouth! ¡°Azure, wait, I-¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Azure muttered breathlessly. Some of her color had drained from her face. ¡°That hatred I felt. Not for you. Of course. You were tortured, shot through the heart, and traumatized forever because of me¡­ Because I had found a way to turn even the gods inside out to repurpose their twisted shades for conquest. Including him.¡± ¡°No. Azure, no! It wasn¡¯t you. A past life! And this only happened because I fucked with reality, remember? But we fixed it. We fixed it, Azure. It¡¯s over.¡± Azure grimaced and pulled away from the embrace to walk away a few steps, into the rain, her back to Sammy. Her fists were clenched. ¡°You fixed it, Samantha. And bear the burden of the price for it. What did I do? What do I do? Nothing. Nothing of real note.¡± The Naugite seemed to be looking at the ruins. ¡°I can¡¯t get away from it. Her consequences. They¡¯re burying me. It¡¯s wrong, Samantha. I shouldn¡¯t be here. We¡¯re not meant to be reborn in the same world. It cannot be normal. Why did it happen? How?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. We may not ever know, Azure. We have to-¡± Azure turned on a dime and swept her hand angrily. ¡°No more platitudes, Samantha! That¡¯s not good enough. Not for this. I have to find out, I have to know. Too many ignorances accrue. We¡¯re just supposed to sweep all of this under the rug and go on? Don¡¯t you hate feeling like a pawn? I do! I feel like a puppet! A doll!¡± ¡°Azure¡­¡± Sammy just shook her head. What can I say? I can¡¯t just conjure those answers. With a frustrated noise, Azure sagged and her head dropped. She closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯d like to meditate here alone.¡± ¡°In the rain? Azure, you¡¯re not going into those ruins.¡± The Naugite beauty walked over to a higher, flat bunch of rocks nearby, and crouched to run her hand over the smooth, though wet surface. ¡°I¡¯ve come here to do so in the rain before. In worse downpours, actually.¡± She sat down cross-legged. ¡°I grew up here. Let me have this. Please.¡± She looked up at Sammy insistently. ¡°I won¡¯t go into the ruins. Not yet, anyway. I don¡¯t think the answers I need are in there, temptation though it is.¡± Sammy sighed. ¡°Fine. But check in soon?¡± Azure had her eyes closed but nodded almost imperceptibly. Sammy sat and began the dematerialization process, remaining silent and deeply uncomfortable. You¡¯re such a fucking idiot, Sammy. Just blurting out whatever is on your mind, invalidating the whole reason you made a sacrifice to begin with! She didn¡¯t need this. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Who am I kidding, really? I¡¯ll never keep a single damn thing from her. She¡¯s there for every consideration in my head, the counselor for every decision. How could she think she¡¯s done nothing of note? I depend on her! When she shifted over to her throne on Heavenpeak, Sammy did try conjuring answers to Azure¡¯s question. ¡°How did the Mirror Demon incarnation get reborn into the same world?¡± She put the question to Fate! And! She got absolutely nothing. A blank void, like the question was invalid, or false. Missing critical components to answer. Worth a shot, right? Perhaps we¡¯d need to know her actual name. Which is probably impossible. Sammy ultimately had no choice but to simply move on. Progress. It had become her nature, regardless of whether she was a ¡®pawn¡¯ or not. Who ever knew? What a privilege that would be! She believed in what she was doing. It was more than she could say about her path on Earth she was sucking ass at. Or the Faking It To Make It period when she was first on Calrenazzod. Back then, she had 0% idea what she was doing. Okay, so she only was at 10% now, it was still progress! Eventually, it¡¯ll be at 69%. And I¡¯ll say: nice. Maybe it was just some intrinsic inner faith she had in her ¡®cosmic self.¡¯ And in the likes of her previous badass selves like Ozra. The Director wasn¡¯t a pawn. Ozra wasn¡¯t a pawn. Maybe Ozra felt that way at one time, too. But she achieved and achieved and made big stamps on reality by her own will and determination. That¡¯s what Sammy hoped for herself. She just wasn¡¯t there yet ¡ª that was the rub. She was still building and learning, and that was enough for her. Sadly, Azure wasn¡¯t satisfied similarly. She wanted to connect all the dots, understand comparison and relation. Sammy was okay knowing the volume of a closed container with a prize waiting, but Azure wanted inside, wanted to touch and know the contents intimately. That was her nature, in contrast. I¡¯m sorry, Azure. You¡¯ll figure it out. If you burn with the urge to make a mark, so be it. I support you. But I also have work to do, and it''s time to get to it. (Vol 6) Chapter 5: A Better Memory After her lover departed, Azure flopped on the smooth stone in the rain and let herself be miserable. Miserable and angry. She sobbed and smashed her fist into the rock, which caused her hand to turn into crystal and absorb the impact without damage. She did it a few more times and the stone cracked. Exactly! It¡¯s what I do. Break things. Intentionally and otherwise. The connection to Samantha she had not only blocked but ¡®smoothed,¡¯ as if to look like everything was perfectly fine. She was good at hiding things, even from Sammy. It had seemed to translate well into her new abilities since becoming whatever she was. I knew that archer¡¯s hatred was too intense to direct to Samantha. Too personal. She took the fall for my sins. She was punished for me! She sat up to scream at the sky. ¡°Fuck you, System! It¡¯s dogshit! Cowshit! Fuck you! Fuck you, reality!¡± The sky seemed to answer with a peel of thunder. She laughed bitterly. ¡°Ha! I¡¯m glad it annoys you! Bitch!¡± Shaking her head at her own absurdity, she began taking off her somewhat muddy boots. Barefoot. Like when I was a ratty child. She almost hurled the boots over the cliff, but fell short of doing it, blinking at the boots still in her hand. I really like these boots¡­ Somewhat annoyed with herself for her lack of resolve, she squirreled them away into a dimensional pocket with a quick, glittery implosion of space. She didn¡¯t need an item for that anymore ¡ª it was part of her ¡®natural¡¯ ability suit. It was getting weirder and weirder¡­ the inner dimensionality of mirrors. With every level, its interlacing with reality became clearer. From past lives, she knew this, but it was different to fully live and realize it. It¡¯s because we are reality. Bent-up hallucinations given form. True of me more than anyone. Without me, there would be no in-side reality, because there would be no-where. And where am I? Easy. Contorted into a tool, an instrument, a weapon, in her hands. Multiplying her power and versatility. Bad as it might feel to some, that didn¡¯t bother her. It synergized, it Fit, with an ancient-beyond-ancient chosen purpose. It was just right. Satisfying. Aside from that, she¡¯d do anything for Samantha, and she knew it was likewise. She had to stay as sharp as a diamond blade to her purposes, or she¡¯d become a liability. That she would not do. It¡¯s not as if she isn¡¯t putty in my hands in other ways. My eternal consolation. An excellent one, truthfully. It wasn¡¯t enough, though. Not for her iteration, not for Azure. Not when her predecessor was causing pain from her nebulous grave. Things weren¡¯t in order there ¡ª they were tangled chaotically. She would make it her purpose to undo it all. She walked down from the cliff known as Highmark, off toward the city nestled along the stony coast. Just toward ¡ª she had another foggy destination in mind. The lowlands were wet and muddy but still traversable. The city disappeared quickly under the rocky hills between, as her feet disappeared in the mud squishing between her toes. A better memory to drown the rest in rain. Bury it in the mud of where I¡¯m truly from. Here. My friend! Jallee. Always together, then. We hunted the frogs and salamanders. We looked for the red whale tails they said rose only during rain. We never saw and thought ourselves unlucky. Did you become a pirate, Jallee? I still never saw them. They told me the whales are all dead in our lands. Hunted to death aeons ago. We searched for ghosts. She made her way down a sandy coast beach, plentiful with rocky outcrops. The foamy surf was driving far and high, but not enough to get the outer banks, which remained merely damp with rain. A certain well-known structure was a large, rocky hollow, almost a cave but perhaps too shallow. She approached it cautiously because of its general popularity, but soon saw it was unoccupied. Inside was the customary fire pit with stones around it, and haphazard things to sit on, made of driftwood logs and stumps. She began picking up the small stones, any that were round, trying to recall the exact look of one in particular. ¡°I bet if we carved our names in the bottom, it¡¯ll be here forever,¡± Jallee had said, in the brash surety of youth. ¡°Nuh-uh!¡± young Azure had replied, laughing at him. ¡°That¡¯s dumb. A big storm¡¯ll wash ¡®em away! Took away that black stump, remember? It was the best stump, too.¡± But the Naugite boy had only scoffed. ¡°Nah, someone stole¡¯t it, for sure. Everything else¡¯s still here! I bet you a whole gold piece it¡¯ll stay forever.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even have a silver, dummy!¡± ¡°But I will! When I¡¯m big n¡¯ rich n¡¯ famous! So will you. It won¡¯t mean nothin¡¯ by then, so who cares? I bet you it¡¯s still here by then.¡± Azure had rolled her eyes. ¡°Whatever! Fine, let¡¯s try. I¡¯ll be one gold more richer.¡± Awkward letters had been carved onto the bottom of a typical round stone of the fire pit and left to be checked. Jallee had been smug about it for years because they¡¯d found their names again and again. They told no one, though. It was a secret, and others might be ¡®assholes¡¯ and copy-cat them, or throw it into the sea. Azure checked every round stone, and then checked them again, more thoroughly. She wandered around the rest of the hollow, looking for any others. But there was nothing. Any names scrawled on the bottom of a stone eluded her. She sat down on a log and sighed in disappointment, looking out through the opening at the rain and the sea. ¡°You owe me a gold piece, Jallee. But I don¡¯t need it. You were right about that, at least.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. She noticed something on a larger rock she¡¯d discounted, so she craned down and turned it toward her. On a flat section of rock to the side of it, nicely formed letters read, ¡®Rackar & Hellie Forever!¡¯ Azure laughed, shaking her head. ¡°Someone with a similar idea, is it? Good luck. Maybe true love and a bigger rock will prevail over mere childhood friends and a throwaway stone.¡± How do I find out what happened to the Mirror Demon? I have to know her end. Would her beginning lead me to it, or just pain and madness? The Hall refused to give it up. Just like anything to do with her. I could believe it was intentional, like it didn¡¯t want me to find out any more. Is that Lovie¡¯s doing, some other mechanism, or my imagination? Regardless, I can see how it would be construed as for my own good. Her instincts pushed her both to and away from the ruins. It felt like diving into a beckoning abyss. And that¡¯s why she resisted it. To experience what made the Mirror Demon could carry her in the same footsteps. When she could peer in and be confident in herself, perhaps. I need to chase other threads. Research, collaborate, meet minds, work. That is what Samantha¡¯s organization has taught us solves problems and produces the best results. Order over chaos, and that¡¯s what I need. What she needs¡­ is me not devolving reality into my way. That muddy road back up¡­ it¡¯s my nature to take it. A thousand lives before, I would. I¡¯d reach out and touch the glittering dark, laughing in glee. Throw caution to the wild, wild wind. ¡°Just as she did,¡± Azure muttered and knew it was true. She had reached out and touched that twisted source for strength in the midst of desperation and madness. For her, in particular, it was too late to merely be licked by it. She dove into it and came out a true monster. She abused the power like none before her. Rewrote reality to undo the gods themselves and turn them into something the Sage could truly loathe. The first batch he destroyed surely needed to be, but he had no inclination to stop there. A failing on his part, but I¡­ get it. Her iterations could break things very easily, including souls. Including their own. It wasn¡¯t like Tashome¡¯s¡­ shape. He was malleable and forgable ¡ª fluid and yielding, incredibly durable and enduring. In contrast, she was hard and sharp and fragile. If she broke, everything they were hoping to accomplish was over. I¡¯m going to do this her way and make her proud. Understanding obtained for both our sakes. She stood up, taking a deep breath, ready to move on ¡ª from the past mistakes, from guilt she didn¡¯t deserve. No more crying, right, Samantha? Time to get cracking! Hm. Poor choice of words¡­ Azure stood and left the old stones where they were, pausing at the edge of the hollow just before the spilling rain. She saw some movement under the sand briefly, just beyond. Some beach creature, perhaps a crab. Nearby, small rivulets of water were escaping an overfilled puddle and running over a rocky section. The rock was worn there like a groove. Water pooling in the same place, doing the same thing it has a million times before. That¡¯s our reality, isn¡¯t it? We could take the shape of anything, yet here we are, simple spilled-out elements. She felt a sudden connection in her mind, coming with the scent of wildflowers and the charge of a pack of lions. Redberry. ¡°Azure. If you can find a moment to meet physically, I have a very special gift to give you.¡± Azure was pleasantly surprised. ¡°Ah, Redberry! I¡¯m terribly flattered. I¡¯m sure we can arrange it momentarily, Goddess. May I ask what it is?¡± ¡°Many things. A weapon, but useless in the wrong hands. I was hoping you could¡­ cajole its full power out. My analysis and considerations on the matter point to you as the best chance.¡± ¡°I¡­ see. I¡¯m not sure how I could be the best bet of this nature compared to others, but I will gladly try my best. A weapon you say? What kind? I¡¯m best with daggers.¡± ¡°I know. It ¡ª he ¡ª is called Ka¡¯tettin Havur. Deathsting.¡± ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Serkars¡¯srek slithered and shifted himself out of physical reality back to the spirit world, to avoid any problems of detection or vibe-noticing from the blue demon ape-thing. Nerdites or whatever they were called. Disgusting and smelly, regardless. Technically the harlot smelled overpoweringly like animal mutilation industry and flowers ¡ª ¡®soap purr fumes¡¯ he believed it was called ¡ª but that was just as bad. Stealth masking, I guess. Not sure what good it does when you can track that oddity for leagues and leagues¡­ He slipped through hidden spaces in Limbo to make his way back out of the Nerdite lands, which were distasteful as it was. Paranoid, he kept a close watch for other spies or threats. Activity is bothersome lately. At least the screwy spaces aren¡¯t twisting around everywhere. And Ms. Harlot Queen isn¡¯t rampaging somewhere. I can¡¯t believe I was asked to spy on her flowery mate. She¡¯s gotten ridiculously dangerous here, not to mention problematic to spy on. Hiding from her would be an art requiring not even the tiniest mistake. And a cushion of distance. Serkars¡¯srek found his way to the temple and slithered up the pyramid. The Queen was dozing all curled up in her cup-throne as usual, but she opened her eyes languidly just as he approached. She beckoned him with a hand, so he obliged and made his way all the way up to wrap around her arm. They flicked tongues on each other¡¯s faces in familiar greetings. ¡°You¡¯re in a ¡®satisfied with your job¡¯ sort of mood,¡± The Queen commented with a display of teeth. ¡°Good news, then?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Serkars¡¯srek flicked. ¡°She did not enter the ruins. She walked down to some hollow on the beach and was having nostalgia or something like that. And apeing deep introspection.¡± Serkars¡¯srek sent the bundle of imagery and impressions to her mentally. The Queen squinted as she reviewed things. Then two of her hands took her cheeks as she rocked her face and beamed in delight. ¡°Oh, such a lovely scene! She¡¯s doing so well! What an improvement! She¡¯s not going. A test passed. I am so happy for her. Thank you, Serkars¡¯srek.¡± ¡°Why do you care so much about this demon ape?¡± Blink, blink. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s far more than that within and beyond. But you¡¯re right, aren¡¯t you? I care about her, the persona. And her improvement. Hmm. I forget why! I don¡¯t have many details coded, just the big stuff.¡± When he thought about it, Serkars¡¯srek probably didn¡¯t want to know. ¡°So am I going to have to keep spying on her?¡± ¡°No, no, no¡­ Just know that I am pleased. This gives me something to look forward to for a bit. I can save the nail-biting for after. What a warm, gooey feeling!¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± ¡°Mmn!¡± She yawned. ¡°Mmn. Would you like to nap?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Serkars¡¯srek nestled nearly under his queen to trap the warmth of the radiant cup and enjoy some basking. It was way better than the sun. (Vol 6) Chapter 6: The Overdue of Paradise Samantha¡¯s day proceeded without crisis. Azure checked in seemingly feeling reasonably fine and had a little extra drive in her, even. That was perfect! She requested Sammy shift her Avatar back to the jungle location so she could meet with and show the place to Redberry, who could move around her own central territory with ease, apparently. Sammy was ultra supportive of this. Ooh, that¡¯s so awesome! I hope they can connect more and be friends. That would be wonderful. Maybe Azure can brief her in more detail about the recent events, too. Sammy forwarded that thought to her girlfriend and left her to it, determined to let them bond on their own. Her next order of business was something slightly overdue: moving Blum, Tinny, and Everett, the ¡®prisoners¡¯ of her Mazes, over to The City of Tomorrow. She thought Old Man Everett would be a tough sell being such an introvert, but her description of the city caused him immediate interest and he quickly agreed. It helped that she pointed out how she could copy the castle wholesale as a sub-realm with a doorway to the other, and they could take baby steps forward if they wanted. However, he did have to take an initial walk. But he was fine with that, even said that he needed one. The journey was the same for him as it was for Marjorie ¡ª down the path over the void, walking on until the road became golden-paved and winding, with the gates high in the distance. Everett paused here to look for a long while, smiling fondly. ¡°I¡¯d like to sketch it, if I could, Madam,¡± the old man muttered, resting his hands on a cane. ¡°Just like this, with those lovely colored pencils you gave me. To remember. Not sure if that would be trouble for you, though.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s more than fine,¡± Samantha replied, patting his shoulder. ¡°You can head on up when you¡¯re ready, Mr. Everett. No rush.¡± She made a bench grow out of the border of the walkway, right where Everett was, and a post next to it that read, ¡®Everett¡¯s Outlook.¡¯ With that, she left him to his private moment. Blum and Tinny, out on the sea as usual when she went to them to deliver the news, broke down when it hit them just what she was offering. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve this, Goddess,¡± Blum muttered in between sobs, as she fell to the deck on her knees, two hands up holding her horns, her head continuously shaking. ¡°A clock ticking, seven years of fishing alone¡­ and then I made friends¡­ it was more than enough. Way more. And now you¡¯re telling me I-I¡¯ve got forever and a day of paradise? I just can¡¯t¡­ I¡­¡± She trailed off and squeezed her eyes shut. Tinny was not as dramatic, but tears were falling from his eyes. He turned away, looking out on the sea. ¡°Ain¡¯t right¡­ not with the things I¡¯ve done¡­¡± Samantha knelt to put a hand on Blum¡¯s arm and offered a comforting smile. ¡°The paradise aspect is your choice. Understand that whatever you do, you will contribute your spark to me in this place. You will do good for others on Calrenazzod, do you understand? This is what I charge you, this is your penance if you feel you owe it. Will you accept for the betterment of the living? To contribute to a community of the dead?¡± Blum stared at her and swallowed, but began to sober quickly, brows drawing down even as her tears continued to fall. She nodded solemnly as a shaking hand took Samantha¡¯s. ¡°Aye.¡± Tinny had turned around to stare as well, face intent. ¡°We can help? How?¡± Samantha shrugged with a bigger smile as she looked between them. ¡°Use your experience and expertise. Fish, cook, share. Feed others something wholly authentic, hmm? Maybe. The sky''s the limit. Tell stories, fellowship, teach others to fish if they want. Or shoot arrows at bullseyes, or wrestle. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Whatever! It¡¯s to your desires. That¡¯s my project, my utopia of slain scarcity, lack, and strife. I want to see what absolute freedom achieves! You can contribute how you like.¡± ¡°Others?¡± Blum whispered in amazement and shared a glance with Tinny. ¡°You mean more of the dead¡­ and not just by you. Er¡­ begging your pardon, Goddess.¡± Samantha winced a bit but nodded. ¡°My Followers will inevitably trickle in, and one day, it could be significant indeed for the struggle that is ahead.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll serve,¡± Tinny declared with sudden passion in his voice ¡ª and burning in his eyes. ¡°With all I have in me.¡± Even as Samantha was nodding to Tinny, Blum offered, ¡°Me as well. Such as I am, I¡¯ll give it a go.¡± Grinning as she stood and helped Blum back up, Sammy called, ¡°So be it!¡± She pointed off the bow of the ship, where suddenly in the distance there was a giant whirlpool in the middle of the ocean. ¡°Go straight down it!¡± Confused, alarmed, and hesitating, the two nonetheless sprang into action to navigate toward the whirlpool, modifying sails, tying things down, and Blum taking the wheel. Tinny was still pretty green, so Blum was barking orders at him, correcting him, and coming in behind him almost continuously. The whirlpool was like a hole in the world. The boat had quite a lurch when they crested over the edge, as gravity took them down. Sammy laughed in glee while the other two screamed. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Hraaah!¡± ¡°Kyaaaah!¡± ¡°Yeeeaah! Haha!¡± Fortunately, gravity adjusted to stick them to the boat as they proceeded through a rapidly pulling tunnel with sunlight at the end in the far distance. ¡°I-is this bloody necessary?!¡± Blum exclaimed in harried tones. ¡°Well, we have to take a journey one way or another,¡± Sammy replied, shrugging. ¡°It was this or walking, and I¡¯m a variety gal. So buck up, Sister!¡± Shapes of deeper structures could be seen under the water occasionally, more hints than actual discernible objects, but strange nonetheless. It appeared crystalline and of unusual geometry. Occasionally, some part of it did jut out of the water and they had to navigate around it. Dolphins made of glittering rainbow glass swam to the side for a while, which they marveled at until the phantoms disappeared. Finally, they came up over another tunnel edge and were zipping off through new waters, under a new sun. ¡°It¡¯s so much brighter and nicer,¡± Tinny muttered in wonder. ¡°More¡­ real.¡± Blum gasped suddenly and pointed. ¡°Look, Tinny!¡± The city was visible on the horizon, its towers glittering golden in the light. Sammy chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it. This section of the ocean is a copy of where you came from. If you want to go back to the castle, follow your normal route. So to speak ¡ª you cannot really go back to the Maze, but I¡¯ve copied everything. There will also be a simple physical door to traverse from the castle to the city¡¯s main tower, as well.¡± ¡°Thank you, Goddess,¡± Tinny said, still peering with huge eyes at that sight on the horizon. ¡°Thank you, Goddess,¡± Blum mimed absently, also spellbound. Snickering to herself, Sammy left them to return to Heavenpeak. She didn¡¯t get a quest completion notification, she noticed. ¡°System, what¡¯s my progress on the Afterlife quest? Isn¡¯t that seven?¡± There are currently six active members of your Afterlife. Another member is required. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re not counting Marjorie?¡± The user you refer to cannot add to the total required, no longer being an active resident. ¡°Bah. Wish I could¡¯ve finished the quest on a more positive note than the hypothetical death of one of my Followers. Hardly something to celebrate.¡± There was nothing for it, though. It was what it was. Digging back into realm development, her collective organization had been conspiring to utilize Grant Prayer (Pantheon) and advance the particular Pantheon quest associated with it. This had to buff those pursuing in some fashion the Pantheon¡¯s Edicts: Fight against tyranny and oppression; support independence and self-sufficiency; promote mutual good, understanding, and friendship between reasonable parties. The System seemed liberal about applying it to her cause. Active operations were more subdued that day, but many Followers gained it anyway by their efforts within Redberry¡¯s lands and its varied communities, pursuing bridges between such cultures as the Geirkos region and independent tribes like the Chig-Megeksko Frogmen. The Great Shaman Gejjok Mikmog had steadily added the whole tribe as Followers. Communication with a vast network was bringing trade there, and several buffs worked on people dealing with it. So it was with other communities. Twelve buffs had been distributed around the network. Investigation by her realm headed by Dick and Zephyr uncovered a bit more information on the Isle of Phantoms. It had once been a rival port of Geirkos and a culture dotting many islands, but an ancient, brutal war had seen it annihilated. The city-state had been called Itha Ranon, or in that dead tongue, ¡®Bright Tower.¡¯ Purportedly, they were governed by a sorcerer-king with a strong magical focus overseeing a golden age that their rivals feared and envied. They banded together to destroy it. The sorcerer-king, whose name was lost, put up a bitter fight but his enemies were too numerous and overpowered them, ultimately sacking the city. As a final retaliatory, suicidal stroke, he sank the majority of it, only sparing his beloved second palace made for his late wife, on a bedrock grown up from the sea to make room. It was made of rare ¡®purple marble,¡¯ her favorite color, and decked in silver. He supposedly could not bring himself to sink it, nor the lands she loved to ride upon, rare woodlands and hills free of structures just for her sake. After the titanic destruction that the spellcraft caused to everyone, essentially wiping out the majority of each party, the palace began getting dismantled to help pay for the losses and debts of the war, much of the rare marble being cut up and sold to the richer lands of the far north. Various attempts were made to settle the remaining land not destroyed, mostly as an outpost or sea fortress as a bulwark against Naugite raiders and such, but a curse appeared to be over the land ¡ª the cause varied in explanation from the haunting of the ghosts to simple anger from the gods. Those who had been involved in the dismantling slowly went mad, and any who ventured to the island did so sooner than later. It was abandoned and left alone, though various parties occasionally ventured to look for loot in the extensive ruins, dismissive of ¡®ghost stories,¡¯ only to suffer the same fate. Well, this certainly sounds like something to not poke at, but I can¡¯t resist. Especially after the Atlantis-like story. The synergy! The vibes! Long-ranging efforts headed by Zephyr were underway, to track down a rare book written by a sage who was a mind specialist. He¡¯d collected three separate ¡®subjects¡¯ who¡¯d gone mad from the island, to study them, understand the ¡®condition,¡¯ and attempt to rehabilitate them. Zephyr, a man somehow wizened and in his prime at the same time, related those details to Sammy through a mirror portal while lounging in a plush chair. He stroked his trimmed white-and-gray beard as he smoked from a pipe and shrugged. ¡°Perhaps there will be some clue to solving the curse, perhaps not. If we can get one of the rare copies, we¡¯ll see. Normally, I¡¯d laugh in someone¡¯s face if they asked to find it. But your realm allows for many multiples of my former reach for things.¡± Sammy nodded. ¡°Mmn. In the meantime, I¡¯m probably good to poke around in the spirit world and seek more through Fate to determine our steps. I¡¯m confident though, Zephyr. Well done.¡± ¡°Confident in what? The location?¡± ¡°Indeed. I¡¯ve already declared it once, but now I say it knowing why. A tower of sorcery in Itha Ranon will rise again, and greater than before. The Bright Tower will shine like the sun!¡± (Vol 6) Chapter 7: Building Upon Ashes Sammy set aside her scouting expedition temporarily to focus on a few other pressing matters. Ash had just arrived in Geirkos, and there was a grand organizational affair underway (headed in part by the Cat Sith Morgana) involving her and other wizards of the order to conduct their first ritual. It was something of a test flight. She wanted to pack as much power and mana into [Magical Invention: Mana Items] to produce a solid item. She arrived at the Great Oak to see a circle already waiting around the tree. Twelve casters to boost the spell, and twelve apprentice helpers to assist with MP drain. The apprentices thing was somewhat new to Geirkos, a funded project of the Brain Trust headed by Zephyr and Morgana to exploit the potential of Followers inclined and/or talented toward wizardry. When she queried Jeeves just how many they¡¯d accrued, he replied that it was up to 34. Two of the twelve contributing caster levels were level 1 Wizards of great talent who had recently been such apprentices. One was a young woman by the name of Penelope who¡¯d been a servant girl in the Tin Chicken before it was destroyed. She blasted through the Runebooks in days, hyper-obsessed. She was considered a genius. Another was a gentleman who had also recently become a priest. Wow! We¡¯re bringing all the magic together. Exactly what I wanted. The next Domain will be all too natural! Sammy took her position at the base of the tree, touching a branch and thanking the spirit briefly. She nodded to Ash directly out from her and began the spellcraft, holding out her hands to levitate the sapphire stone that was the focus of creation. Twelve staffs raised around the tree, and mana charged visibly at their tips, then in a network around the circle. Incantations began, a simple chant alternating between casters and contributors, who also made hand signs, as their mana was pulled through them into the staffs. The energy channeled toward Sammy, and she directed it into the sapphire, her incantations becoming like a song on her lips to focus it. Caster level thirteen from the last creation, plus four from the ritual users, plus two from circle prep and material sacrifices, plus two from preliminary time spent, plus three from the gemstone. Twenty-four, minus four for the regeneration capacity. We¡¯ll add another hour for plus two. So twenty-two. The primary bulk of energy wrapped into the gemstone, condensing and compounding as it became its own regenerating source. The group went into a trance as they settled in for the slow drip feed of mana, squeezing a little more in with each breath. Time died quickly in the heat of the afternoon as they kept up continuous incantations. Finally, it was complete, and the mana item became charged and ready. The base mana cost was 220, times 8 then halved for the ritual cast, so 880 MP was distributed. Apprentices contributed a total of 38 MP only. Sammy contributed 200 (knowing she recharged the easiest among them), leaving 642 distributed unevenly between the rest. Items are veeery expensive to make. Regenerating Mana Storage Item of capacity 22 MP has been successfully created. Regeneration is at the normal rate (1 MP per hour) and only one item in a certain radius will regenerate. It may be manually recharged at will.
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Ritual Beginnings¡± ¡ª Lead and complete a total of three different arcane spell rituals involving 12 or more, of a final caster level 15+. ¡ñ Rewards: 7 exp in [Wizard], Ritual Cast+1, bonus rewards for other participants of all three rituals. Plus 2 exp in [Wizard] if each ritual obtains caster level 20+. Smiling, Sammy placed the sapphire at the center of her belt, which fused to it and locked it in place instantly. She inclined her head to the gathered. ¡°Thank you, all. Well done.¡± They bowed in response, and Ash replied, ¡°It was my pleasure, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Everyone, be ready for more of these sorts of rituals. I gather most of you acquired quests, too. If not, you¡¯re about to. I charge you all to join me in more and study to do so to the best of your ability. We will build on this beginning and you will prove your power to this end. Gain knowledge, coordinate, conspire, and develop your mana pools. Capice? Everybody now!¡± ¡°Capice!¡± came a chorus in answer. ¡°Okay! Now then ¡ª rest up and recharge, my Sparrows.¡± Ash had quickly gotten more plugged into Sammy¡¯s realm, eager to communicate with so many promising agents despite her prior warnings about information leaking about who she was. That was generally kept mysterious. But it was clear that Ash could not resist the knowledge dangling at her fingertips. Despite that the man had been essentially an enemy not long ago, Ash knew of Zephyr and had been almost a fangirl in her excitement to work with him. They were fast ¡®mind space¡¯ comrades and Ash was soon thereafter adopted into the Brain Trust. It turned out that Ash had not really even heard about the more recent events related to the Dominion, all happening when she was on the run and ignorant. She had much to say on the True Sage and such matters. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°It is nearly catastrophic,¡± Ash sent to her in a bubble of excitement and various conflicting, disturbed feelings. ¡°His Hon- er, the Sage, to do so much so far from the Dormancidia ¡ª he¡¯d consider that a vile and terrible waste. What has been described to me is essentially not even worth Inquisitor One¡¯s life in what is known of the Sage¡¯s praxis and outlook. Recall that he was not there to save a far better leader when he faced Redberry. It is odd that he was so desperate to have a contingency for Inquisitor One. It just doesn¡¯t line up with my assessment of him.¡± ¡°The Dormancidia,¡± Sammy mused. ¡°This is his big inverted pyramid?¡± Ash was shocked. ¡°You know about that? Well. Not technically correct. The Dormancidia can be considered the bottom portion. Or top, depending on how you look at it. The structure as a whole is simply known as Below. It is mostly shrouded in mystery, even for us. The Inquisitors. Most of us. I wasn¡¯t high enough to know about the inner secrets.¡± ¡°I saw the structure from the spirit realm. It looks¡­ formidable.¡± ¡°Unassailable, essentially. It has accessible, protected paths from the topmost portions because some souls do come and go. It is said none go without being changed, and past the uppermost level, you cannot return¡­ you, anymore.¡± Sammy had an involuntary shiver. ¡°If I know anything about Big Bads, I have to think his bosom buddy understudy got sent for torture down there or something for his failure.¡± Ash seemed to take a moment to consider this. ¡°The Sage doesn¡¯t make such decisions lightly. The further down, the more risk of twisting someone into a far less-useful husk. While it is said his arts are perfection, people are not, and react differently to alteration. Essentially, he has never been able to make it an exact art. But perhaps the extent of failure would warrant it. It seems likely he will be a threat, regardless. Based on the vision with Orswyth. Something we¡¯ll need to prepare for, obviously.¡± Sammy was amused. ¡°The Brain Trust has been quick to get you up to speed, hmm? Good. I need you. Another thing that vision showed was Big Daddy Sage holing up and not participating even up to his damnable front gates. For some reason. What do you make of this? Why did that happen? Did I punch the shark¡¯s nose in that reality somehow?¡± ¡°Maybe, maybe not. I think he led you by the nose into a simple trap culminating into what the Sage of Truth did. He baited you and made you think you were winning. The True Sage prefers to use the least energy possible to accomplish something. He¡¯ll lose an infinitude of battles to accomplish whatever his agenda is. Which is not necessarily clear, which is why I don¡¯t say ¡®to win the war.¡¯ ¡± Ash took a moment for a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s vital to understand what history we are aware of in regards to him. To conquer all the lands he did and slay their gods required great sacrifice and cost, in the end essentially destroying his body from what it endured, not to mention the malus of time itself. To save himself and attain true immortality, he became reliant on his construct, which is partly made up of and fueled by hordes of the heroic dead in preservation sarcophagi. What exactly he is, I don¡¯t know. A lich? Perhaps. An inversion of life in some way. The ultimate Undead, his soul fully preserved. Or transmuted. ¡°Realizing he could no longer do it all alone due to the limited resources that were even worse with distance, he aimed to build up his sagely society in power and work through them. Failed experiments and false hopes abounded. The most promising was the late Sage of Truth, poured into over centuries of preserved life. A second age of conquest began his reign. The borderlands, the west, and northward, too. The northeast. The Pine Coast. ¡°But he failed in the disastrous invasion of Valuwei after multiple attempts and failed abysmally against the minotaurs. The Sage almost lost all hope. He was taken Below, presumably the deepest of the upper levels, and modified. Success was mixed and he likely lost too much of himself. He became fearless and ruthless. He went over the mountains to conquer the Southlands. ¡°It started off successfully in the cities but floundered in the wildernesses, especially the swamps. The rest you should know. He went after Redberry, who was wounded by him but managed to still best him. I am very familiar with the analysis there. He could have prepared himself much better, or simply have stuck to a slower, more logical attrition without risking himself. Most claim it was hubris that killed him. I think it was a lack of fear and self-preservation.¡± Sammy digested the little nuggets of intel. Lots of things she knew, some she kind of knew, and some of it was new new. ¡°So the True Sage had to cut corners to be immortal, eh? Interesting.¡± ¡°As you might guess, he attained incredible power. The development of [Entropy] was the penultimate of this, but its costs were terrible on the flesh. He spent centuries in relative seclusion keeping death at bay, and then finally beating it. Seclusion and questing, I suppose.¡± ¡°Selling what was left of his soul, more like.¡± After a pause, she asked, ¡°I actually don¡¯t know entirely what the Sage did after the Redberry situation.¡± ¡°The Sage retreated from everything and everyone after the death. He was disappointed in the entire society, and his protege, such as he was, had been the last thread of his hope. He went to sleep in seclusion, to torpor, and his famous last words to Central were that we had no potential and were worthless. ¡°As I understand it, in the process, he withdrew most active avenues to avoid the Spell of Forgetfulness and deepened its global bite, dooming the greater civilization to decline. Why exactly, I¡¯m not sure, though it would seem petty nihilism. Those connected to Central still had some default protections, and the more powerful sages had their own means. Most who analyze the matter are dire about the long-term consequences to society, however.¡± ¡°Holy fuck, that explains a lot. A bunch of old men suddenly getting older! But then¡­ ugh. I think I maybe woke him up with my reality fuckery. Don¡¯t ask, by the way.¡± (Vol 6) Chapter 8: Nearing Limits * Ash merely nodded mentally to Sammy¡¯s request not to shift subjects. ¡°As you wish. But if so, it was inevitable. Probably contingency alarms. You were eventually going to trigger something to be making waves in Dominion territory and killing sages.¡± Sammy smirked internally. ¡°Ah, well, thanks for making me feel a little better. What is Central, by the way?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? A hive mind of sorts. A psychic medium to communicate that the Inquisitors use. Somewhat like your Brain Trust, perhaps. Those with access are among the best and most trusted in the Dominion.¡± ¡°I should¡¯ve guessed! Okay, so, with all this in mind, what would be the Sage¡¯s motive?¡± ¡°Find diamonds, I suppose. Test his protege, baptize him in the fire. And others, too, maybe. Perhaps he wouldn¡¯t expect much. Expects failure, or even plans on it. We see a lack of concern for his empire in the vision, just as he has exhibited after the Redberry scenario. Even now, he may have withdrawn again.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think he¡¯d interfere in the war again?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think he would at all, before ¡ª just tug strings from afar. The West is there to buffer and take the punishment just as it did. But I also didn¡¯t expect two principal and key deaths. I expected to chase the Naugites out, at great cost and drain, but inevitably. My assumption was that Zadkiel would retreat before he was truly threatened, with the idea to continue stirring conflict, which is what a God of War thrives on. ¡°I¡¯m still amazed that the True Sage prepared to have a presence there. Perhaps he planned to see Inquisitor One tested. If he wanted to snipe Zadkiel, he could¡¯ve acted quicker. But as I understand it, it was an unexpected ambush. It¡¯s wholly possible that the Sage just wasn¡¯t paying attention during the period. That¡¯s the disadvantage of a disposable puppet waltzing around.¡± Sammy sniffed in distaste. ¡°He may have just not cared enough about them to interfere.¡± ¡°A fair assessment. It makes me think about the vision and the end result. A true apocalypse of destruction unleashed from Below. Perhaps that is what he is working on now? A terrifying thought. I wonder what would¡¯ve happened if you had gone?¡± ¡°Not something we¡¯ll be doing. Myself or the heroes. Never. I¡¯ll bait him out. If any of that shit happens. Remember that it is a potential future that won¡¯t actually happen.¡± ¡°If the vision shows their intentions, we need to pretend we don¡¯t read them, or never let on in any way that we do. Then we counter it at the last possible moment. Only then will you seize the most advantage from the foreknowledge.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s pretty logical. Again, though¡­ big, big if.¡± ¡°We can look for the signs and be ready. After all, you have three Daughters to help you.¡± Sammy sent a mental smile. ¡°That I do. I already rely on one, and you¡¯re not far behind. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re plugging in quickly. Okay, then, that¡¯s what we¡¯ll do, while preparing as ever for the worst. In secret.¡± ¡°My thoughts exactly, Madam.¡± Sammy popped into the spirit realm and shifted over to a zone of Limbo to recharge her mana quickly. While her Avatar was still sticking by the Great Oak, Sammy repeated her solo success with the temp mana item and made another matching earring. Not only did she obviously need to match an earring, but it allowed her a more ¡®secondary¡¯ source after the regenerating sapphire. The third earring could be the true backup last resort. Temporary Mana Storage Item of capacity 26 MP has been successfully created. By this time, dusk had come and gone, and her realm gained on another day.
148 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: Followers of a different deity.
4 Followers have been converted to Pantheon daily contribution and will not provide automatic Daily FE. Pantheon Followers can still provide prayer-based FE.
-102 for various operational costs.
489 FE gained from assorted Follower/Pantheon Follower prayers. 50 converted to Fate FE. 50 converted to Illusion FE. 70 converted to Mirrors FE. 120 converted to Light FE.
148 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Follower conversions successful. 148 FE gained. 148 Daily FE gained; 15 Followers have obtained quality grade Devout; 3 Followers have been authorized as Crusaders; 12 Followers have been ordained as level 0 priests (Daily FE total: 1136).
1126 Daily FE gained.
342 FE gained from assorted Follower prayers.
Sammy checked the total Followers to see how close she was to completing the associated quest. 847 Followers! If my gains are a little more next time, I¡¯ll complete it! I think it will, too. A big portion here was from Puck. It¡¯s going to spike again. Looking at her total FE gains, she was at 12,273 FE out of 16,000. Holy Forking Shirtballs, I¡¯m going to max out! I might as well stop spending Pantheon FE because I need some sinks for all this. And I can start converting all or nearly all prayers into Specialized FE instead of trying to hit targets. Hmm. What else? Servitors. And I could make another Avatar, but I want to keep one free for spontaneous creation. Level 9 would be when I can have 4 of them. ¡°System, what is the maximum FE for a Pantheon?¡± Pantheon maximum FE follows a formula based on the total deity levels of all members as well as the Pantheon level. This is 999 times deity levels plus 3,333 times the Pantheon level. In the case of Celestial Horizon, this is (999 x 22) + (3,333 x 2) = 28,644. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Damn, so a metric shitton. Got it. And can you tell me anything else I can do to avoid wasting FE over my personal maximum?¡± You can convert raw FE into Pantheon FE through your own prayer, at 2 Deity FE per Pantheon FE, up to 7% of your Maximum FE per day. You may also invest up to 25% of your total maximum into Projects you desire to complete later. The FE can only be utilized for that specific ability use (such as Relic creation) but otherwise remains flexible. ¡°Ah! Perfect. I can avoid waste for a while, then, if it comes down to it.¡± She took a glance at the Pantheon¡¯s total current FE. 9,115¡­ It¡¯s over nine-thousaaaaaand! Eh hehehe! Hmm. Must be Redberry punting some of her reserves over, because I¡¯ve been using it and prayer isn¡¯t to that level yet. She handed off monitoring the gains to Jeeves and her realm and began pondering what to spend some of it on. Servitors, definitely. Holy Relic? They were maxed at four total, and she was always going to keep one in reserve. She planned to revisit the third as something less¡­ adventurey and place it in her primary Consecrated church. At the least, Relics were certainly a target for a little Project allocation if needed. She put that on the books as a contingency. Servitors, okay, let¡¯s see¡­ Jeeves popped into her head suddenly. ¡°Your Majesty, by way of Peretheia the Nereid, three merfolk have asked you to meet at the beach as you once did. They¡¯ve returned from their trips back to their lands. If agreed, you can meet in ten minutes.¡± ¡°Oh! Nice. I agree! I¡¯ll be there.¡± Sammy Mirror Walked over to the location, shifting to her dressier form for the meeting, then modded it to something a bit different with her phantasmal power. Instead of birds, she went with seashells. On the sandy shore with the ocean just behind them were three merfolk once more, the moon shining in the sky above their heads. Two of the merfolk present were those she recognized from before ¡ª Alkai Kari and Heizon Kar of the Seriotikka. The other was not Morriam, though attired similarly. They all bowed, and the new one said, ¡°Apologies, but Current Changer Morriam Gosi was not able to come. I am Current Changer Tenshai Gosi of the Shanwysi. Your form is breathtaking, as is your dress.¡± Samantha inclined her head. ¡°I am the Seeress of Geirkos. Thank you and I find you very pleasing as well. I¡¯m honored to receive you all again. To what do I owe the pleasure this evening?¡± Heizon pulled out what looked to be a red and gold conch shell. ¡°Highcaller Galeshaen Osa Kar of the Seriotikka thanks you for your gift and gives his own. A Rittok to summon three fine helpers as swift as the sea can carry, who would serve you in whatever capacity.¡± He stepped forward and knelt to offer the conch, which Samantha took, noticing it was indeed magical. ¡°Incredible,¡± Samantha said. ¡°Please convey my gratitude and glee to receive it.¡± She held her hand out, sensing and assuming he¡¯d want to kiss her hand again, which he did immediately, and then rose to step back away. Tenshai stepped forward and pulled out an ornate coral wand with something like three ribbons at the top of it. ¡°Highcaller and Mistress of the Currents, Unteria Gosi of the Shanwysi, thanks you for your gift and gives her own. A wand that makes any natural creature of the sea to be tame toward you, whether to flee or be friendly, as is their disposition. But always pacified and non-aggressive.¡± She did the same thing as Heizon, kneeling and giving the gift. Samantha took it and likewise offered her hand. ¡°Thoughtful and kind,¡± Samantha commented. ¡°Please convey my gratitude and glee to receive it.¡± Hmm. Promising developments so far. What else is in store, I wonder?
Samantha, Goddess of Fate & Illusion ______________________________ Goddess, level 7 [54/70]; Standard Deity Domains (5/5): Mirrors, Illusion, Fate, Light, Pneuma Faith Energy: 12,273/16000 FE (Mirrors): 200 ; (Illusion): 200 ; (Fate): 200 ; (Light): 200 ; (Pneuma): 143 Followers: 847 (Daily FE Gain: 1136 - 10) Devout: 139+12 Priests: 99+17+22s Brute: 0 [4/10] Saboteur: 3 [3/40] Magineer (Abjurer): 7 [62/80] Bard: 2 [19/30] MP: 221/221 Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Meditation, Sympathetic Targeting, Swimming (Expert), Diplomacy, Favored Wpn: Staff Class Skills: {W} Comprehension (Grandmaster), {R} Rogue''s Luck, Priestly Ordination, Holy Relic Investiture, Create Servitor, Consecration, Magical Invention (Grandmaster), Detect Magic+2, Ritual Cast*, Draw Mana* (1/1), Tweak Spell, Inspire Ally (2/2), Musical Talent, Jack of All Trades 2, Exploit Weakness, Avoidance, Sabotage+1 Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith, Spirit Sight, Soul Companion (Azure), Detection Ward, Split Prediction, Perfect Vision, Light Absorption, Spirit Armor Avatars: Av 1 (Core): Samantha (Mental Res 3, Magic Res 2, Quick 3, Favored Wpn: Staff 0+1) PFE: 150/150; Faces: Core (Pain Res 2), Stillwater (Charisma 1, Vital Strike +1), Puck; Av 2: Green (Mental Res 3, Magic Res 1, Quick 3, PFE: 150/150; Faces: Greenleaf, Samantha) Spells (MP): Allspell Zero (1), Allspell Core (3), Hard Light Layer (4), Three Small Fortunes (6 MP+), Telekinetic Thrust (6), Seeking (8), Web (10), Delicate Touch (9), Mirror Array (12 MP+), False Mind (22+), Personal Levitation (12), Pillar of Force (16+), Missile Blocker (20 MP+), Minor Contingency* (18), Justified Dispel (18), Breath of Spell Stasis (40) Powers: FE Utilization, Grant Prayer (Illusion, Fate, Light, Pneuma, Pantheon), Mirror+1: (Sense, Communication, Maze, Walk, Other, Control), Intuition, Alter Fate, Create Phantasms, Grant Invisibility, Dazzling Spectrum, False Auras, Mirroring Duplicates+1*, Reflect Force+1, Light Manipulation, The Dawn Will Rise*, Removal, Channel Domain, The Unseen Animus, Purify, Phantasmal Haunt, Sheath of Light, Deific Pneumamancy, Fated Knot Items: Foolmaker (+1 EL, +1 Arm Pen, Knockout, Spell Absorption 0/9, Echostrike), Suit of Mirrors (Relic; +2 M. Armor), Bracers of Supreme Knocking, Ring of Shield Projection, Ring of the Cheater, Amulet of All Defense, Dimension Closet Sack (portal DIA: 32 cm), Horn of the Wild¡¯s Vengeance, Sapphire Mana Stone (22/22), Temp Mana Earring x2 (26+26 MP), Potion of Seal Major Wound (1) Status: Days Lived (31), Ascendant, Big Boss, Savior of the Fae, Sponge of Knowledge, Slayer, Spells of Deja Vu (8/999), Free Minor Divine Enchantment (1/use), Free Consecration (1/use)
(Vol 6) Chapter 9: Sway Once Tenshai stepped back into place, Heizon continued, ¡°Our leaders further extend a collective interest in friendship and peace, with hope for more.¡± Tenshai offered, ¡°The Mistress of the Currents knows the undertow of who you are, Seeress, for the Tides of Time speak also to her. We would not be forgotten in the annals of history¡¯s culmination. We would not be seen as having done nothing.¡± Alkai spoke in reverence, ¡°I am given a privilege beyond me to speak, but were you to blow the horn now, we three would stay with you to serve, and if you desire it, at a time of your choosing, to escort you to meet our leaders at a most sacred and secret place. We would swear oaths of confidence to know you, and obedience to serve. That is our prescription for our peoples.¡± Tenshai, eyes cast downward as if musing, continued, ¡°The water must not try to be what shape it wants, but what fills the vessel of need.¡± Heizon nodded solemnly. ¡°The option to quicken answers is given to you, but caution is your leave, Seeress. Above all, we pray you consider these matters wisely.¡± Samantha took a deep breath, nodding slowly as she looked down at the shell. I already feel the vibe with Tenshai. ¡°More presence in the water is a huge benefit. Tell me, do you know of the Isle of Phantoms?¡± Tenshai replied, ¡°Of course. Forbidden territory and cursed. As are the ruins at the bottom of the sea.¡± ¡°Ruins?¡± ¡°A very ancient city beyond memory, but much of it has been preserved. We see the glitters from afar and feel sadness. We feel that we mourn a lost friend.¡± Heizon was nodding in agreement as he looked off. ¡°It is said there was once a great and noble king of land and sea. His shadow is still cast over it all.¡± Hot damn! I couldn¡¯t ask them to go, but maybe I could? The intrigue continues! ¡°In any case, I¡¯ll gladly take you three.¡± They bowed humbly in response. She cast Allspell Core to Identify the magic conch shell. It was a simple ¡®sending¡¯ type item, to any distance and producing the horn call from the other end, once an hour. A primitive phone. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be lugging it around after this. She put it to her lips and blew, producing a typical horn call, but with a long series of echoes that only gradually faded. With that, the three approached her and knelt on one knee, putting both hands over their hearts in a cross, fists closed. In synchronicity, they spoke. ¡°We swear on our very breath and bone to hold the Seeress¡¯s confidence in all things she deems sacred and secret ¡ª this we will hold forever. We swear to heed and obey her in all things that do not harm our own people. She is our second liege to whom we are leased until released by consensus between them.¡± Samantha inclined her head solemnly. ¡°I receive your oaths with honor and thoughtfulness. I vow to treat your allegiance likewise and to care for you as is due, returning your loyalty with my own. Our dealings will remain fair and just. So speaks the Goddess Samantha, the Goddess of Fate, Light, and Pneuma.¡± The eyes of Heizon and Alkai widened before they bowed their heads. ¡°Thank you, Goddess.¡± ¡°Your heart is true, Goddess.¡± Tenshai did not seem surprised as she bowed her head. ¡°So it is complete, Your Majesty Samantha.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Samantha replied. ¡°Please rise. I have to ask: do your people have deities?¡± Heizon and Alkai looked a bit uncomfortable with the question as they stood, and glanced at Tenshai. Tenshai smiled widely. ¡°Complicated matters. It is forbidden among most tribes and the greater League of Eternal Peace because of the abandonment we all feel in our history, and the uncertainty and difficulties in establishing truth, as inflicted by the Slayer of Memory. ¡°You must understand, it is worse on non-humans. The further from them a being is and then the closer they are to fae, the worse it gets, and we seem even more susceptible. Take the Minotaurs, for example. They are linked to the unchanging mountains. This affords them some protection. What are we linked to? The ever-changing and mercurial waters which forever cast us into the fog. We wander to it and through it like it is our nature. ¡°There is an unofficial culture similar to Valuwei to respect spirits, but we do not give them novel names. As such, they are primitive, nearly like forces. There is tension and pressure for reform, however. Some say deities with greater protections could help us remember and preserve ourselves. Debate abounds. ¡°A little over a decade ago, civil war almost bloomed with the northern tribes when it was uncovered that a cult of the Serpent in the Water had broken out among them. There were unapproved skirmishes. Narrowly, cooler heads smoothed things over and the consensus of peace won out. Key warmongers were forced out of governance in shame.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Samantha muttered. ¡°I had no idea so much goes on down there. It¡¯s like another world, I suppose. Hmm.¡± Serpent in the Water. Controversial? I could stand to gain if I can help bridge the gap. ¡°What happened with the cult?¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Many different methods were mobilized to politicize and shame it out of existence, but it remains an open secret that it persists in the anemones of the north.¡± At Samantha¡¯s confused look, Heizon offered, ¡°Hidden in the anemones. A saying. I believe ¡®underground¡¯ is the equivalent here.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Tenshai said, and nodded her thanks to Heizon. ¡°My apologies. The Cult of Leviathan persists in secret. But, as I said, there is pressure for reform. Why block them at all, why shame? For tradition? Even the political efforts for suppression have lost their bubbles. Not only has its teeth not found purchase, the citizenry¡¯s opinion has shifted.¡± Heizon was nodding along soberly. ¡°The Seriotikka, the Shanwysi, and the Wydeia, having the most contact with drylander societies, lead the way in campaigning for open-mindedness with their northern brothers. The people support their Highcallers to great consensus in this.¡± Samantha looked between them all. Alkai¡¯s eyes were averted. Hmmmm. ¡°So. I am gathering your¡­ talk of consensus means that not everyone approves of what we¡¯re doing here?¡± Alkai¡¯s eyes shot to hers like she¡¯d just had her mind read. Heizon¡¯s face was stoic. Meanwhile, Tenshai chuckled and replied, ¡°That is correct, and shrewd of you to deduce, Your Majesty. Nonetheless, there is a quite solid consensus and that is how things are done.¡± ¡°The Shanwysi have tremendous sway,¡± Heizon commented. ¡°All tribes are touched by their currents. Only fools do not heed them, as they¡¯ve given us a dependable current out of the past of whirlpools and chaotic storms.¡± Samantha¡¯s eyes shifted to Alkai expectantly. There was a long, awkward moment, as she did not seem to want to speak. But she swallowed and offered, ¡°I have family within the tribe that disapproves of deities. I am shamed, Goddess.¡± Samantha gave her a sympathetic small smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can understand being dubious. Hopefully we can change their minds with time, hmm?¡± Alkai seemed relieved as she bowed her head. ¡°Yes. Your Majesty.¡± Tenshai eyed the exchange curiously. ¡°Dissenters have their right, but it is the process of governance and their representative leaders they approve of, regardless of individual actions. As for the Mistress of the Currents, she knows this is what we must do.¡± Heizon agreed. ¡°Who cannot feel the sea itself shift? Even I saw the signs. As for consensus, Your Majesty, all tribes will soon send a gift, dissenters or not. You may want to appoint a dignitary. While we were given the honor of your presence, this is not expected for the second comers. Also, to be clear, we are not yet authorized for¡­ worship and such things. The true believer aspects.¡± Samantha inclined her head. ¡°Of course. I didn¡¯t expect it. We¡¯ll figure it out. Especially communication-wise.¡± ¡°I have the means to communicate mentally with ease,¡± Tenshai said. True to her words, Tenshai popped into Samantha¡¯s head with great clarity through the prayer vector. ¡°Samantha. I would like to become a Follower.¡± Amusement was laced through her words. Blinking, Samantha said aloud, ¡°Excellent. Would you all object to being spiritually shunted into a mirror realm so I can easily transport you to our hideout for briefing by my organization, and getting to know my people?¡± Simultaneously, she mentally replied to Tenshai. ¡°Isn¡¯t that trouble? What Heizon literally just said¡­¡± The three voiced quick agreement to the suggestion, looking more curious than anything. There was not a trace of fear. Meanwhile, Tenshai continued being mentally amused. ¡°Comedic timing is the best timing. Speaking of timing, it remains short for the world, Your Majesty. Let us act dynamically, let us be ambitious to align every star against the dark.¡± ¡°Okay. I guess your comedy and poetic metaphor is pretty persuasive.¡± Not to mention, I knew this would happen eventually because of the vibe. ¡°Madam is fine after the first address, by the way. We¡¯ll do the Follower thing soon. Clandestine, right?¡± ¡°It being in secret is necessary, yes. For now. Heizon truthfully only speaks for himself, and if he knew, he¡¯d laugh and shrug it off. Alkai might be scandalized. Regardless, they¡¯d keep confidence. And their Highcaller even would only wring his hands a bit. A worrier, but a good merman. Despite a venerated age, he has the soul of a revolutionary.¡± ¡°Noted, Tenshai. More later. I¡¯ll let my people break things down for you lot more personally, first.¡± Sammy momentarily Mazed the three, putting them in a grand landscape of many-colored crystals in close resemblance to the Bridge of Edges. She figured awe-inspiring sights would be good for them. She was right. They were all smiling ear-to-ear as they spun around and marveled, pointing things out to each other. They took it all in with glee and supreme wonder. She left them in it for a bit longer than was strictly necessary, as she assembled a few key personalities to greet them and bring them into the fold, more or less. Orsywyth wasn¡¯t available, but Bast, Constance, and Canmore were. She added in Raphael and the Cat Sith Pythia for a more serious balance. Once arranged, she spat them out of the mirrors and introduced them to the crew, who were more than eager to make their acquaintance. Bast and Constance fell right into the whole ¡®trading hotness compliments¡¯ thing they did. Constance was particularly praising of Heizon¡¯s statuesque physique. ¡°Are all the boys in Atlantis as cut as you, Fair Heizon?¡± Constance commented as she looked him up and down, her voice flirtatious and extra husky. ¡°Is it an underwater Sparta?¡± Heizon was not bashful or offended, but he did blink in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t know half of what you said, but judging from the truth of your eyes¡¯ admiration, I think I understand. We are both naturally fit and muscular, and train our bodies diligently. Warriors and scouts even more so.¡± ¡°Alright, simmer down and dry off, Constance,¡± Sammy admonished. ¡°These three need to know how we operate and how they¡¯ll fit in. Get to it.¡± Sammy left them to deal with the issue and dematerialized back to Heavenpeak, her mind split between the intrigues of new allies and the need in front of her: Spending FE! (Vol 6) Chapter 10: The Grumpy Cat Brigade, and Sundry In considering the need to utilize FE that was burning a hole in her deific pocket, Sammy shifted to the potential of Servitors. She could have around a hundred and twenty total if she wanted based on her total Follower count, and she was well, well shy of that. Furthermore, she was always gaining more. It had been a while since she¡¯d made a new Servitor Line. Instead of going with a Pneuma entity, which she would eventually do, she wanted a generalist. She wanted a bit of fae and, inspired by her recent new allies, some water specialists to some degree, because of her particular intentions for an island base. In Greek Mythology, there was an entity of the water most famously, that had origins first as ¡®bird-ladies,¡¯ essentially. Sirens. She now had access to Shapeshifting (Physical; Natural), which allowed up to a large animal or humanoid in size, didn¡¯t have the Faerie Dragon Glamour limitations (easier detection and dispelling), but also lacked its highly magical flexibility and size flexibility which allowed much more unusual and bigger forms. But a ¡®mer-form¡¯ and a harpy-like form were fine, and they could turn into bears and such. And shark mounts! She tested a ¡®giant seahorse¡¯ too, and that was fine, as were other ¡®reasonably feasible¡¯ creatures, such as smaller dinosaurs. The hard weight limit was a thousand pounds per their class level. That made the hypothetical Archservitor capable of a massive great white shark, but even the minimum level of 2000 pounds was plenty big. There were three options for boosting water speed to Ludicrous levels: there was the simple, effective Quick Swimming that was 10 km/h per level, a generalist option in Flight (Wingless; All Mediums) that sacrificed a lot of top speed for the versatility of movement, including in the water, aaand finally¡­ Water Control. Interestingly, her [Pneuma] domain had given her access to elements for her Servitors, so long as they were either non-specialists or Pneuma-specialists. Water Control was big on versatility. In addition to boosting swimming to 7 km/h per level, it could cheaply use a Servitor¡¯s PFE to increase this to 12 km/h, and always with more smoothness, control, and less disturbance. This was in addition to what was effectively telekinetic control of water. Minor acts within a small radius were free, but more extensive action at longer ranges for FE was possible, to great offensive and defensive capabilities, particularly underwater. Well, well, well. I think things are decided! The next matter to decide was the obvious tie to them being songstresses. She poured through abilities, seeing potential in raw, specialized enchantment abilities, but then she saw something even better: Muse. It was mysteriously accessible from ¡®a combination of Domains¡¯ and changed their class to something of a divine bard focused on buffs. Holy shit! Perfection! I got the debuffers in the Cat Siths, now I can specialize in the other type of support. And [Bard] has some offensive spellcasting potential. Perfect all-arounders, pretty much. They had something else, too, as a special ability: Soul of Stories. Naturals of the Arts, but it also gave them special preservation powers. What they observed they retained absolutely, so the travails of mortals weren¡¯t forgotten and could be memorialized. For the merfolk especially, but for everyone. If the Orchestration of the Fortuneteller fails, if the plan falls through somehow, I will find a way to suffer the long walk like Ozra, and in that time, that fucking World Spell is not going to continue its reign of terror. History will cease being stolen from the people. With Shapeshifting, Water Control, and Muse, she had a free option because they had no Domain specialty. She decided to build a custom Siren¡¯s Song after all, focusing it on a couple of key things that made it unique: a wide area of effect for battlefield potential and a ¡®physical-based¡¯ function to sidestep magic resistance. It was essentially a raw, sound-based musical effect that stupefied, as well as weakened one to follow-up charms if needed. It could still ignore targets to focus on one or a few people, though others would hear it to some degree without outside suppression. As a side-effect benefit, the raw attack specialty also gave them a very naturally alluring voice, a minor boost to bardic endeavors, and so forth. This stacked with benefits from Muse and even Shapeshifting, as they could meticulously focus on an ¡®effective voicebox.¡¯ With everything decided, she contoured their personalities a bit with practiced ease and then slung them all out at once. She mixed skills in between the arts and more practical things she needed to cover. Names were easy. They came to her perfectly, recalled from her Earthly memory but moreover by Fate. She also gave some of them official nicknames for ease. She made eighteen of them, nine after muses, nine after sirens, though she wasn¡¯t exactly sure the legends weren¡¯t mixed.
Calliope, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene (Mel), Terpsichore (Terri), Erato, Polyhymnia (Poly), Urania, Thelxiepeia (Thelxie), Peisinoe (Peace), Aglaope (Aggie), Parthenope (Parth), Leucosia (Leck), Raidne, Molpe, Teles, and Himeropa are born.
Eighteen Servitors appeared before her throne in a flash and burst of feathers, to the sound of a brief symphony of music that one wished would continue. Being inspired by her merfolk allies, their base forms were exceptionally beautiful humanoids with some bird-like features, including very bird-like wings extended from their arms, of resplendent rainbow pattern coloring. Their hair, if it existed, was not visible, covered by large headdresses of feathers. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. In unison, they bowed in a flourish and said musically, ¡°We live to sing of the Most High Goddess!¡± Smiling, Sammy inclined her head. ¡°So you will. Those of you with difficult names, do expect my nicknames. In the morning, you can report to Jeeves for duties. Many of you will be perfect for the more inspirational things my Resemblants have previously been handling. You¡¯ll add more¡­ color, I¡¯m sure! Other than that, I set you loose. For now, go and entertain! Celebrate your birth ¡ª sing to Heaven and the world!¡± Various yips and yays resounded as they went in every direction in a puff of feathers, gleeful and ready. One stayed, however. She began to sing something of a cheerful and celebratory cadence that brightened up the throne room, together with the playing of a harp. To one side of the throne, a wide, colorful, and ornate chair morphed out of the floor, with a golden book lying in it. The Siren floated over to it to lie in it, playing the harp upside down and gazing at her goddess as if studying and admiring her. Sammy smirked, even as the song and music buttered her soul. ¡°Calliope. Are you dreaming up my epic?¡± The siren made her song fade instead of cutting off to reply. ¡°Of course, Your Majesty.¡± Her voice was peace and serenity; milk and honey. ¡°But more than any other, I think that I am Heaven¡¯s Bard. Wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Sammy raised an eyebrow, putting on cool, imperious airs. ¡°You plan on that chair being more or less permanent, do you?¡± Calliope grinned and batted her eyelashes while playing an especially sweet line of harp notes. Sammy burst into an incredulous laugh and shook her head. ¡°As if that would work on me! I am the Number One Puppy Dog Eyes Bullshitter! I perfected it!¡± Calliope batted her eyelashes more, now looking expectant and pitiable. Sammy shifted her expression to one of supreme, imperious resistance, completely uncaring and unmovable. She crossed her arms. Supreme Puppy Dog Eyes countered this on Calliope¡¯s expressive face, pitiable cuteness edging into a pout. The harp got mournful. Soon, Sammy found she was squinting and tapping her foot against a great and ¡®terrible¡¯ pressure. How could she deny such a simple request? Why be stubborn about it? And she was so adorable! She caved. ¡°Gah! Fine! You¡¯re the court bard. But don¡¯t overdo it with that harp. And sit up straight!¡± The Siren complied immediately, a beaming grin on her face as she replied, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. You are most generous!¡± She played cheery but light background notes, maintaining a meek expression. Pretending she wasn¡¯t enjoying the music, Sammy soon began configuring some additional reinforcements of her other Servitor Lines. One particular long overdue Cat Sith was Gandalf, whom she gave the special skill [Research], which would help out Dick and Zephyr in particular, she figured. She added Hermes with the special skill [Alchemy] to help out existing alchemists. Then Circe was created, to whom she gave the special skill [Sympathetic Targeting], aiding her reach with curses. And so the Grumpy Cat Brigade gained in strength and breadth. [Sympathetic Targeting] on Servitors is nasty, almost feels like an exploit! Especially with buffs. She had also given the Sirens Himeropa and Peisinoe the skill, so their songs could reach across any distance ¡ª or would when they were higher level. In her Angel and Faerie Dragon Lines, she added eight more enforcers and combat specialists, wanting to have a solid core of them down the road, and she could ultimately never have enough of them to distribute through the empire. Names she pulled out of the ether. On a similar note, she added five more Resemblant sentries and observers, as well as four Faerie Dragon spies to be under her existing specialists. Constance requested a few Sirens assigned to her network, which was something Sammy had planned on anyway due to their shapeshifting ability and enchanting nature. All in all, she was near to a hundred Servitors. She planned to maintain a bit of cushion from maximum at all times, but more would come later regardless, and probably a new Line or two. Hmm, what would be the Line for [Magic] in the future? Both that and [Pneuma] feel rather wide open. With the Servitors decided and a nice blob of FE spent, it was time to turn her attention to other things. The trade of Galynth to Caneboro and Dax to Geirkos was well underway, them both having said all their goodbyes, packing up, and heading out in the evening, arrivals set for around bedtime. Galynth¡¯s bedtime, anyway ¡ª Dax was more of a cat napper who¡¯d adjusted to the roguish way of Lucky¡¯s ilk, which tended to involve nighttime operations extensively. They both seemed a little sad but also excited. Galynth looked forward to working with Estara, but even more so to work with such people as Sir Oliver, Sir Finely, Sir Pashett, Lord Carlisle, Marchioness Agatha, the hero Sir Beikiar Darkhunter, etcetera¡­ all the ¡®noble¡¯ knights of the Borderlands. He felt like it was his destiny. He also hoped to meet Crow in the flesh as well. Those two kept in touch through the Sammyverse since their one-time meeting at the mind-realm pastry shop. It seemed that Galynth appreciated Crow¡¯s impartial advice on things. He¡¯d evened out quite a bit from his experiences, though Sammy was sure his idyllic outlook about chivalry and such would never die. If anything, authentically decent and honorable folk like Oliver and Carlisle will reinforce it to some degree. We all make compromises, but Geirkos is ironically more the den of that than Caneboro. Orswyth has changed, and overall the personalities are hyper pragmatic. If I station Galynth more in Mot Mekess, he''d be in heaven, comparatively. Dax, meanwhile, was for the most part perfectly fine leaving, and even slightly relieved to get away from so many old memories. The biggest issue of regret wasn¡¯t even Crow at that point, but Estara, whom she was fiercely protective of like a big sister. But Estara could not only take care of herself, she had plenty of other protectors. Did they get a firm talking to before she left, though? Absolutely. Bob was assigned as her ¡®glue,¡¯ and Dart was usually there when not needed for big missions. Yep, I think I¡¯m pretty proud of myself for this change! Dax and Canmore belong together, and I need Dax closer to my main operations, besides. I feel such a divide between us, lately. I don¡¯t like it. (Vol 6) Chapter 11: A Rocky Vision Thinking about Dax reminded Sammy of something. Shit! Did I miss a vision-giving? I¡¯m not even sure. Oh well, nothing for it but to correct it now. Carlisle. As planned. He¡¯s even more separated from me than Dax, and he¡¯s got that weird sneakiness and love of thievery thing going I noticed back in the cave-spelunking mission to save Agatha. On top of that, he joined me despite tons of logical misgivings. He¡¯s probably a Player. Time to hit him up and decide things! Lord Carlisle was in some sort of Barracks quarters, spartan, rough around the edges, but nice enough ¡ª which made it feel precisely like the man occupying it. He was reading Conquest of the Pine Coast at a desk when Sammy pinged him with a mirror request. He closed the book and looked into a mirror propped up on the desk when she appeared. He nodded to her. ¡°Your Majesty. To what do I owe the honor?¡± Sammy grinned lop-sidedly. ¡°What, I can¡¯t check on and chat with my Most Happenin¡¯ Follower, the Illustrious Rockpile Carlisle?¡± He stared through the mirror at her deadpan. ¡°I don¡¯t like that moniker, so I¡¯ll ask you not to use it, Madam.¡± Sammy took a breath and shrugged, with effort not rolling her eyes. ¡°Eugh, fine, I won¡¯t.¡± Not to your face, anyway. How would I ever get it out of my head?! ¡°As for a ¡®chat,¡¯ I doubt you have the time for such things without a purpose these days. I¡¯d prefer you ¡®cut to the chase,¡¯ as Michael would say. With all due respect, Madam.¡± ¡°Ooh, they¡¯re teaching you guys Earth sayings? Awesome! But sure. You¡¯ve no doubt heard about me giving permanent buffs to my closest Followers. I think it''s time to drop that hammer on one of my Brain Trusties. You¡¯re okay with that moniker, I hope?¡± ¡°Brain Trustee?¡± He¡¯d clearly misheard her emphasis. ¡°Of course.¡± He leaned back and considered. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the buffs. I can see the logic in selecting me. Do we need to arrange a meeting?¡± ¡°While I¡¯d prefer a face-to-face, Dantooine is too remote to make an effective demonstration. But don¡¯t worry, I can blast you from here!¡± Carlisle stared at her deadpan once more. ¡°Another obscure Earth reference.¡± ¡°Yep! More seriously, I think this needs to be done through the mirror this time around. And it literally always drops people on the floor ¡ª I¡¯d rather avoid that, so please go lay on your bed, hmm?¡± Nodding simply and grabbing the mirror stand, Carlisle rose and took the few steps between his bed to lie down, placing the mirror next to him. ¡°Alright, now what?¡± Sammy targeted him with [Tarot Reading: Vision of a Bright Future] and the Goddess of Fate intoned, ¡°Would you deign to see a vision of your future and be illumined by it, User?¡± ¡°Yes, I would.¡± The void of the Fortuneteller bloomed into her perception once more. This time, there was an immediate struggle because the Fortuneteller wanted total dominance as usual. But Sammy refused it. ¡°Listen to me, bitch!¡± Sammy related through willfully clenched mental teeth. ¡°I¡¯m tired of you dictating. Guide! Let¡¯s do this in balance so it is both of us together.¡± ¡®Damn that hermit. So be it. Pointless and less instructive, but have it your way.¡¯ ¡°Our way, FT. Our way. Guide me.¡± Carlisle looked nearly the same, except that he had an eyepatch over one eye with the Eye of Horus emblazoned in the center. He glanced around with a staid kind of note-taking rather than curiosity. He was otherwise clad in a leather longcoat and had on a wide-brim hat of the same material. His clothes were those of a traveler, worn but not ragged. The table and chairs were just as she¡¯d imagined ¡ª sturdy, solidly crafted, and very spartan. But one thing stood out. The typical white card was in the middle of the table, but below the question mark was a black emblem of a pyramid with the Eye of Ra in white at the top portion. The bottom portion formed the lines of two jackals facing each other as if guarding it. Hmm. ¡®And what will you tell him, Understudy? You know nothing.¡¯ ¡°Then tell me!¡± ¡®That¡¯s not how this works. I literally and wholly cannot. Do you see how your stubbornness is pointless, now?¡¯ ¡°It isn¡¯t. But fine. Guide my tongue ¡ª when necessary, only. I¡¯m watching you. Don¡¯t be a raging bitch to my people. Be polite and considerate. Mix my soul with yours.¡± ¡®Hmmph. Indeed. Your hubris proves you as one of us. Yes. I¡¯ll try.¡¯ The Fortuneteller cast her hands wide as if in greeting to Carlisle and smiled. ¡°Welcome, staunch and perpetual sentinel. You come to learn how to serve our goals best. Do you sense this truth, oh Incarnation of many faces?¡± Carlisle turned to regard her with a judicious, squinting eye. ¡°There¡¯s a gulf between us. I¡¯ve respected it¡­ but I¡¯ve also respected the builder beyond whom I must serve. You. So, yes. I suppose.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Mmn. But if you had to choose, whom would you serve? Yourself? Your higher self? Are you One Who Sleeps?¡± His one eye blinked, and his hand came up to rub at the stubble at his chin as he pondered it. But he ultimately shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s too foggy, too far into the drink of desolation that is the past leading to Now.¡± ¡°Well spoken. So it is with everyone, to varying degrees.¡± She gestured with a hand at the table. ¡°Sit, and perhaps we can see more clearly through a vision.¡± Carlisle nodded firmly. ¡°To the point, that¡¯s what I prefer. Nothing more, nothing less. Execution.¡± Hmm¡­ They sat across from one another like so many before. The Fortuneteller, for her grand preparation¡­ took out a deck of simple cards and shuffled them in her hands, smirking. Carlisle nodded again like this was exactly as much pomp as he wanted. ¡°Are you a gambler, Incarnation?¡± the Fortuneteller asked as she took her time shuffling. Carlisle shook his head. ¡°Not if I can avoid it. In all honesty, I¡¯d prefer none of this, begging your pardon, ma¡¯am. Card play. Games. But one man¡¯s life, or a thousand lives, there comes a time they have to be gambled. Best to minimize it, but everyone must pay the piper.¡± ¡°All too true.¡± She pushed the card deck over to Carlisle. ¡°Shuffle.¡± He did so placidly, as the Fortuneteller drummed her fingers slowly on the wood, watching. Before long, Carlisle grew a frown. He cleared his throat. ¡°Is that enough, or¡­?¡± With a small smile, the Fortuneteller nodded almost imperceptibly. After Carlisle set the deck down, she flicked her wrist, and the deck fanned out quickly into a semicircle in front of him. ¡°Choose.¡± Sammy was puzzled. ¡°No further direction?¡± ¡®No.¡¯ Drumming the fingers of two hands on the wood, Carlisle scanned the cards. Finally, he picked the card furthest to his right. Inwardly, Sammy felt the Fortuneteller¡¯s amusement. She knew exactly what he¡¯d do. ¡°You may turn it over as you desire.¡± Nodding to himself even as he frowned, he turned it over sideways, revealing the card. A king sat on a throne ¡ª above his gold-crowned head were three butterflies etched into the chair back, and two sickles behind them. He held a sword straight up confidently in his right hand, and he stared straight on soberly with a piercing gaze that demanded truth. His robe of light blue covered him completely, and he wore the purple cloak of his station over his shoulders. His throne sat on a background of healthy nature, with tall trees to either side. Ah. It suits him! ¡°King of Swords,¡± The Fortuneteller intoned. ¡°The Sober Sword, the Executor of The March of¡­ What, pray tell? Bend your sword and power with assurance to the path you choose, but choose now. The time of your ambivalence and indecisive hand-wringing is over! Pick your poison, fool ¡ª or find fate¡¯s surprise in your next draught!¡± Hey, I said be poli- The flash of light did not wait for her to finish, however¡­ ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? The Alliance of the Wild Bastions, fighting for the independence of the former Borderlands, held strong that day. They¡¯d ¡®lost¡¯ the Keep of Restwater for mere hours before they sprung the trap, collapsing the whole structure and charging in on two flanks to wipe out the remainders. Many wizards died thanks to their combined arms. A fraction of their forces had gotten away, and Carlisle had killed their precious mercenary hero ¡®general¡¯ Rallante himself ¡ª the very man that had bested him and took his eye, in their first meeting. You won your little battle, bastard; I won our little war. May it be the microcosm of our successful revolution. Carlisle, standing on the central hill of the rubble, bloodsoaked and covered in wounds still on their way to regenerating, dropped the foul blade that had dealt the worst one yet ¡ª he¡¯d pulled it out of his own chest, where it had narrowly missed his heart. Maybe that would¡¯ve taken him down. As it stood, he¡¯d be fine. Its ¡®lesser¡¯ Entropic effect had been nullified by the new buff, and he was otherwise regenerating. Those potions certainly do the trick, Goddess. It had not been his own prowess to save him, but a technology derived from troll blood. He didn¡¯t care about the details. It was irremovable before its duration was up and it suited him; it was synergistic with what prowess he did have¡­ Carlisle grunted and pushed himself to take a few more steps, to lift and drive the standard pole he¡¯d picked up off the ground so recently into the rubble as hard as he could. Two flags flew over the dusty remains of the keep covered in dead bodies. The charging chimera of the Wild Bastions on red, and the path leading up a hill to a starburst, of the Celestial Horizon, on blue. The keep was irrelevant ¡ª the Goddess herself planned to come and rebuild a newer, better one by her supreme artifice. Castles, keeps, fortresses, and walls meant nothing to her realm. The time spent to rebuild was nothing compared to holding that city down. Turning around to regard his soldiers and allies gathering to witness the sight of those billowing beacons, Carlisle thrust up his spear and gave the fiercest warcry of his life. He had no words, no rousing speech. Just raw, animal defiance; simple, victorious relief. An army answered with the same, weapons cast up in bloodied celebration. Carlisle¡¯s eyes fell upon the mutilated corpse of Rallante, his innards spilled out and a spear-sized hole through his eye socket. A better fighter with better equipment, accolades, and specialties. Better reflexes, better strength. But he was not the dealer of death that day. Fate had decided otherwise. I am the spine of this movement, and when I have to be, I am its hand of death. The executioner of retribution. How tenuous the tightrope was to here¡­ If I had not chosen to betray those old oaths for new, then what? Thank the Goddess for that wild hair she placed. If not a fool, I¡¯d be something far worse: a coward. Every little wound he took, he absorbed, he ate. Enough of that power without taking a death blow, external healing, and so on, and he could fell a giant with his special skill. Thanks to the troll blood, that was plenty. No wound is too deep to take for this new world. Live or die, at least I fought for something I believed in. It feels like the first time in a million years that I did. Desiree¡­ wait a little longer, Love. I fight forever in your honor. The next life will be peaceful. We¡¯ll retire in the end, glutting on desserts and our grandchildren¡¯s laughter, our minds whole and hale, never forgetting so much as a mole spot on each other¡­ (Vol 6) Chapter 12: Payback ¡°Lord Carlisle,¡± the Fortuneteller declared at the table, ¡°Fate has granted you 60 experience in [Knight], 30 experience in [Rogue], the Special Trait [Grudgetaking], and [Strategy] is upgraded to [Master]. Knight is changed to [Executioner]. It seems you¡¯ve decided who you are, after all, Executor.¡± Shit, we need to get him that regeneration capability, or- Carlisle jumped out of his seat, slamming his fist down as he still stared dead on at the card. ¡°Yes!¡± he called simultaneously, teeth bared. Sammy blinked. Before her eyes, the traveler¡¯s garb and overall form shifted and changed. For a very brief flash, he seemed to turn pitch black, and his head went animalistic ¡ª like a humanoid jackal, she realized. But an instant later it shifted again, and his form became much more Carlisle-like, as from the vision. Military garb, armor, a spear held in one hand. Very interesting. Slowly, Carlisle seemed to sober up from the emotional uptick. He sat back down, and his prior self bled away completely ¡ª he became Carlisle as Sammy knew him. His expression was haunted as he lifted a hand to touch an eye that had returned. His haunted eyes shot up to the Fortuneteller. ¡°This future¡­ it won¡¯t happen?¡± ¡°Not exactly, anyway. You¡¯ve shortcut things a bit. Even with this missing component. In more ways than merely your System statistics, hmm?¡± Carlisle stared for a long moment, but he finally gave a little nod. ¡°Revolution seemed increasingly inevitable under your flag. Now it is proven, and I see that it is not just your flag. Not just one flag.¡± He looked away, brooding severely. ¡°I¡¯d take that vision. Stars help me, I would. Since I was a teen, I fought and killed on the borders of civilization, thinking I was protecting it. A righteous path keeping the bestial and the savage off of the pristine grass the children played in. A fanciful lie.¡± He scowled fiercely. ¡°Now I think I understand the hatred of the Wildlands for us. I can¡¯t remember my wife¡¯s face. I was torn inside that I never had her painted. Is it my own worn mind to blame, crowded with too much blood and steel, as I¡¯ve so long thought? The same thing I blamed for the faintest tatters left inside of my grandfather and the shreds of my father? Or¡­ is it him? His theft of memory?¡± The Fortuneteller didn¡¯t answer, just watched him implacably. I don¡¯t think I can know this. The effect seems lesser on humans, but it could worsen in the more susceptible. Carlisle shook his head at the void. ¡°He despises us. So we¡¯ve all come to understand through you. Perhaps he was once the grand and worthy patriarch, but he betrayed that and life itself. He preserves nothing and would only destroy us. The signs are everywhere beyond that precious capital. And no sign is more evident than the one in our minds. More is taken from us with every passing day, and that taking makes him our greatest enemy.¡± He returned his ever-intense gaze to the Fortuneteller and sat up, placing both hands on the table like a ruler ready to pass judgment. ¡°I am sold out to this cause, Goddess. This revolution is a long time coming. It was in our bones, but the rest of us forgot. We won¡¯t any longer, nor will we forgive.¡± The Fortuneteller smiled. ¡°So be it. I¡¯ll let you get back to it with nothing more, then¡­ General Carlisle.¡± She snapped her fingers and he was gone in a flash. Fingers drummed on the table. Samantha spoke. ¡°That went well. See? It¡¯s not so hard.¡± ¡®Why are we still here?¡¯ ¡°Why, you got somewhere special to be? Here, a place outside of time in the first¡­ er, place.¡± ¡®In some sense, I am always here. Or nowhere at all. But you are wasting energy.¡¯ ¡°You¡¯re just going to be grumpy about this arrangement, huh? Well, fine. Let¡¯s cut to the chase, I guess. Carlisle.¡± She left a dramatic pause, waiting. ¡®Yes?¡¯ The long-suffering tone was blatant. Sammy felt the lips of the Fortuneteller twitch as if wanting to purse. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ Drumroll please-!¡± No drumroll occurred, sadly. ¡°... Not one of the Players.¡± ¡®How very shrewdly concluded.¡¯ The tone was flat. ¡®Please, share your every little thought on the matter.¡¯ ¡°Thanks, I¡¯d love to! His quick and total subservience was one clue, and the fact that the symbol on the table is a representation of both me and ¡ª I believe ¡ª him, as the jackals. While those could be representative of a Player, and show some sort of symbolism focus or something, the iconic representation of a jackal is¡­ Death.¡± Despite the pause, the FT refused to respond and just waited. ¡®Patiently.¡¯ Sammy continued, ¡°And of course, we already have a Death! Sure, if Carlisle were a Player, he¡¯d still have to serve me, but I had immediate suspicions he was one of these shard-type people like Canmore and the Daughters, maybe Dax, but under Crow, instead. Some sort of avenging angel type¡­ these strong ¡®bound by honor¡¯ elements¡­¡± More waiting. ¡°You called him a sentinel, and his form flashed to something rather statuesque, akin to a humanoid anubis. Heck, Carlisle is kind of a stiff! Hehe! Anyway, sentinel statues watch over tombs a lot, and if you fuck with those sacred things, look out! So, that fits with what really tips him over the edge, I think.¡± Fingers drummed on the table, uncontrolled by Sammy. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°And then there came the tarot card! Boom! Not a High Arcana card, but then I suppose that¡¯s not guaranteed, right? And so much of it reflects Carlisle¡¯s role. But I think this is particularly emblematic and instructive of his role cosmically, too. I¡¯m the deity, under me are emperors, and then we have¡­ ¡°A king! Not a high concept, not a cosmic entity ¡ª a person granted great authority who utilizes it for the sword. Military. You called him the Sober Sword! The executor or executioner aspects, combined with retribution, this is his soul blending into his role! What March? The March of Death!¡± The fingers stopped drumming, hands poised expectantly for an actual end, finally. Sammy continued. ¡°And then there was the vision. So, to break this down piece by piece-¡± The hands slammed down as fists. ¡®Enough! Okay! You¡¯ve more than made your point. Nicely done! You¡¯re a flagrant genius. Now, would you please leave?¡¯ Sammy grinned internally, with supreme smugness. Payback for all your runaway exits on Calrenazzod. How ¡®bout them apples? ¡®What?! How dare you-¡¯ ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Back on Calrenazzod ¡ª or rather, Heavenpeak above it ¡ª Sammy came to laying face first on the floor of the throne room. Hey, what the actual fuck?! How?! She was distracted by wheezing laughter coming from in front of her. Her hand, actually. She flipped it over to see the Ring of the Cheater¡¯s nagi form doubled over, dying of laughter. ¡°Wait, how did you¡­?¡± The figure looked up in shocked surprise as it was dead caught in stitches. It quickly moved to its usual still pose, though Sammy noted obvious strain to the face and shaking shoulders. Barking a hysterical laugh and shaking her head, Sammy let it go and flipped over, calling a mirror portal over to check on Carlisle. She had to extend control to the mirror on the other side to levitate it, as it was lying on the bed pointed at the ceiling. Carlisle was also somehow picking himself up off of the floor despite having been in bed when the vision started. He turned around to sit on his rear and look at the room in bewilderment. ¡°This¡­ this is going to be¡­ different¡­¡± Sammy cleared her throat and collected herself. ¡°Are you alright, Lord Carlisle? I dunno why this keeps happening! Being on the floor, I mean.¡± He looked up, then nodded. ¡°I¡¯m hale, Your Majesty. Thrown from the bed somehow. I would say it¡¯s the System¡¯s sense of humor. It hides it well, but I know it has one.¡± Oh no. I don¡¯t want to think about where that comes from. ¡°Er, well, who knows! I wouldn¡¯t go that far. Anyway, how¡¯s the class?¡± Carlisle frowned and squinted his eyes to ¡®read¡¯ internally for a few moments. ¡°[Executioner]. Advanced offensively. Depleted defensively. I¡¯ll adjust. And I have some [Rogue] levels. I¡¯ll utilize it in support one way or another. As for [Grudgetaking]... it¡¯s highly personalized but sets up those ¡®executions¡¯ that are implied, in a prolonged struggle. I have to be bloodied, though. ¡°It¡¯s entirely offensive, but is split between boosting any attacks against or pursuit of the grudgee¡­ and boosting a singular, deadly strike. [Executioner] has its own killing stroke that this can then boost. It ignores ¡®luck, fate, and wound reduction effects¡¯ but not wound negations. A kill is a kill, essentially.¡± ¡°I can personally attest to that usefulness,¡± Sammy said dryly. ¡°Glad you¡¯re on my side.¡± He nodded slowly, still reviewing things judiciously. ¡°Well,¡± Sammy added, ¡°I guess I¡¯ll leave you to it, then.¡± ¡°Thank you, Goddess. I will be leaving for Mot Mekess soon. I need to speak in person with Agatha and Oliver. While the time for war is not today or tomorrow, we need to prepare even now, and set the stage to be stronger for it. I have some new outlooks on how.¡± Not a Player, but a key. Perhaps that¡¯s even better for me. Sammy grinned wide with satisfaction, and perhaps a bit of an entity beyond her was in it. ¡°I have little doubt they¡¯ll prove instrumental.¡± ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Amid the many serious businesses conducted Below in the realm of Her Majesty Samantha, there were also many serious businesses Above, in Heaven. Amid those many serious businesses, some unserious businesses occurred, including one unfortunate misstep, as Merlin the Cat Sith saw it ¡ª the creation of more bloody cabbits. They ran amok in chaos, doing whatever they wanted. Especially scrounging and begging for treats! In Heaven! This was not at all tolerable as far as he was concerned. Principally, she made them not only innocent but ignorant, even dare-he-say stupid. Well, not on Merlin¡¯s watch would there be stupid things in Heaven! On the promise of their favorite treat ¡ª so easily and disturbingly alluring them to any act ¡ª he gathered them up to fix the problem. ¡°... So, you see, as this simple outline indicates,¡± Merlin orated while floating on a platform near the chalkboard he was writing upon by psychokinesis, ¡°basic speech involves a subject, a verb, and an object. Nothing even so complicated as the algebraic equations you¡­ we¡¯re working on figuring out, still.¡± Merlin turned the platform around to survey the classroom of ¡®Basic Education 101,¡¯ at the prestigious Heaven¡¯s Avengers Endgame Memorial University. A dozen cabbits in a garish mix of colors, all behind desks, blinked at him ¡ª cutely and blankly. One was dozing, actually. ¡°Gib carrots!¡± One of them with ¡®lightning¡¯ coloring called suddenly. ¡°Hungry!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± another agreed. ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Merlin said as he indicated to the first speaker with a paw. ¡°This is a perfect example, thank you. ¡®Gib carrots.¡¯ No, Pikachee. That is not how you ask politely for food. You should say, ¡®May I have a carrot, please?¡¯ Why don¡¯t you try it, hmm? ¡®May I have a carrot, please?¡¯ Go ahead.¡± The cabbit blinked and made a face of intense concentration. He opened his mouth, closed it, thought about it, then finally spoke. ¡°Please have carrots?¡± Before Merlin could respond, the entire, suddenly very piqued classroom erupted in a chorus of ¡°Please have carrots!¡± over and over. Merlin sighed and shook his head, enduring the cacophony. They needed so much work. She made these beings just to vex me, didn¡¯t she? She must¡¯ve! (Vol 6) Chapter 13: Mad Magic After a few ¡®odds and ends¡¯ in her realm below and her Heaven above (announced and unannounced as suited the rascality level of the project), Sammy was just considering her next target of focus when she got some System quest notifications and Orswyth contacted her, nearly simultaneously. The quest ¡°The Unlucky & Lucky Firsts¡± is complete. 50 FE gained, 6(5) exp gained in [Goddess].
New quest unlocked ¡°Utilizing the Dead¡± ¡ª Acquire 33 total active/stimulated members of the City of Tomorrow and 3 Specialized FE from their contributions. ¡°I provided comfort and clarity to a venerated man on his deathbed,¡± Orswyth sent soberly via the prayer vector. ¡°One last day of sagacity with his family at the end, after years of fog and dementia. Some small reward for his daughter¡¯s sacrifices in caring for him. I believe your afterlife will renew him, as suits it and him. I hope you don¡¯t mind another oldie. ¡°He was once a renowned carpenter. I know much of his memory will never return, but if he could work with his hands again it would enrich more lives than his. I believe it is what he wants rather than reincarnation.¡± Sammy was stunned. She flashed to peek in on him immediately. He was standing on the winding gold road that went up to heaven, at that point just a vague gleam in the sky. He was not so venerated anymore, with long, white hair in a ponytail, caught up in bewildered amazement as he spun around looking at the sky, tears in his eyes. An angel was smiling and attempting to gently coax him to continue walking up to the city. ¡°That¡¯s incredible, Orswyth,¡± Sammy replied mentally, switching away from the scene before she got teary-eyed herself. ¡°Thank you for making the seventh joining one with a good note. I was expecting something far worse.¡± ¡°I know. I suppose I should say ¡®we know,¡¯ as it is the Brain Trust that brought it up. Part of our ¡®Samanthian Angst and Guilt Reduction Operation,¡¯ a sub-project of the ¡®Goddess Liability and Obligation Mitigation Project¡¯ that is ever ongoing.¡± ¡°Seriously? I refuse to think about the acronyms.¡± ¡°That will worm its way in despite your protestations.¡± It happened immediately. ¡°Damn it! GLOMP. Heh. The project names, this is your doing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Coy amusement came through. ¡°Maybe. I actually prefer not to bend acronyms too much to be cute ¡ª just enough for some vowels or otherwise easy reference ¡ª but others have their preferences.¡± ¡°It¡¯s totally you, Orsy! Anyway, feel free to snag the worthy on their deathbeds any day, whatever their age.¡± ¡°Duly noted, Your Majesty. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have to get back to my personal project, Transforming Attitudes and Inspiring New Tomorrows.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait¡­ Tee, Ay¡­ En T-TAINT?! You¡¯re joking, right?!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He disconnected. Sammy just laughed and shook her head. The sort of thing I¡¯ve been asking for from my people, I suppose. When she checked on the developments with Bikrit, she saw they were ongoing, including Tashome working on it directly at his isolated workshop. She decided to stop by. It was shunted away in relative wilderness, from the outside not looking like much more than a shack. That was if anyone even happened upon it at all, considering all the protections arranged for it, and if they did so happen into the area, they¡¯d also have to see through illusions. But it wasn¡¯t a fate to hope for, as close observation would very likely bring a quick, violent response from spiritual sentinels. The inside of the workshop was something of a mad Frankenstein¡¯s Monster combination of smithy, apothecary, and wizard¡¯s lab. Books and scrolls were strewn everywhere. Blacksmithing was obviously accommodated, but so was alchemy. Jars full of various substances, solid or liquid, stacked the walls, sometimes with obvious labels like ¡®Berevontian Viper Venom,¡¯ sometimes vague like ¡®TRO-09,¡¯ and sometimes without labels at all. There was a large, cleared-out ritual runic circle area. A smaller circle next to this was where all the activity was. Bikrit¡¯s remains were propped up by a steel frame studded with a network of mana stones, and around it was a glowing ¡®containment bubble¡¯ of energy. His head had a steel contraption almost totally obscuring it, while from this extended inner torso flesh she didn¡¯t immediately recognize but understood enclosed primitive smaller organs. Two little nubby arms jutted from it all, entirely enclosed in the frame. It was very bloody from recent surgery. Separately, on another risen, pole-like frame, was a large heart obviously cut from the rest. Tashome and Uriel were nearby, wearing big, green-splattered coats, gloves, and boots, and wearing goggles and face masks. The heart didn¡¯t seem to be pumping anymore. Tashome was weaving some sort of spellcraft through his strange black wand, which Sammy deduced to be adlib experimentation. Meanwhile, Uriel was poking at the heart with two little rods, apparently studying its details. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Ash was there, hands clasped behind her back, alternating between watching and reading some manuscript floating in the air in front of her. Despite the gore, Sammy was strangely not as grossed out as she once would¡¯ve been. That particular girl was just an echo of protest within her, overpowered by fascination. In truth, even Earth Sammy had entertained being a doctor since youth. Susceptibility to mad biological science came from two angles ¡ª that and the influence of the things Ozra gave her. This was the first prototype attempt! Okay, it may have failed, but we learn from it and build on it. That¡¯s Science! ¡°Welcome,¡± Uriel said when he noticed her. ¡°What an opportune time to show up! Sorry for the mess.¡± Tashome just grunted in between moving some sort of faint dark miasma over the heart, as directed from his wand. The heart twitched a little bit. Ash turned and nodded to Sammy, but did not take her eyes off of the scene for long. ¡°There will be another growth required,¡± the blonde wizard said as she squinted at the heart. ¡°This is good information, though. Much to build on.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sammy agreed as she stepped up next to Ash and crossed her arms, continuing to watch. ¡°I will have thoughts to contribute, even if I must dedicate the bulk of my time elsewhere. I¡¯m just trying to catch up on all that¡¯s occurred and is known so far. Fortunately, Uriel keeps very studious notes.¡± A page flipped in the floating manuscript. ¡°Thanks!¡± Uriel exclaimed, his smile obvious even unseen behind the mask. Then he pointed a bloody rod at a floating mirror nearby. ¡°I record, too! You don¡¯t want to miss the timelapse growth! Well, it¡¯s a little rough due to adjustment between, but incredible nonetheless. Raphael called it ¡®a true work of art¡¯ and he¡¯s not one for empty compliments.¡± Ash had a small grin as she nodded. ¡°That sounds like a true treat, Uriel. I will certainly peruse it later, perhaps with a glass of wine.¡± ¡°Quiet, please,¡± Tashome muttered. Then he made a subtle motion at Uriel, who immediately backed away from the heart. They all observed quietly as Tashome spun out what seemed like hundreds of little, faintly glowing threads from the wand, attaching a few at a time until they were distributed all around the heart. The threads adjusted a dozen times or more, disconnecting and reconnecting. From what Sammy could tell, there was a faint ¡®pull¡¯ that indicated information absorption and a mild drain of mana. Once they were settled and stopped moving, a charge poured through suddenly, and all those threads lit up with both a natural and a magical glow, from mana and interlaced pneuma effects. The heart began pumping, and a bit of blood squirted before it quickly died again. Tashome ended the effect and the threads all retracted and dissipated. He sagged a bit as he muttered to himself. He pulled off his mask and goggles as he stepped away slightly, then pulled his gloves off to drop them on the floor. He rubbed his forehead with a hand, staring off into the middle distance. Finally, the Valuweian glanced at Sammy and dropped his hand. He cleared his throat. ¡°We¡¯re primarily missing an intermediary between a mana source and the flesh, to direct the current where it needs to go, essentially. Connect the dots. The brain is what does this in a troll. Replacing the function is no simple matter though it still appears feasible. ¡°I¡¯ve gleaned that there is such a thing as ¡®pollution¡¯ of the troll¡¯s inborn process by external agents. The purity of ¡®troll regeneration,¡¯ if you will, is necessary to produce a true, potent troll product. We may succeed but get a lesser product. Especially if we use merely, say, a persistent spell fueled and refreshed by magi. They would taint the process severely with their own auras. So, I do believe some sort of artifact is better, but I cannot guarantee the purity. In fact, I¡¯m perhaps two-thirds sure it will be lesser.¡± Sammy nodded slowly. ¡°Do what you can. Brilliant work so far, you two.¡± Ash interjected. ¡°If I may, there are old legends you might not be aware of about trolls. As the story goes, once upon a time, they were not merely averse to sunlight ¡ª it turned them to stone. The Titans brokered their eternal allegiance with the eternal gift of resistance to this. Instead, their skin gradually gets tougher and tougher, and they eventually can control the mystical process to do it temporarily while still moving and functioning.¡± Tashome blinked at her, his brows drawn down. ¡°Okay. How is this useful for our purposes?¡± ¡°I forward that the best bet for success is to fashion a troll golem, yet with the living heart of Bikrit enshrouded within it, fueling it. Create something new that is alive in some fashion instead of simple dead meat. This can provide desirable affinity and significance. Power to the end result. Also, I could help quite effectively with such an effort, being akin to other acts I¡¯ve been party to.¡± Tashome¡¯s eyebrows were raised quite high. ¡°Hmm. Sounds rather necromantic. Not that I care. And we¡¯re already elbow-deep in similar ambiguous morality.¡± He turned his head to Sammy. ¡°Madam? Concerns?¡± Sammy took a deep breath as she considered it. ¡°So, just how evil is necromancy on Calrenazzod? I¡¯ve never been clear on this.¡± Ash looked a bit incredulous. ¡°As evil as telekinetic magic, or fire, or ice. There is no difference innately. Some cultures frown on interfering with corpses and natural processes, that is the extent of it. A primitive outlook. Besides that, the golem portion of this idea is only tangentially necromancy. We are all familiar with sapience without a technical soul in the sense of reincarnation. Samantha has fashioned many herself, in her Servitors. A form of soulcraft itself, again a matter that could be done for good or evil.¡± Sammy was nodding along. ¡°I mean, you make good points¡­ I guess it depends on the person whether they want Grandpappy Henry ¡ª er, his remains, that is ¡ª raised up as a sword-swinging soldier or something. Personally? I¡¯m kinda torn.¡± ¡°The golem need not be a warrior. How about a helper? Here.¡± She gestured with a hand briefly at the workshop before returning it to clasp behind her. ¡°One of you. One of us. Even better. Then, the act of blood-giving would be a matter of medicine or science, helping others. Would not any of us give our blood, if it saved the lives of our friends and compatriots?¡± The whole rest of the room was nodding at that. Sammy slapped her hands together. ¡°Alright! You¡¯ve convinced me! I¡¯m pumped for this! Let¡¯s get this fucking heart into a statue and make us a gentle giant!¡± (Vol 6) Chapter 14: A Note of Contempt ¡°Settle down, Frankenstein,¡± Tashome muttered wanly at Samantha, obviously having gotten the reference by way of Uriel at some point. ¡°We¡¯re not even close to there yet. This might be a promising angle and more likely to provide the miraculous results we hope for, in addition to other benefits, but it¡¯s also going to be many multiples more complex than any other potential project. Are you sure you want to wait it out?¡± Ash quickly added, ¡°Again, with my assistance, at least one multiple will be reduced. But yes, I imagine it will not be a ¡®tomorrow off the chalkboard¡¯ sort of equation.¡± Sammy was not at all moved from her enthusiasm. With a big grin, she gave a big thumbs up. ¡°No problem, chief! You¡¯re talking to a mutual super nerd, here. I get it. Do it right and take the time you need to. Haste makes waste. Just be sure to delegate as needed!¡± ¡°On that note,¡± Uriel said as he was removing his mask and gloves, ¡°I¡¯d like to request some Servitor specialists to reinforce our efforts. As spots are freed? But because you can basically just add new skills to our repertoire, including difficult-to-find varieties, well¡­ we¡¯d like some more nerds! We don¡¯t have a great shapeshifter, which would be nice, for one. I checked into skills you can get away with. [Zoology]. Thank you, Aristotle? Believe it or not, someone with [Mathematics] would be nice to have on hand, too¡­¡± ¡°Uh, sure! Let me guess, you want one of the brand-spanking new Sirens as your shapeshifter. For the physical specimens. I know who, too. But I want you to say it! Tell me your future girlfriend, Uriel.¡± She smirked at him teasingly. He blushed and rubbed his neck. ¡°I-it¡¯s not like that! Really, Madam! It¡¯s just, well, you gave one of them [Anatomy], after all¡­¡± ¡°Oh, did I? Hmm. What was her name, again? I forget.¡± Wincing and sighing, Uriel finally muttered simply, ¡°Teles.¡± ¡°Ohhh. Yeah, that¡¯s right. I think her name means ¡®perfect.¡¯ Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s perfect, Uriel?¡± ¡°Please stop, Madam!¡± he protested breathlessly. ¡°Eh hehe! Okay, I¡¯ll stop, but don¡¯t think she won¡¯t tease you twice as relentlessly.¡± ¡°Did y-... Did you make her particularly ruthless, Goddess!?¡± ¡°Well, I fashioned you Angels to fade into the background. That¡¯s not at all the case with Sirens. They¡¯re loud and proud! They¡¯ll insinuate themselves into an advantageous position one way or another, in any given social scene. Their strategy depends on their personality and skill set. Thelxie is the real seduction artist, though.¡± ¡°Ah. Well, that¡¯s a relief. I¡¯ll certainly steer clear of her.¡± Sammy squinted her eyes at him. She wasn¡¯t at all sure about the actual conviction in his voice with that statement, but she let it go. Meanwhile, Tashome was carrying on with a bit of cleanup, perhaps with a slight note of amusement, while Ash was observing even this matter clinically, squinting her eyes at Uriel in what might¡¯ve been a mirror to Sammy. Shrugging it off, Sammy said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get on those two new nerds and try to amp up their brain power and such. You might also rope in some of the Cat Siths, including the new alchemist, Hermes. I kind of figured he¡¯d be an understudy of Tashome and Zephyr.¡± ¡°Planned on it,¡± Tashome called as he was picking up a fallen tool, not looking in her direction. ¡°Your javelin is ready, by the way.¡± ¡°What? Oh, the transmuted arrow.¡± She felt a combination of curiosity and anxiety. ¡°It turned out well?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s in a long box propped on the wall of your study.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ um, I have another project¡­¡± Tashome sighed. ¡°Of course you do.¡± ¡°I think it will be fun! And I really see it, if that makes any sense. I can feel the affinity.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Existing affinity to you?¡± ¡°Between Dreixia¡¯s weapon and my staff. Like they could be consolidated. Fused.¡± Tashome turned his head to her finally, curiosity piqued. ¡°Hmm. The sonic-based traits. What could harmonize easier than harmonics? Interesting. Have the bell-thing delivered first for me so I can study it, but you¡¯ll eventually need to surrender Foolmaker, too. Possibly even be present for such alchemy.¡± ¡°Alright, will do.¡± She glanced at the gory remains of the troll, green blood spilled everywhere. ¡°Good luck cleaning up that mess. I¡¯m not green with envy for it.¡± Tashome rolled his eyes disgustedly. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°That¡¯s what phantasmal servants are for, Goddess!¡± Uriel added. ¡°Yeah, only a real greenhorn would do it themselves.¡± Uriel cringed as if in pain. Ash frowned ¡ª wisely, she said nothing, lest she be the next target. Her work done, Sammy departed, Mirror Walking back to the hideout and making a beeline for her study and locating the javelin Tashome mentioned. It was a fine and aerodynamic-looking small spear, with one variation ¡ª a heart-like tip that was unlikely to be ideal for injury. She was happy about that and knew it was a sign that the buff ideas for it had worked out. She took it up and cast Allspell Core to identify it.
Contempt For The End This artifact reflects your defiance of pain and death against a terrible and powerful foe who had seemingly defeated you. You refused to give up, and now this act will inspire others. Let your pain not be forgotten but immortalized by your absorption and evolution. Thereby, you offer it up to your people and reflect what is within us all: to strive, to survive, to conquer. Only you may use this artifact ¡ª to any other, it is a poor javelin. When you throw it, it will shine with tremendous brightness and reach nearly any distance you can see. At a chosen point, it will erupt with light and drum-centric music at great volume, directed downward in a wide cone, to a maximum of 300 more meters before it burns out. It will reappear in your possession in 12 hours. All allies who clearly hear the music will continue to hear it within themselves for five minutes, receiving an irremovable divine buff. During this period their minds and bodies are inspired to push on against any adversity, just as you did. They become incredibly difficult to kill and are immune to magical [Death] effects. They are also immune to any form of complete consciousness loss barring brain damage, decapitation, disintegration, etcetera. They can still be stunned but have the potential to resist at +2 Effective Levels. For wound comparison purposes in normal combat, they add +3 Effective Levels for the torso and limbs, +2 for head, neck, or spine, and +2 for any magic ¡ª or +4 for AoE magic. Mortal wounds (except to head or spine) are downgraded to Critical unless crossing an additional +2 level threshold. Lethal wounds are case-by-case but dismemberment is possible. Bleeding is heavily reduced and they cannot take wounds from it under most circumstances. They suffer at most -2 Effective Levels in penalties from any physical debilitation, though disabled or severed limbs still cannot function. They must still contend with pain, but your inspiration allows them to push through it. When the duration is over, they may fall unconscious from prior injury, and all bleeding will resume as their wounds normally would.
Incredible. Her eyes welled with tears as she read the first part of it ¡ª it was obvious that Tashome wrote it. She felt¡­ incredibly grateful to him for those words and for the artifact itself. I can buff a party or buff a whole damn army with this. Turn the tides at the critical moment and save some lives in the process. Sammy sat down to admire it for a bit in quiet contemplation, eventually stowing it into her dimensional sack. Having missed the reset ¡®Shoot The Goddess Hour¡¯ that would charge up her specialized [Pneuma] FE, there were nonetheless plenty of people still snaggable and ready for it in the after-dinner period. So she went out and got blasted by energy from almost forty Followers, a dozen or so using items and the rest using priestly light beams. Two of the new merfolk recruits were on hand to observe ¡ª Heizon and Alkai. Heizon was very curious and chatted up Canmore while observing. Sammy was at that moment lightly bantering and taunting her Followers good-naturedly to ¡®try harder¡¯ as she absorbed their attacks without harm. Meanwhile, Alkai watched wide-eyed as though at a trainwreck she couldn¡¯t look away from, entirely scandalized. You have absorbed energy damage from multiple sources and gained 38 FE (Pneuma). There¡¯s no energy quite like free energy! It¡¯s almost as good as free real estate. While she was still inspired, she took a little time for spell research. She didn¡¯t need to rush the cloaking spell for Ash¡¯s mission, as she had many days, but she spent an efficient thirty minutes bumping it up a little more from the two-thirds state she left it in. Chipping away, essentially. She shifted back to her last efforts for a level six spell, which was an Abjuration-based damage aura. The basic idea was to protect herself in a radius with continuous, miniature traps, or glyphs. Get too close to the spell goddess, get stung! It was too complex, too unique, and too close to her level to finish in one go, but she poured a couple of hours into getting it rolling, working through initial kinks, and pushing it to over two-thirds complete. At that point, she exhausted any efficiency on the effort. Her next task was scouting out Itha Ranon finally, which she shifted to the spirit realm to do for the initial efforts. The planetary-associated location was rather easy to get to, still having a referential connection to Geirkos¡¯s vague proto-realm, which had maybe been filled out very, very slightly since she¡¯d first explored it. [Deific Pneumamancy] indicated this was her doing from her divine activities in general. The island was nonetheless far more distinct. She could fully ¡®go¡¯ there, like a pocket realm. It had density and gravity to it. However, it was incredibly hostile, basically coated with the spiritual equivalent of bright warning colors screaming ¡®Stay the fuck out!¡¯ Her urge to defy it and barrel right in was strong, but Azure and her realm as a whole would throw an absolute shit fit if she did, so she stuck to the game plan of just being a girly girl scout scouting only and not being a decisive goddess that did whatever she wanted. Stupid fuddy duddies. I bet I¡¯d be fine if I barged in. I¡¯m super powerful here, after all. Her brain forced her to remember the archer, though, thus betraying its owner''s hubris and giving her some personal-level pause. She was great ¡ª World Class ¡ª in the ¡®wild, wild west¡¯ of Limbo, not necessarily so great in the realms of others. Sammy probed the realm from afar, extending her senses as well as utilizing ad hoc informational spells by way of [Pneumamancer]. Ghosts. That was what she got. Lots of ghosts haunting the ruins. And they were not just fragmented spirits as she would¡¯ve thought, either. They were mortal spirits with Fate Ties. Ties like strings that wound down, down, down into the deep off the shores of the surface. Deeper than merely the ocean. It was into an underworld, and what she gleaned to be some sort of Afterlife. A mad power resided there, what had to be the king. And more. A god. (Vol 6) Chapter 15: A Star to Hold the Answer Of course it would be a god. This is going to be complicated. Sammy could feel the madness bleeding out like a cancerous wound. It interlaced and flowed through the incredible concentration of mana, tainting it. That would make the physical area dangerous in itself, and the ghosts were no doubt keen to utilize it against interlopers. She was a bit puzzled by the ghosts. Instead of them all being insane, there seemed to be calm points scattered, and a larger concentration deep under the ruins. She had to resist getting too close, as her curiosity was drawing her toward it. Suddenly, one of them branched out and up, getting closer. Shit! Am I had? I got too close. Sammy quickly faded backward and wrapped herself in a cloak of Limbo, where it would take a true powerhouse to detect her. A ghostly figure, mostly white-tinted with a hint of blue, floated near enough to make out details. He was dressed in fine robes with oversized sleeves, all trimmed in a color that once was golden, she thought. He had a chaperon cap on, with long hanging fabric. Prominently, his ear on the more exposed side had a row of glittering stars as earrings, all the way up. He was clearly looking around for her, and his eyes passed right over without perceiving where she was. He cast some sort of spell with a flourish she did not recognize, dance-like, and then seemed to puzzle over it as his head was glowing brightly. Aura analysis. But that would not get much from her unless he could compete against her levels. He¡¯s one of the salient ones. The madness simply did not touch him. The word that jumped out of the ether to her in respect to him was ¡®illuminated.¡¯ He was confounded enough by his reading that he grimaced and made an elaborate curse. It was so strange that her brain¡¯s language translation wasn¡¯t clear ¡ª something involving pies and shit, though. ¡°I know you¡¯re existent!¡± he called in agitation. The language was so different, she could subtly tell that her brain was working harder somehow, like nothing she¡¯d encountered before. ¡°You must far beyond reside against these auspices or know permanent suffering. The Interceptor-Twisters are forgetful this Wicking, but darker moons may fall for you another. In me, danger fails as a simple speaker. Peace.¡± Hrm. I think he¡¯s saying he¡¯s no threat but the crazy ghosts would be if they saw me. He paused a few moments, then turned to go back. Sammy couldn¡¯t help herself ¡ª she made words resonate in a dislocated way around the ghost. ¡°Thank you for the warning. I have a keen and strong interest in this place.¡± The ghost whipped around, looking in all directions in alarm. He might¡¯ve paused to puzzle over the words. He squinted and muttered to himself. Finally, he replied, ¡°I receive your gratitude but reject any debt. I repeat, you must far beyond go and reside. Forget. Danger. Lose desires under this moon.¡± ¡°I cannot. I must maintain my desire here. I must go and reside here.¡± He looked sad suddenly. ¡°You have become doomed. Danger. Warped ways. Destruction and forgetting. To see and know, I will weep.¡± ¡°Can you help? Against this danger? Mutual benefit?¡± The ghost appeared disturbed. ¡°No. I must be where I resided, or know dark moons under Interceptor-Twisters. Paranoia.¡± He put two fingers up to his eyes, then pointed back in the direction of the realm, then pointed to himself. He can¡¯t be seen being away? Yeesh. Sammy took hold of the Limbo energy just beyond them and shaped it into an obscuring cover as she did over herself, making it impossible to see or perceive in any sense of the word through it. But she made it obvious to those behind the screen ¡ª i.e. her potential ancient ghosty friend ¡ª what it actually was. The ghost turned around to watch this, his alarm blatant, but he remained to watch the conjuring, seemingly caught in awe and fascination. ¡°Amazing power demonstrated.¡± ¡°I have control over Pneuma. Do you know this word?¡± The ghost spun back around, his eyes trying to locate her, now with at least some indication of what her trajectory had to be. ¡°Yes. I exist before a Reality Weaver. Danger? Peace?¡± Sammy had to chuckle at that, the meaning clear. Then she formed a vague body to appear, obscuring her features but fashioning a brightly glowing facsimile of herself, simultaneously ¡®un-cocooning¡¯ herself from her hidden space. ¡°Peace, yes. I will not harm you. I would like for us to be friends.¡± He was surprised and awed by her appearance. ¡°An Empress of Light beams upon the Construct.¡± Hmm, Construct? Interesting term. Entirely true, of course. ¡°What do I call you?¡± ¡°Stargazer. Names contain danger, oh Empress.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re right about that. Why are you Stargazer? What is that?¡± ¡°Under distant moons, we watched the heavens and fashioned their story emblazoned in light. Stars and moons. We judged the coming Wickings, saw the fire of fate burn, and in the flames visions taught and enriched us. Under golden moons, we prospered, and our greatest was crowned a King. North, South, East, and West, we sent the Bishops of Stars, to make other night skies beaconed in gold as ours. From towers, they watched and guided through darkness.¡± Sammy marveled, even as she puzzled over the words. The original wizards, perhaps? ¡°This must¡¯ve been very, very long ago. How can you remember it? You know of the Spell of Forgetfulness?¡± The Stargazer nodded soberly. ¡°Yes. But it does not touch the runes of the reader, writer, and record keeper, which burn bright in thoughtfulness, which lend the decoded Construct Definition. With diligence, runes construct common meaning in thoughtfulness, and then may be exchanged.¡± He turned slightly to gesture back at the realm below. ¡°Without diligence, self is lost after many shifting moon skies in regression, far beyond meaning and exchange.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°So¡­ you think in special runes and preserve yourselves, though perhaps not perfectly for communication purposes. But the others¡­ the not-so-record-keeping, they turn feral. Don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Erosion of ego, erosion of will, erosion of self. The King¡¯s Madness takes them, as nothing resides under the dark moon but geas. Obligation and obedience; all light quenched.¡± ¡°What happened to your King?¡± ¡°Envy, betrayal without; rage, grief within.¡± ¡°Right. Which was caused by war? With Geirkos.¡± The Stargazer looked at her quizzically. ¡°Names beyond wane under new moons.¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­ the city-state on the mainland? A rival?¡± He nodded. ¡°The receivers of gifts grow fat without the perfect understanding earned, of sacrifice under many peaceful moons. They hunger and hunger for more, growing to avarice. The untamed under the Construct¡¯s power become thieves. Blackguards.¡± ¡°I will be honest with you. While I don¡¯t want to take treasures, I hope to solve the issues here in Itha Ranon. I want to raise it back up and utilize it. Help those who remain. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re phantoms. Everyone has something to give to the greater good. The future itself. This place could be a beacon for the world. As you might say, ¡®a new golden moon in the darkness.¡¯ It sounds like this place was key to the development of civilization itself. If it stood tall at the beginning, let it stand tall at the end.¡± The Stargazer did not have a strong reaction to this. He stared at her in apparent deep study and contemplation. ¡°Stargazer,¡± Sammy began, ¡°do you still gaze? Do you read fate and the future? What do you see?¡± ¡°No more moons. Darkness. The Construct likely reshapes, but it lies beyond us. The Stargazers, seeing so many skies, wait without fear, yet reside resigned to sadness.¡± ¡°If you could ensure the preservation of what is left of you all, would you?¡± ¡°I am led to agree by the persuasion of an Empress.¡± A touch of amusement there, easy to miss. Sammy let more of her features show so that he could see her smile. ¡°An Empress of Fate, too, Stargazer.¡± He took this very stoically, nodding. ¡°Such a definitive soul heralds a great struggle under dark moons, often an apocalypse.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very impressive that you know that. The Stargazers study past lives, too?¡± ¡°To gaze upon the heavens is to study all, wonder, and whereby seek to understand.¡± After a pause to look upward and press a phantom hand to his chest, he continued, ¡°It is under uncommon moons that we have sought solutions. I will confer with salient and trustworthy others under this one, if you allow.¡± ¡°Of course. Please do.¡± ¡°Return in one revolution and knowledge will magnify.¡± ¡°Hopefully that can work. If I¡¯m not available, may I send a representative? I can leave this hiding spot here indefinitely.¡± ¡°An Empress conducts her will by many hearts. Yes.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Go with peace, Stargazer.¡± He made an elaborate bow. ¡°Peace is ours, together in all, oh Empress.¡± Sammy watched him fly off back to his realm through the screen she made, pondering what she¡¯d learned amid the persistent mysteries of the island. I guess the best of results can¡¯t come easy. The mana of this place¡­ No wonder there was so much interest here. But dealing with a mad god is at the top of my ¡®don¡¯t wanna¡¯ list. Been there, done that, have the scars to show it. Hopefully a more reasonable solution presents itself. Sammy left to return to Heavenpeak, sharing the information gained with her realm and making it of note to those more involved, like Zephyr. ¡°A promising contact, it seems,¡± Zephyr offered mentally. ¡°And you¡¯re certain this place below it was an Afterlife they¡¯re connected to?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m absolute on it,¡± Sammy replied. ¡°It would have to be. There is no way these ghosts could retain themselves for so long without that. Granted, most of them don¡¯t seem to retain anything. It seems the god has also persisted somehow, even without Followers.¡± ¡°A mystery indeed. I was wondering, though, what are the protocols for transferring souls between Afterlives?¡± Sammy blinked a few times at that. ¡°Not sure. Must be some way to do it, though. Are you thinking of it as a carrot to dangle?¡± ¡°Perhaps. But not if it requires a mad king¡¯s consent.¡± ¡°Hmm. I doubt that¡¯s absolute. If they want to ditch him, I bet I could facilitate. The only issue is, what do I give up by pissing him off? We don¡¯t know enough yet. I don¡¯t even have a quest yet!¡± ¡°Ah, but perhaps it remains hidden. They do that. Another perhaps: curing the king. Orswyth seems gifted in such matters of mental clarity.¡± ¡°Holy shit, yeah ¡ª he just wiped out that venerable dude¡¯s dementia! Alright, let me see if I can conference call his ass into this¡­¡± Momentarily, Sammy pinged Orswyth to see if he was free and could join in. Momentarily, the Hierophant popped in. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Zephyr and I were curious if you could wipe away a god¡¯s madness.¡± ¡°Oh, is that all? Before or after breakfast in the morning?¡± ¡°Heh, well, it''s up in the air on the feasibility or relevance, but I appreciate the faux confidence. Speaking entirely hypothetically, could you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d call it a strong hypothetical maybe.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it! Anyway, Orswyth, Zephyr, that¡¯s all for now. Old men. Be sure to get some rest. You do know that when it''s dark that¡¯s sleep time, right?¡± ¡°Your realm never sleeps, Madam,¡± Zephyr sent with wry tones. ¡°Fortunately for me, I barely do myself.¡± ¡°Likewise,¡± Orswyth related. ¡°But I will be sure to get a bit, Madam, just for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± Sammy sent, then disconnected. What next? The perpetual question¡­
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 16: Aggressive Moves As Sammy pondered her next move on the seat of her throne in Heaven, taking in the soothing yet stimulating harp notes of Calliope¡¯s renditions of classical Earth music, Azure appeared. She stopped short of the throne to take in Calliope and they exchanged a smile and a nod as Azure simply listened for a few moments. Her eyes slowly closed. Sammy noticed something new on Azure¡¯s belt that drew both the natural eye and the mystical ¡ª an ornate dagger in a sheath, in gold and black, with an oval ruby in the pommel, held by a black reptilian claw. ¡°Ooh,¡± Sammy exclaimed, ¡°a new shiny you have. Pretty, it is.¡± Azure opened her eyes to squint and smirk in both humor and exasperation at her goddess. Her head shook slightly. ¡°Not even ten seconds before you noticed the shiny thing.¡± ¡°It caught the light! Also, it¡¯s magical. Powerful.¡± ¡°A gift from Redberry.¡± Sammy leaned forward, feeling aglow with intrigue. ¡°Soooo¡­ What¡¯s it do?!¡± Azure smiled, once more in a combination of fondness and exasperation. ¡°I don¡¯t know, oh Heavenly Dessert of Mine. And before you try, I¡¯ve already attempted identification. All the description says is ¡®Wouldn¡¯t you like to know?¡¯ It seems that Redberry has given me something of a quest to unlock him.¡± ¡°Him?!¡± ¡°Yes, the dagger is sentient. Sapient. And very dormant. Redberry said he had been collecting dust for a century, but when she retrieved him and attempted communication, he ignored her. She believes he is offended and refuses to serve her any longer due to her failures and neglect. He is a wyvern by the name of Ka¡¯tettin Havur, or Deathsting.¡± ¡°Amazing! Fascinating! So exciting! A wyvern! So, er, is he talking to you yet?¡± ¡°Unfortunately not. I feel that he is observing, though. Perhaps deducing my worthiness. Redberry says I could still use him as he is, to some effectiveness, but I am going to refrain at first out of respect. He can see how I handle other weapons.¡± Sammy giggled at this. ¡°Haha, you¡¯re trying to woo your dagger! Perhaps get him some flowers? Chocolates? Poetry?¡± Calliope did a perfect ¡®baddum tsh¡¯ sound effect, to which Sammy thanked her briefly with her hands in a prayer sign. Azure rolled her eyes. ¡°Har har, funny girl. Keep it up. I bet that is part of the reason she said for you not to bother trying to rouse him.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Redberry indicated you are not someone he¡¯d like.¡± Sammy frowned. ¡°But you are under me. In large part. Won¡¯t that be an issue?¡± Azure raised an eyebrow. ¡°Under you in some ways, but you¡¯re under me in at least one way.¡± Sammy tried not to react, but she was sure she blushed despite her best efforts. Calliope was no help, playing something ominous like she was experimenting with a theme for Azure¡¯s ¡®dark sorceress¡¯ persona. Sammy tried to ignore that too. ¡°I think my point still stands?!¡± Grinning, Azure shrugged. ¡°I mentioned this already and she said it was unlikely to matter. Deathsting doesn¡¯t care about secondary relationships, just the one between him and a wielder. It has to do with essential nature, personality, and so on.¡± ¡°Hmmph. Well, whatever. You¡¯re the dagger girl, after all.¡± ¡°I do like knives. Stabbing things. Darting in and out. Penetrating-¡± ¡°Alright! That¡¯s enough, Hornberry! Ahem. Moving on. Lots of things are churning in process and progress right now. Including Itha Ranon. You caught the latest?¡± ¡°Yes. I appreciate your restraint in that regard, Chestnut. It seems it will require some measure of subtlety after all.¡± ¡°A shame. I hoped to charge in like a lion and such.¡± ¡°More like a rhino.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that big!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just the right size: whatever your whim. Or mine.¡± ¡°Eh heh¡­ well-¡± ¡°On that note, may we retire to private, Your Majesty?¡± She held out her hand and wriggled her fingers for Sammy to come and take it. ¡°I¡¯m feeling pent up and aggressive.¡± ¡°Oh. I-... yes.¡± Wondering exactly what that would mean but increasingly excited to find out, Sammy rose and descended the steps to take her lover¡¯s hand and be led off. Sammy refused to look at Calliope, who nonetheless was playing something the harp equivalent of ¡®bow bow¡­ chicka chicka.¡¯ Bards are so insufferable! ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Stolen story; please report. Having The Lover as a lover sure is a handful. An amazing handful, but definitely a handful. Sammy sipped tea from a balcony over her city, enjoying a nighttime breeze and the glow below. Everything she¡¯d designed and cultivated. Sampling the experience of that ambiance proved it to be well up to the task of inspiring awe and coziness. Possession, in a way¡­ Looking down to see a collective home of humanity. Which didn¡¯t just mean humans, to her. ¡®Sapienthood¡¯ just didn¡¯t really roll off the tongue. Whatever I am, they all are the reflections therein. In that case, we¡¯re all Earthlings, too! Basic bitches, as well? Hmm. Azure slept off her ardor. Sammy felt rather satisfied that her own endless energy was up to the task of¡­ endurance. There had been a strong psychological component that mentally exhausted her in the beginning, but she¡¯d adapted. When her brain didn¡¯t want to rest, her ¡®body¡¯ wouldn¡¯t either. It was just a lens of her light, essentially, beaming a certain way that equated to ¡®quasi-physical.¡¯ Welp, that was an odd thought. Probably bleed-through from the higher me. Her realm had decided to do a lot of work for her through the night in general. Followers poured in like mad. Specifically, the Naugite camp on the second night of their flight saw accelerating gains for Puck, expanding from her original foothold and feedstock of Followers. As fit with the sorts she¡¯d targeted, they were charismatic and talkative sorts. The first requirement of her related quest, ¡®acquiring 44 Followers¡¯ was blown through with ease. The other requirements were a little more complicated. Heskar seemed ripe to be the first Devout, but it was a little too soon. The prayer requirement would be erratic. The first crop had for the most part only prayed for luck, so they needed to be coached and steered to pray toward [Illusion] equivalence, to satisfy the quest. Encouragement from Zadkiel¡¯s realm helped to make the gains explode even further. It seemed he was adding Followers himself, in the new Dreixia-less dynamic of that particular clan alliance, but doing the solid of making a ¡®package deal¡¯ that included Puck and a choice of who to be ¡®mained¡¯ to, in exchange for the same courtesy. It was a no-brainer for Sammy to have this additional stamp of approval from a more well-known entity. By all appearances, there were tons of clansmen who were interested in all the buffs, blessings, and benefits they¡¯d more or less been taboo-blocked on before. They were all people who risked their lives day-to-day, so it was no surprise. It wasn¡¯t all sunshine and roses ¡ª also no surprise in dealing with Naugites. Though they fell short of being aggressive about it exactly, there was still a large population that was dubious of ¡ª and a small core that was entirely against ¡ª following gods. This included those who¡¯d been originally caught up in cheering Puck. It was one thing to support a hero in battle, and something else entirely to pray to them. For some, there was a cultural and semi-religious resistance. She was very interested in who led the way there, suspecting it might be the Ogdellos faction, but she was disappointed to discover that this potential ¡®bad leader¡¯ Dreixia mentioned was all about Zadkiel, and even secondarily Puck. He was, in fact, the opposite and leading the way in embracing the ¡®new way of things.¡¯ Instead, his rival Nyomel, a cousin and former close aide of Dreixia, led the relative detractors. Fuck my life! Now I¡¯m left to wonder if she wasn¡¯t lying as a last gasp to sabotage me. If I conspire to keep Ogdellos from the horn of leadership, I¡¯m potentially shooting myself in the foot believer-wise and making way for someone who could well be a Dreixia sympathizer, setting up political struggles. Sammy contacted Ba-Rasine to ask about what was going on with Dreixia¡¯s former crew. ¡°I¡¯m afraid spies in her inner circle have been religiously repulsed, often lethally,¡± Ba Ra sent back. ¡°Honestly, that is Nyomel herself¡¯s doing. To this day, we do not know what strange class she possesses, but it is unique and has magical capabilities. Perhaps an extremely well-disguised wizardly type, an enchantress, or a very unique shaman. She is from the distant and unknown south, specifically a land we¡¯ve never heard of and is likely made up. She married into Dreixia¡¯s clan though now a widow.¡± ¡°Huh. And how would she be as a leader? Would she oppose me and cause problems? Us, I mean. Oppose us.¡± ¡°Of course you do. Nyomel as a leader¡­ this is unlikely, as she was more the brains and social manipulator of the operation. And she¡¯s a foreigner. I am certain she disapproved of her chief¡¯s actions by the end but remained loyal. ¡°You may have misunderstood the details of her position. Nyomel opposes god worship dogmatically so is loud in that regard. She opposes Ogdellos but supports retaining Dreixia¡¯s collective aides as a council to govern for the duration of the campaign. Due to the overwhelming consensus to continue in the war, she doesn¡¯t see any purpose in snap choosing a new war chief. She maintains that under the larger army, Dreixia¡¯s system can simply go on as before, orders passing down the chain.¡± ¡°Mmn. Uh. So¡­ Is it just me, or does that not sound pretty great?¡± ¡°Only in theory. In reality, it¡¯s ignorant and impossible. There are five clans under Dreixia as an alliance, and they¡¯ll want a leader. Right now, that¡¯ll be Ogdellos. Without Nyomel and Dreixia¡¯s other trustees positioning someone else to protest and compete, it¡¯ll be the reality very soon. He¡¯s already unofficially doing it. Nyomel is conveniently making herself irrelevant. For now. She¡¯ll inevitably find a way to ingratiate herself with whoever leads, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Is there anyone who she could promote to oppose, feasibly?¡± There was a puzzled pause from Ba Ra. ¡°Could you explain why you¡¯re against Ogdellos? He supports you, even if he¡¯s ingratiated himself with Zadkiel more. They have one of those ¡®brother in arms¡¯ things going between them. Drinking contests, competing for a woman¡¯s eye, so on.¡± ¡°If you know him, perhaps you could illuminate: is he an actual good leader other than swinging his sword around? Is he advised well?¡± ¡°An axe. He uses an axe. As for his capability, he is largely as to the Zadkiel persona, but less magnetically sexy and without the wizardry, genius, or godhood behind it all. And then much dumber, still. His uncle is a good advisor, but he was ill before the campaign. He isn¡¯t present.¡± ¡°Okay, see, this is my problem. He¡¯s an idiot. Do you see how that could be a problem?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see what it matters. He is an easily manipulated patsy that will run where pointed, and he¡¯s charismatic enough. It¡¯s all we need. So, are you going to tell me where this comes from, you being someone otherwise clueless to our culture?¡± Sammy sighed. ¡°Dreixia¡¯s last words were that he could not lead. She could¡¯ve simply done it to mislead and torture me a bit as a final revenge.¡± ¡°I see. Hmm. I must admit that, if spoken saliently and truly, she¡¯d know more about her own inner culture than I would. I would not personally make this choice based on her, but I think this is yours to deduce and make, Goddess.¡± Sammy sipped her tea as she stared out over a dark sky over Heaven. Dreixia, you¡¯re doing a lot from the grave, aren¡¯t you? Why was this hill so important to die on? Is it better for your people? To Ba Ra, she sent, ¡°These were her dying words, and I believe she meant them, one way or another. A dying wish. So be it. Blessing or curse, I accept it and will try to heed her. Ba Ra, help me to oppose Ogdellos and present a better leader for this alliance, in opposition.¡± (Vol 6) Chapter 17: Naug(hty) Ambitions Ba Ra¡¯s first suggestion to maneuver within the political situation was to ¡®wake up¡¯ Nyomel, and thereby the other former Dreixia aides, to the actual problem they seemed unable to grasp. If she would throw herself behind whoever she thought could win, it would do wonders. At the very least, it would stall things. According to Ba Ra, Sammy¡¯s best asset was in fact a third party who just so happened to owe her a favor, anyway ¡ª Deikmorn Brakka. The legendary hero had emerged from the sick tent as if from the dead, to the amazement and excitement of the rest of the army, basically regarded as a sign that they had made the right choice in who they were putting in with. Deikmorn was well-regarded and his opinion would be strongly cultivated if he had input. Even more importantly, his backing could be useful, if not exactly decisive considering it wasn¡¯t his clan. But a respectful nod from him went a long way because he was considered another independent. Meanwhile, Deikmorn tangentially understood reluctance about Ogdellos, who, though a fine fighter, was in fact ¡®well-known to have a log for a brain.¡¯ It¡¯s clear an outsider can be a big influence. How big is the question, I guess¡­ The Naugite hero also refused the matter as satisfactory for the clearance of his debt, being such a minor favor in his eyes. Ba Ra did not have good candidate suggestions. Her personal first choice was an old general, Hannadros, who had Dreixia¡¯s respect as a retainer and advisor, but it was unlikely he¡¯d agree to the position. As a compromise, if Ogdellos would ultimately become the War Chief, if they had any leverage to make a deal, inserting this Naugite as an advisor would be very wise to mitigate issues. The likely two other candidates were Raddok and Quoller, both chiefs of different consolidated clans. The trouble was they did not really like each other, and by default one would oppose the other ¡ª one of the secondary reasons why Ogdellos was in such favor. It was assumed he¡¯d defer to advisors such as them as a leader. Raddok and Quoller. It¡¯s too bad. They have a nice ring together. Could¡¯ve been a comedy duo. Or a law firm. Some sort of diplomacy would be required to get one to tolerate the other unless some other unforeseen candidate could be propped up like Ogdellos. Losing a clan to division would be disastrous, though, and possibly see more loss than ¡®merely¡¯ a fifth of the forces. Tricky. We need Nyomel¡¯s input to some degree. The meeting between Nyomel and Deikmorn was staged that very hour in the deep of the night, and in secret. They avoided connecting him directly with Puck or Ba Ra ¡ª despite Puck¡¯s aid, no one seemed ready to believe he was in that camp. Sammy was hoping he could be a bridge to soften any resistance or animosity Nyomel had toward Puck. Welp. Good luck, Deikky. Break a leg, I guess. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Seated on a big, soft cushion in a dark tent filled with incense, Deikmorn Brakka sipped wine and studied the Naugite woman across the little ornate table from him. At that moment, she was holding her goblet in two hands and staring into it in contemplation. Deikmorn had just rather frankly dropped all the key details he¡¯d been instructed to about the situation and expressed his adamance that she was a hair away from losing any play she had. The tent was not hers, but of a close friend and ally, so as to reduce potential eyes. Not that Deikmorn had any doubt he was unseen. Even with a permanent malus, few could see him when he didn¡¯t desire it. Nyomel was entirely made-up beauty-wise despite the late hour. Long hair pinned up, golden glittery eyes and lip painting, a sheen on her skin. But perhaps the last was just natural. A lovely woman. A bit older than me, yet she looks entirely in her prime. The catch of fine wine for the next target of her ambitions. ¡°I thought I had more time,¡± Nyomel muttered into her goblet. ¡°They¡¯ve bypassed me, then. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t see an obvious solution. You must know the dynamic already, to know as much as you do. Ogdellos is a compromise between Raddok and Qualler, and thus the compromise of many cooler heads. I wish they were cooled enough to realize the rational solution overall, but here we are, as you¡¯ve revealed. I presume from spies in less careful quarters out of mine.¡± Deikmorn shrugged helplessly. ¡°I was hoping you had a candidate. What about Hannadros? And the other clan leaders won¡¯t compete with Ogdellos?¡± ¡°Compete. We are not under the Church of the Endless Rise, Deikmorn, merely allied to Zadkiel. Are you under it?¡± ¡°Not at all. This struggle is hardly exclusive to Zadkiel¡¯s core, though. Everyone deals with this up north, Southlander.¡± Nyomel looked away and sipped her wine. ¡°If only it weren¡¯t so. But no, Hannadros will not, I can tell you this absolutely as a close friend of his. The two other clan leaders are of smaller clans. The Yagmokka are connected by a handful of marriages to Raddok¡¯s Dostrans. The Ralmeekans are ostensibly neutral but pragmatically defer to Qualler¡¯s Uevarra. Do you see? Ogdellos is in the middle as balance. My council would be, too, and better than him, but alas.¡± ¡°Alas is right ¡ª or, ¡®son of a bitch,¡¯ as I like to say. In that case, why don¡¯t you compete? Instead of attempting the ¡®revolution¡¯ of a committee.¡± The mature Naugite beauty sipped her wine and met his eyes levelly. ¡°The council is a screen to obfuscate me, an unacceptable leader, being a feminine foreigner, purported witch, and now someone associated with a failure that almost got the whole alliance crushed.¡± ¡°I noticed that Dreixia was female,¡± Deikmorn replied dryly. ¡°She still allied these clans together.¡± ¡°By her force of will, and as a very successful warrior. She also occupied the same position, from the same core clan, as Ogdellos. I¡¯d hoped my screen would be assumed to be Hannadros pulling strings indirectly rather than me. I leaked such things.¡± Deikmorn coughed a bitter laugh. ¡°Ha! So your subtle Southern ways put you into the trap of not keeping things simple and stupid for us Northerners.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°I also sabotaged myself as a candidate, hmm? There were rumors even before of me being a submissive lover of Dreixia¡¯s ¡ª untrue, by the way ¡ª and I¡¯ve always been held in general suspicion. Let us be honest: I cannot be anything but a power behind another in this clan.¡± Frowning, Deikmorn sipped his wine and pondered. What a bloody pickle. ¡°What were you to Dreixia, then, if I may ask?¡± Nyomel smirked at him. ¡°What is in your imagination, Shalkan?¡± ¡°Well, you did say ¡® not a submissive lover,¡¯ so...¡± He shrugged suggestively. Rich laughter erupted from her. ¡°I knew it! That¡¯s the rumor more whispered in the dark in fear of furious reprisal from her ¡ª that I had bewitched her and was actually a dominant lover. This is the world of our people, no? All things stamped with the emblem of lust.¡± ¡°Yes. You won¡¯t ever hear me denying it. Well?¡± She regarded him in mild amusement and sipped her wine. Finally, she replied, ¡°No. Not lovers at all. It is just as she would say: ¡®I am wedded to the clan¡¯s stones.¡¯ Her lack of obvious lovers at all stirred such rumors. She never married and lost her lover long, long ago. She never spoke in detail about it and took it to her grave. Or, I should say of a Northerner, to the flames of oblivion.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. She cared for nothing but battle and glory.¡± ¡°Not true, Shadow Blade of Shalka. She cared about her clan, her ancestors, and about independence. Particularly from gods.¡± ¡°And you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not averse to competent, experienced, and aggressive lovers of the male persuasion.¡± Deikmorn blinked. ¡°Uh, not-¡­ I meant¡­ about the gods. And¡­ What do you care about?¡± She had a lopsided grin as her finger ¡®idly¡¯ traced around the edge of her goblet. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what you meant?¡± ¡°I¡¯m strongly considering re-thinking what I meant.¡± At this rate, I might owe the goddess another favor for putting me in this tent. Nyomel¡¯s smile deepened but she said, ¡°Gods simply reflect us. It is Dreixia¡¯s faction ¡ª and not even the whole clan, obviously ¡ª that wants to hear the dogmatic business. ¡°Honestly, Deikmorn, I care about my own personal power, while minimizing damage to others to realistic limits and forming close bonds with a small, meritocratic core. Rest assured I would never have died like a dog with Dreixia in that fort. I would¡¯ve survived, escaped, and used the survival to pick up what pieces I could. My loyalty would be clear and I could¡¯ve leveraged it for authenticity. I planned on having a scar.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t have to mar a perfect face.¡± I see an unlocked door, I open it. Hmm. A pragmatist, then, and somewhat in disguise. Useful intel, definitely. She smiled pleasantly at the flattery. ¡°Your weakness is well known, but I¡¯d wondered if you preferred only those half your age.¡± ¡°Ouch! No, not really. You look that with plenty to spare, besides.¡± She peered at him a moment in what might¡¯ve been a touch of surprise. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far, but I¡¯m glad you think so.¡± ¡°I do. So, in preemptively pondering my weaknesses, were you looking forward to seducing me, then?¡± He made sure there was a bit of tease in his voice. She raised a coy eyebrow. ¡°That insinuates there was effort necessary.¡± Deikmorn laughed and took a sip of his wine. ¡°I do worry about what I¡¯d be getting myself into. Besides the obvious.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s logical.¡± She sipped from her goblet, never breaking eye contact. ¡°Trouble. Glorious trouble. Would you like to hear of my sudden, new ambition this hour?¡± ¡°Oh, do I! And¡­ experience, perhaps?¡± A warm smile. ¡°Such eagerness. That would be for your ambitions, but far be it for me to disappoint a legend.¡± She set her goblet down and undid her pinned-up white hair, letting it fall to cascade over her shoulders. ¡°Ogdellos is someone I¡¯ve already had¡­ relations with before. It would be natural for me to appear to revisit it at this point. Meanwhile, this night¡¯s coming event can leak, as a passion flaring up that was once kept entirely secret¡­¡± Nyomel slowly but with catlike agility crawled up on the table over Deikmorn, her words transitioning briefly into a possessive smile as their eyes locked. ¡°Setting the stage for a feud of lovers. Demand a duel to settle it, Shalkan. First blood. He cannot believably deny something he¡¯s bragged about, can he? Who can question a Shalkan on a grudge of the heart? ¡°Embarrass and injure him in a duel that would be nigh impossible for him to refuse. If he does refuse, he¡¯ll be seen nearly as badly, weakening his position.¡± Her hand snaked up to touch Deikmorn¡¯s cheek as her face drew very close. He could smell the sweetness of her perfume. ¡°What say you?¡± Deikmorn, stunned and ¡®on fire levels¡¯ of aroused, opened his mouth to reply ¡ª and she kissed him. He kissed back hungrily. Her atop him, in between kisses, he managed, ¡°But-... Who¡­? Why¡­?¡± She broke from his lips to answer, while unbuttoning his shirt. ¡°You, Deikmorn Brakka! You can lead. With me as your advisor and the representative go-between to my clan allies. Less officially, the other former council.¡± ¡°Me?! I¡¯m a Shalkan! I have no ties to them!¡± Is she serious?! Is that possible? Consolidation... a super alliance to match Zadkiel''s... under Puck? Nyomel kissed his neck and whispered into his ear. ¡°You¡¯re a hero who defied death! What do you think truly bound them with Dreixia? What binds them now? A relative unknown, and one who cannot truly lead, but guide only. I think. This goddess Puck.¡± She moved back to meet his eyes. Hers almost glowed with the charge inside them. ¡°They need someone like Dreixia to believe in! That¡¯s you. And they need someone like me to do ¡ª¡± she grinned devilishly as her hand went lower ¡ª ¡°the dirty work.¡± What she did next definitely suited the words. Fortunately, he was indeed ¡®experienced¡¯ and disciplined enough to prolong his good fortune. His name being screamed in the night contributed authentically to the ¡®leaks¡¯ desired from that tent.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 18: Quality of Life While Deikmorn had a rather long meeting with Nyomel, Sammy assisted her realm in the night with routine matters of prayers, quest construction, and various matters a quick Goddess judgment call could smooth things over on. It was becoming more and more relevant to jump in like that with multiple teams and cliques developing. As much as argument was desirable to avoid, it was sometimes impossible. Quick expansion had caused tension due to issues of who lived and worked where, which Sammy could partially mitigate by judgment calls and partially solve by literally expanding their facilities. This was particularly needed in Geirkos, probably due to the fact she expected to have relocated to a main base by then. It was somewhat delayed, so she needed to compensate. A more makeshift and rundown adapted facility of the hideout was renovated into sudden prime real estate, top to bottom filled out and decorated as if Sammy had just hosted a home improvement reality show. Then she set about making a copious number of samesy living quarters, fairly spartan and compact, but designed for decent privacy. In her opinion, some of the tensions were from permanent agents living in-house in too close company with shared rooms and such. Private space could help for the benefit of those who were more introverted. Unfortunately, people won¡¯t or can¡¯t always tell you what their real problem is, even if you ask point blank. You have to be psychic or guess. Humans! We need psychiatrists, I swear.
The quest ¡°Lesser Deity: Becoming a Horde¡± is complete. 1500 FE gained. +4000 Maximum FE gained. 8(7) exp gained in [Goddess]. 1 free Create Servitor use added. Holy Relic Investiture upgraded.
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Standard Deity: An Order to the Realms¡± ¡ª Reach 3333 total Followers. ¡ñ Rewards: +2000 FE, +8000 Maximum FE, +8 exp in [Goddess], Holy Proclamation unlocked.
Level 8 Goddess obtained. +8000 Maximum FE added. Religious Experience maximum enhancement grade increased.
Special Trait (as a passive power) [Matter, As Spirit] added. The Power [Mirror Opposition] added.
Alter Fate, Dazzling Spectrum, Mirror Communication, Mirror Sense, Mirror Walk, Sheath of Light, Split Prediction, Tarot Reading, and The Unseen Animus upgraded.
Damn, those Puck gains were insane! Seems like there were plenty of other nighttime gains, too, but that was the bulk. First things first, she took a look at Holy Relic Investiture, which modified the last paragraph only:
Relics may have up to one artifact-level enchantment, one major, and one minor thematic enchantment related to the nature of the object and the deity. Activating enchantments can only be done by Followers (or you).
It was an upgrade from a major and two minor. It brought up the issue of upgrading existing ones¡­ ¡°System,¡± she asked, ¡°how do I upgrade Holy Relics to take advantage of this?¡± Rituals involved with Holy Relics are up to the deity, but one hour of meditation, work, prayer, or the like is necessary by you and whichever individual is most attuned to the Holy Relic. If you are the only one so attuned, you may assign a helper from amongst your Devout priesthood. ¡°Ah. Got it. Interesting. So, hey¡­ did you notice I stopped calling you Sys? It felt off.¡± The System is aware of all matters within the System. However, your addressment of the System is irrelevant ¡ª you may assign a moniker as desired. ¡°Really? So if I decided to call you Shitface, you¡¯d answer to that?¡± Yes, User Sammy. ¡°So very tempting. But I think I¡¯ll stick with the old classic. I bet I called you that in all my previous lives, huh?¡± The System cannot provide this information. ¡°If I told you to stop referring to yourself in the third person, would you?¡± There is no ¡®I¡¯ in team. This is not possible, User Sammy. In addition, not all instances of reference to ¡®the System¡¯ can be replaced, because existential reality is the System. Sammy rolled her eyes. ¡°I have one change though.¡± Dangerous? Fuck it. ¡°No more ¡®User Sammy.¡¯ Refer to me as ¡®Director.¡¯ Acknowledged?¡± There was one of those frightening pauses in response the System rarely had. Acknowledged, Director. Sammy grinned smugly. ¡°I wonder who else has a special name they demand to be called? I bet Dax does. Bast, of course. Maybe¡­ Big Sexy? Yeah, I bet he makes the System call him Big Sexy!¡± Next up for review were the new traits¡­
Matter, As Spirit Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Power (Divine). After you spend five seconds aligning your spirit properly, you have a greater general control of pneuma-interlaced physical reality. You may move around three-dimensionally in the physical realm similarly to your movement in the spirit world. This allows you natural hover and flight that is not dispellable, at an initial speed of deity levels in meters per second. Over five seconds of acceleration, this doubles, and may then triple but counts as a sprint. This movement can only be slowed by up to half speed for any traversable medium (such as water), but solid matter still blocks you as normal. In addition, you may utilize a simple Telekinesis (Ethereal) effect within (80 meters plus 5 meters per deity level). This functions largely as if having ¡®hands at range¡¯ at your normal physical capabilities, and requires similar occupation and gesturing with your existing hands. The effect is only visible to those who can see the ethereal ¡ª these will see ghostly hands attached to (at default) an indistinct and indiscernible body. This latter effect may have interference in zones with special restrictions or protections against ethereal manipulation. If there is a contest involved, add plus 2 Effective Levels for the purposes of resisting restrictions only. For any level functions or contests related to this ability, use a base of [Goddess]. One additional class may add as normal, providing (level/3, rounded up) to the base class ¡ª this can vary depending on the function involved, and other skills or items can improve action normally. Any time you sojourn away from your body spiritually and/or mentally, you must recalibrate for five seconds to utilize this ability. It cannot function at all while ¡®mentally absent,¡¯ as it requires special interconnected bonds between the spirit and body. Being knocked unconscious or similar while in-body does not count for this limitation, as the mind remains anchored.
Oh, nice. That¡¯s what I call some mid-level Quality of Life! No FE, permanently on, more or less. I¡¯m a full-on flyer now! Though not as fast as my Angels, the top speed is solid. A ¡®sprint¡¯ at¡­ 86 kilometers an hour, so far ¡ª unimproved, anyway.
Mirror Opposition For 7 FE (Mirrors) or 14 FE, you may utilize a mirror a foe is looking into to summon a double to attack them. You do not control this double ¡ª it operates as a dark simulation that utterly hates its real counterpart. It will attack immediately, and then six more times in something between 30 seconds and a minute of total duration, or until its double is dead, whichever comes first. The double will never use AoEs, only single-target effects to focus its attacks. It may or may not attempt to taunt or psychologically abuse its target at times instead of attacking. If it does so, add +1 Effective Levels to the next actual assault (cumulative per 5 seconds of this, but ending upon an assault). The double possesses all of the target¡¯s abilities and items but fights utilizing your highest first class as a base, and your second highest as a contributing class, at (level/3, rounded up). If the target does not fight their double and attempts to ignore them, add +1 Effective Levels, cumulative, for each passed-on attack. The double is immune to banishment, mind control, suggestion, charm, and any ability or spell that would otherwise dismiss or turn the double on its counterpart¡¯s ¡®side.¡¯ It is still vulnerable to holds and other debuffs but is at +3 Effective Levels to resist any non-damaging effect with its target as a source. A double begins with two wound negations unless its target has more, in which case it matches them. The copying of persistent buffs is otherwise highly dependent on the source and overtness. Hidden buffs, buffs without an aura, and contingencies are never copied. A double will vanish after the seventh total ¡®assault,¡¯ successful or not. If they survive, the target cannot be menaced by a double again for 77 hours. If the target kills its double, this ability cannot be used on them ever again. Only one double of a foe can exist at one time.
This is a nasty one. Phew! I¡¯m glad I¡¯m not my enemy. Hehe. Well, I kind of already did this, back at the naga temple. Is this my belated reward? Before she moved on to upgrades, she glanced at the REX buff change. Because they were highly modular, it was composed of ¡®parts¡¯ that equated to the severity of a buff. The customization became ¡®5 parts,¡¯ divided up into Super at 3 parts, Major at 2 parts, and Minor at 1 part, but the buff could have at most 3 effects. Generally, the best would be a Super and a Major. Her most typical REX buff, Blessing of Holy Wrath, could either do +2 Effective Combat Levels and 2 wound negations, or 3 wound negations and +1 Combat Levels. She decided to call the +2/+2 the original name, and Blessing of Holy Defiance would be the 3 wound negations version. And then it was time to check out upgrades. [Alter Fate] had a new enhancement:
Fool¡¯s Gamble (Illusion Synergy): You may attempt to recharge exhausted Alter Fate uses while only appearing to act against your interests, i.e. performing a ruse that would seem to be a failure. You must successfully fool the opposition to gain the recharge. This may be obvious, but you will not be able to intrinsically sense it and may attempt to draw on a still expended ability ¡ª in this case, you automatically fail on the attempt instead, and recharge through that failure. You may also utilize this ability when uses are not expended at all, to gain an extra ¡®free¡¯ use. If you fail in the ruse but attempt to capitalize, you will gain the extra free use similar to above, by it becoming an automatic failure (you will not expend your still available Alter Fate uses). This can only be attempted once per day and lasts only through that day. A successfully pulled-off ruse also allows a use that cannot cause the ¡®Shadows of Fate¡¯ debuff from multiple uses on the same foe, but if you failed a ruse and attempted to capitalize on a foe you¡¯ve already used Alter Fate on, instead of an automatic failure, you obtain automatic success yet gain the Shadows of Fate debuff.
Oh ho! That¡¯s interesting. Dangerous against a subtle foe, and a sure-fire bet against the easily duped. A question of who¡¯s the bigger fool, I suppose. Anyway! On the next, on to the next¡­
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 19: Ante Up More reviews of upgrades awaited Sammy as she sat on her throne and poured away¡­ Floofa suddenly dropped out of nowhere into her lap, startling her. The cabbit had a carrot she was nomming away on hurriedly, her eyes shifting around and her ears twitching. She whispered with her mouth full, ¡°Sammy hide Floofa?¡± No sooner than she asked, Midnight was bounding through the air to land some distance away from the throne, looking around. She appeared to have a broccoli stalk in her hand. Her back was turned. Floofa¡¯s wide eyes took it in, her chewing going still. She gazed up at Sammy pleadingly. Rolling her eyes, Sammy cloaked her in an illusion to hide her ¡ª just as Midnight was turning around. The darker-colored cabbit was holding out the broccoli almost menacingly as she continued scanning around with narrowed eyes. ¡°Hi, Sammy.¡± This was shortly followed by her yelling, ¡°Floofa! Come eat! Good for you!¡± In Sammy¡¯s lap, the invisible Floofa shook her head emphatically, indeed looking at the broccoli as a dangerous weapon she feared. She chewed oh so slowly. Sammy smiled politely at Midnight and waved. ¡°She doesn¡¯t appear to be here, but good luck in your search, Midnight.¡± ¡°I will find,¡± Midnight promised solemnly, holding the broccoli stalk over her heart like a knight¡¯s sword. ¡°For proper digestive health!¡± With that, she bounded off to resume her search. After a long, tense period of silence, Floofa continued eating her carrot happily. She was smacking her lips with her eyes shut, making happy cabbit noises, when she declared, ¡°Sammy stronger!¡± Her hand propping her cheek as she smirked and shook her head at the mess in her lap, Sammy replied, ¡°That¡¯s right, Floofa. I¡¯m still reviewing my level up, though.¡± ¡°Review, review! Level, level!¡± ¡°As you command, Princess Floofa!¡± Floofa¡¯s eyes went wide and sparkly. ¡°Oooh, Floofa princess¡­¡± Sammy continued her reviews. Dazzling Spectrum¡­ added another +1 to the contest. It seemed to be simply more ¡®rounds¡¯ of such upgrades after something similar from level 7. If she had to guess, it was broken up irregularly and would continue at ensuing levels. Mirror Sense was the minimal change that level, the surface becoming 11x11 centimeters required instead of 12x12. Mirror Communication added another enhancement¡­
Hide the Other Side (Illusion Synergy): For double the normal costs ( thus 2 FE (Illusion) or 4 FE at base), you may utilize [Grant Invisibility] through a mirror portal. They must touch the mirror, and you are at -3 Effective Levels in terms of the effectiveness. You may also perform it on an object touching the mirror, or make the mirror itself invisible. Current Level of Effect: 5. This only affects normal vision and lasts 1 hour per deity level. You may stack the cost for additional duration, a number of times equal to your level. Any attack or hostile spell or spell-like ability use by the subject on a foe ends the effect immediately.
Ah, so I¡¯d need¡­ two more levels to grant invisibility that doesn¡¯t pop after an attack. Though I could try Sympathetic Targeting instead, but would need a strong preponderance of links. Mirror Walk changed to 33 kilometers range, from 22. Sammy mused on the pattern. ¡°Okay, so we went from 3 to 12, to 22, to 33. 9, 10, 11 increase. Plus 12 next? Unless it maxed out. 44, 55, 66¡­ why do I feel like that¡¯s exactly what divine abilities would do? In any case, I¡¯m doubtful I¡¯ll ever leap a continent in a single bound with this particular ability. That¡¯s what the Bridge of Edges is for!¡± ¡°Sharp bridge?¡± Floofa asked. ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t run! Sammy get hurt.¡± She nodded sagely. Sammy laughed. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t!¡± [Sheath of Light] had a couple of upgrades:
Sheath of Light acts like an improved Armor of Light spell, giving 3 wound negations, +4/+6 Magical Armor/Magical Armor against supernatural entities or against [Darkness] or [Shadow] effects, and transmutes worn armor into a minimum of Full Plate protection at +3 Physical Armor. If already wearing Full Plate equivalent, add +1 physical armor to the existing armor.
¡°Cool beans. It seems I¡¯ve unlocked general ¡®3 wound negations¡¯ at level 8.¡± Floofa made a face as she was munching on a mostly-eaten carrot. ¡°Beans gross. Not cool!¡± ¡°What about warm beans?¡± Floofa shook her head emphatically. ¡°No! No beans!¡± ¡°No beans. Aaaalrighty then¡­¡± [Split Prediction] had a new enhancement to peruse¡­
Precisive Action: Once per day, you may take a singular full action as a defense instead of a typical defense. This can be used for movement, potentially invalidating attacks. You cannot combine full movement with an attack through this effect, but you can set up an advantageous attack for your next action if it proceeds immediately after. Movement is not instantaneous by default and you are likely to be perceived and reacted to, though likely at circumstantial penalty. You may use this to both attack and defend, in which case attacks become functionally simultaneous. Your attacker is at -3 Effective Levels to defend and you are at -2 Effective Levels to defend. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Any ¡®compression of time¡¯ is for all intents and purposes due to natural efficiency and prediction.
Oh, hell yeah! [Mirror Walk] as a defense?! How many times would that have saved my ass? One she was particularly curious about was next: [Tarot Reading]. It had a new enhancement.
Ante Up (Fate Synergy): After spending 30 seconds ¡®shuffling¡¯, you may allocate 1-7 Grant Prayer (Fate) uses for a given day to one of your Followers, which turn into the corresponding number of cards of the Tarot played immediately or ¡®in reserve¡¯. At any time, you or they may play a ¡®hand¡¯ and must select one card for an effect equal to a Present draw upon their person. This is never a permanent buff or curse, only temporary. Every card effect obeys its facing, i.e. there are upright as well as reverse effects acting as curses. A selected curse will afflict the Follower. These allocations drain Grant Prayer (Fate) once used, not when allocated. They may be pulled before use, in which case that Follower cannot be allocated Prayers in this way for the rest of the day. If you must spend FE to allocate Prayers, you will be refunded the amount when pulled. End-of-day reset may or may not carry over allocation, as desired. Any use of Channel Domain will automatically pull and utilize any allocated Prayers to fuel it. The effect cannot be removed or dispelled and only one may be present on an individual. Any lesser [Fate] buffs are removed when it goes into effect, and any [Fate] buffs or curses will not resolve on them for their duration. Anyone with Ante Up either allocated or affecting them cannot be targeted with the standard operation of [Tarot Reading] for the day.
¡°Well well, isn¡¯t that interesting?¡± Floofa blinked at her. ¡°I unno. Is it?¡± ¡°Yes! From the sounds of it, the buffs are very powerful. As long as I allocate enough cards, the odds of all reverses are minimal. Though¡­ I guess not zero, so there is some risk. Such is life, right?¡± ¡°Shoot for the stars!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Hmm. It might depend on their personality whether they want a potentially risky benefit like this. Someone like Lucky would go for it even with three, I bet. I think the odds are one in eight to get all lemons there. All seven would be like¡­ less than a 1% chance.¡± ¡°You pick!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Suddenly, she realized. ¡°Oh shit, I can pick! Duh! And I¡¯m not obligated down here like up there with the System Deck, right? System, can you tell me if I can utilize my ability [Intuition] with these cards for Ante Up? Can I flip them either horizontally or vertically like in the System Deck?¡± That is correct, Director. You may fully utilize [Intuition] to improve the odds of an upright result. However, this would require more time. ¡°Right, right, it¡¯s more limited in an emergency. But that¡¯s still pretty damn awesome.¡± ¡°Awesome possum!¡± Floofa agreed as she popped the last of her carrot in her mouth. ¡°Indeed. Know what else is awesome?¡± Sammy reached a hand behind her back. ¡°What, what?!¡± ¡°This.¡± Sammy produced a banana. Floofa was rapturous as she grabbed it, immediately ripped it open with her little claws, and devoured the tasty treat. There was no taking her time like with the carrot. ¡°Damn, Floofa! I think I know what I actually have to limit you on, as opposed to carrots.¡± Swallowing and licking her lips, Floofa gazed at her blankly. ¡°Please have banana?¡± Sammy frowned and raised an eyebrow, then quickly sighed in defeat at the cute, hopeful face of her pet. ¡°Fine. But only one more banana, okay? Don¡¯t ask for another one! Agreed?¡± Floofa nodded vigorously, and Sammy produced another banana which was quite promptly devoured. After swallowing, Floofa¡¯s eyes shifted to the side briefly, then she looked up at Sammy hopefully. ¡°Please have carrot?¡± Sammy widened her eyes in admonishment. ¡°No, little missy!¡± At the disappointed face, Sammy made a little ¡®shoo¡¯ motion. ¡°Run along, now! If you forage, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find more goodies.¡± The hopefulness returned to the cabbit. ¡°Okay! Love Sammy!¡± She hugged the goddess, then hopped away to continue her search, apparently intent on disobeying her sister in the new-found free-roaming expanses of Heaven. Not to mention, the other new cabbits might not be the best influence, hehehehe¡­. Score one for Sammy, Red! There was one other straggler ability to review to finish out Goddess Level 8¡¯s review ¡ª The Unseen Animus.
This is a hidden contest of Will that you have +3 Effective Levels for.
Alright, I can dig it. Gives it a little more reach above and beyond my levels. Like a lot of my abilities are getting. Not [Removal], though. The insta-kill has been a flat-level comparison from the start. But, at least I can use [The Unseen Animus] to soften up for it. Ideally, she wouldn¡¯t have to remove people from existence. But such were the cards sometimes. She noticed that all of her deific abilities did not add the ¡®+1¡¯ and such in the name like Detect Magic did, except for what had been from a quest reward. Why? Who knew? Probably because it was considered a special boost reserved for special scenarios. [Detect Magic] was special only in the sense of the unique application of that bonus, adding to interactions after detection, as it was by default not contest-centric. She took a quick look at spells. Sure enough to her speculations, there was Radiant Armor at level 8, providing 3 wound negations, +2/+4 Magical Armor, and full plate physical Armor similar to Sheath of Light, albeit weaker. Despite that, it was a guaranteed new staple for her due to fewer restrictions, costs, and its default long duration. Other common attack and defense spells that had been at ¡®+2¡¯ at lower levels became +3, showcasing further the theme of the bonus increase pattern. Energy Fortification was one such, giving +3 Warding against energy and magic attacks, as Energy Protection gave +2 at level 2. Something new of note that she recognized was Wall of Force, which created a typical energetic construct, invisible if desired, but unlike most of them, it was invulnerable to damage, common spells, and even basic Dispel Magic. Naturally, there were equivalent-level counters of various kinds, but it was well known as a staple of wizards. I¡¯m sure my peeps, moi, or both will inevitably make use of it.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 20: Bending the Wick Sammy noticed that Orswyth and Estara were instantly level 8 along with her, apparently able to reach the cap and wait on her for the level up. She conferred with them while they were asleep so they could mutually congratulate each other, creating a mind realm so they were effectively dreaming her. This was a trick they were already doing somewhat themselves, as assisted and then taught by Zephyr. She decided to make a little event of it, and so they had coffee and pastries at the bakery. Sammy insisted on almond croissants. ¡°You know,¡± Sammy said as she washed down a creamy delight with some hot coffee, ¡°I feel a bit bad that you¡¯ll be waiting on me all the time when you should be leveling.¡± Estara made a face, but her mouth was full. She had eaten her almond croissant at hyperspeed, so she could then order multiple other things in the limited time frame, including key lime pie, a cinnamon walnut churro, two helpings of red velvet cake, chocolate chip banana bread¡­ Well, Sammy just stopped paying attention to what she was eating at that point, as the girl stuffed her face with the whole restaurant. Orswyth ate a bit of the almond croissant as if to be polite, but mostly stuck to the coffee. He shrugged at the comment as he took another sip. ¡°This coffee is even better than the root-of-beer, by the way¡­ mmn. I wouldn¡¯t worry about that, Your Majesty. I think it''s expected of leaders to rise very quickly. Ordinarily, your most trusted allies during a deific ascension would be equally high-level heroes, all cultivating their third or even fourth class.¡± Finally, the powder-nosed, chocolate-smear-cheeked Estara swallowed ¡ª almost painfully with how much was going down the pipe. ¡°He¡¯s entirely right, Your Majesty. We are getting drowned in quests and experience for our clerical class, as hierarchical leaders. I can imagine it would be especially fun for a more seasoned adventurer to have something new to tinker with and advance quickly. It could even be the case that it is for the sake of motivation and ambition, to serve the deity diligently for the ensuing rewards.¡± Immediately after speaking, Estara stuffed a whole slice of some mysterious pie into her mouth, as though the speech period had starved her. I¡¯ve created a monster. Eh, not the first time, is it? ¡°Interesting pie- I mean, point,¡± Sammy said. ¡°Interesting point, yes. In any case, thanks for comforting me on that. I guess you¡¯re right. By the way, Estara, how are your other class studies and training coming along?¡± After a pang of shocked horror crossed her features at being addressed, Estara had a determined, intense look of concentration ¡ª she took a sip of coffee and swallowed the brick of pie she had in her mouth. It was enough to audibly and visibly go down her throat. Red-faced, she breathlessly answered the unfortunately-timed question, ¡°Good. Good, Madam. Ahem!¡± She sipped her coffee again. ¡°Level 2 in both [Wizard] and [Rogue]!¡± Sammy frowned. ¡°[Rogue]? Dax and Lucky with their bad influences. Horrible.¡± ¡°Well. You have [Rogue] levels.¡± ¡°Do as I say, not as I do?¡± Estara grinned and shrugged, then bit into a churro. Sammy didn¡¯t linger overlong ¡ª she offered one final congratulations, distributed hugs, and departed, even as Estara was trying to rapidly finish off her mental desserts with Orswyth also not inclined to hang out. She did a quick checkup on Crow while she was thinking about him. He was awake, being a¡­ catnapper. He¡¯d revisited those catacombs recently and explored them further for his own edification. Despite this, he was finally back with Carlisle. ¡°I¡¯m heading to Mot Mekess,¡± the catman related mentally. ¡°Briefly. Certain things to peruse within the library there, and I¡¯m inclined to speak with Agatha. But ¡ª and do keep this in close confidence as I¡¯ve instructed everyone ¡ª my next stop after that is Caneboro.¡± Sammy squee¡¯d both internally and externally, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth. ¡°Oooh, Estara is gonna freak!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the idea. I want it to be a surprise. I¡¯d like to experience that reaction, in addition to avoiding her getting distracted from her duties by any anticipation. As I said, I need to spend a little time in Mot Mekess. I¡¯ll be going very disguised and clandestine. Not that this is unusual to begin with, but you know what I mean.¡± ¡°Hehe ¡ª you old dog! Er, cat. But yes! I support this. I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re finally going!¡± ¡°The cycle of life seems to have veered us in different directions professionally, so to speak. We are only going to get busier. Nonetheless, we will have our cultivated reprieves from time to time.¡± ¡°Sounds good. Make it work, Catman! That¡¯s an order.¡± ¡°As if you needed to. But fine.¡± ¡°In other news, you¡¯ve been up to a lot, without many details coming my way. Care to share?¡± ¡°Your realm tends to deal in concrete results which I don¡¯t have yet. Think of it like a spell still being designed. The Brain Trust is aware of a little more than you, as delegated matters ¡ª I¡¯ll be recontacting them after Mot Mekess. I tend to wax and wane on communication moods, I admit, but I¡¯ve not been idle. Our research has partially to do with the increasing concerns about the World Spell of the Sage and the damage dealt. I am strongly inclined to mitigate and counter it.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Okay. Partially, you say?¡± ¡°My larger concern is the wasteland that has become of the underworld ¡ª as a concept, mind you. Afterlives are few and far between, as are defined realms in general, which have to go to extremes to protect their ways from erosion. There¡¯s no link, no order, and a far bigger multitude of lost souls wandering and stuck than anyone could even realize. They are quite literally the lost and forgotten the living do not see or know, yet catch on the periphery enough to be spooked.¡± ¡°Ghosts. I¡¯ve noticed them here and there, thanks to my new power in the spirit world.¡± ¡°Some are anchored to something they cannot let go, others do not have even this. They cannot choose between an Afterlife here and reincarnation because they don¡¯t ken any choice in reason at all. Reason and memory are too pockmarked, yet enough of them remains to torturously hold them. The essential will of a survivor is made into a curse. They will not pass until their energies obliterate. For some, this is centuries or aeons, and for those who somehow replenish their energy¡­ never. Unless that also declines.¡± ¡°Fascinating and gut-wrenching. I take it you want to help?¡± ¡°I feel a duty to. I at least had a choice, standing over the edge. I was fortunate to make it between life here and reincarnation, much as I was blind to such fortune. I feel like I was a lost child bumbling around, blaming the world for my misfortune. Any lie can be true depending on how warped one¡¯s perspective gets. Perhaps I could not believe the fortune you granted because of the world¡¯s abuse. It beat me. Literally and figuratively. ¡°The dusty and bruised lost child cannot believe the promise of a high tower looking from his desperate home in the alley, not even with the key in his hand. He thinks perhaps to sell it for a loaf of bread, or coin to gamble away on the dream he already possessed. That¡¯s the cruel irony of life for the broken and destitute of flesh and spirit. He makes the tower into his own addiction to calamity.¡± Sammy was speechless to hear it from the feline who¡¯d once been the ever-difficult and irascible catboy, Merril. ¡®They¡¯re all waking up.¡¯ The Fortuneteller¡¯s eyes bored into the Present across a vast distance, intense and possessed. ¡®Through us, [Death] will bend Entropy backward on itself. We are the catalyst of all [Progress]. We contort the Endless Wick upward and the flames burn brighter. Faster!¡¯ Crow decided to continue as Sammy remained stunned. ¡°Did I deserve what I was handed? Who dares to answer? But we know far more was hanging in the balance, don¡¯t we, Queen of Fools?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sammy answered, finally. ¡°As I told you, I need you. You¡¯re a critical piece of a great puzzle, and without you, it won¡¯t fit. Countless times before, we¡¯ve failed to put it all together. And your lives were each painted in a special suffering from my absence. An absence we strongly consider to be strategic, somehow.¡± ¡°I hold no regrets, as letting go is critical to ascension. One way or another, I¡¯ll be what I need to be. The transition of souls is broken on Calrenazzod and I will fix it.¡± ¡°Alrighty then! So, I don¡¯t want to distract you from your current obsessions too much, but there¡¯s definitely something of interest going on the Brain Trust can fill you in on when you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°I will ask. As for you, I suggest you accelerate yourself, Goddess. We¡¯re catching up with you.¡± Sammy chuckled wryly. ¡°I do get that sense, Crow. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure I stay out in front ¡ª even if I have to cheat.¡± ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less.¡± Crow disconnected. For once, Sammy knew exactly what she needed to do next. Or¡­ next next, that was. She¡¯d need Azure, who was sleeping contentedly, but that didn''t matter much as she had to prepare her realm for a likely coming absence of a day or two. They can handle it, but I still have to anticipate things and give judgments to avoid future issues. There were quest-granting ideas to approve, prayers to allocate, the Merfolk situation to prepare for, calls to make about who went where community-wise, the exodus from Traesh to massage, setting up someone else to meet with the Itha Ranan Stargazer¡­ the list went on and on. Azure was soon woken up anyway by Alfred, who¡¯d been instructed to do so when some unrevealed element of what Sammy was doing triggered what she considered an emergency. Azure was briefly annoyed by the news of a coming absence, stating she had her own ¡®stuff¡¯ to organize and make sure actually went somewhere if she was away. As a final time filler, Sammy hopped over to the Bridge of Edges and took a potshot at finding another location to anchor to. Azure was also annoyed by this because she was ¡®going it alone in precisely the only time Azure couldn¡¯t help.¡¯ Well, whatever. It was perfectly safe! By then, it was routine to search through the wilderness maze of twisted contours. To increase her chances, she did not attempt to confine it to a region. And boom! She found one! It was a dense forest once more, but the trees might¡¯ve been different from what she could tell through the portal. There was nothing else interesting that she could tell. She moved through to find what amounted to a hilly zone, with the forest going in every direction. She investigated the area a bit, remaining as cloaked and clandestine as possible. The cluster of hills was fairly rocky with scattered brush and trees. She noticed a particularly large jutting section of rock and realized it was too smooth. It was probably a wall or building section once upon a time. The hills were hiding ruins underneath. Otherwise, all she felt was a vague affinity, not quite familiarity. Her soul had not been there, of course. Perhaps Azure¡¯s had been, though. Okay¡­ time to wrap this up. Azure and I will commence with our locating trick, and then we¡¯re off to see the Wizard of Oz! We¡¯ve got a challenge to take on and the next stage of power evolution to acquire.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 21: Dark Tidings Momentarily, an initially grumpy Azure showed up, to begin their typical routine for easily finding out where the location was. The Naugite quickly lost her grumps as she silently gazed at the ruins. She walked up to the top and her hand moved toward some exposed stone¡­ she stopped short of touching it. ¡°Did I cause this?¡± Azure murmured, almost too low for Sammy to hear. Her hand dropped and she turned around, eyes haunted, to address her girlfriend. ¡°My love, could we do what we need to and leave, please? I fear that lingering here will draw me away from this path you¡¯ve set. This place¡­ calls to me.¡± Sammy nodded in sympathy. ¡°Of course, Blueberry. One second.¡± As quickly as she could, Sammy dematerialized and shifted to the spirit world, tracking Azure out over the planetary mass. ¡°It¡¯s the West!¡± Sammy sent to Azure, Jeeves, and the rest of her realm that was not sleeping. ¡°Yes! Fucking hell yes! It looks like I¡¯m smack in the middle of the Dramines. It¡¯ll put us fairly close to that frontier town, Greenway, where we already have a foothold.¡± Archangel Michael was ecstatic. ¡°Perfect! We can funnel people for the war effort! Er. Hmm. We need you for it, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Damn. Yeah. So far, anyway. We can go ahead and take advantage for some scouts and such, though ¡ª before we leave.¡± Jeeves popped in. ¡°An ambassador to the fae here is another bonus possibility, especially with the access speed increase. We haven¡¯t had luck from the Followers in Greenway, but you have free Faerie Dragons and Sirens at this point. I¡¯d planned on arranging a summoning.¡± ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s pop it over to Redberry for advice. We can send an emissary from the Pantheon, too, potentially. That¡¯ll be for after we get back, though.¡± ¡°Wisely concluded, Madam.¡± ¡°Hey, Jeeves? You¡¯re going to do fine. I promise! You practically run everything already.¡± ¡°As you say, Madam. We shall endeavor to think Goddessly Thoughts and Do As Goddess Would.¡± ¡°Heh. I could make a case for you guys being even better at the shot-calling on your own merits, but I¡¯ll save my ego!¡± ¡°Wisely concluded yet again, Madam.¡± Sammy wrapped up matters by summoning some Servitor scouts, as Azure quietly waited in the forest. When it was through, Sammy went after her to tell her ¡®It¡¯s time.¡¯ Azure¡¯s body needed to be somewhere, and that spot was out, so they¡¯d have to make one more short trip back to the hideout. Azure was by a tree, looking up into the branches. As Sammy approached, the Naugite pointed for her benefit and said, ¡°See the band?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sammy took a moment to notice it. A green band of faux leaves was wrapped tightly around a branch, facing the opposite direction from the hills. ¡°Oh. Well, I guess there¡¯s civilization. What do you think it means?¡± Azure gestured at the forest. ¡°This is obviously a path through the forest, and that is a warning. Almost certainly. The leaf chosen has a jagged edge, and the material used has a glossy surface. I believe that pretty much anywhere, that is indicative of a poisonous plant.¡± Sammy stared at where Azure had gestured and saw absolutely no signs of a path any different from the other directions. ¡°Uh. Right. Yeah. So¡­ the place is definitely¡­¡± She trailed off suggestively while nodding as if she knew, waiting for Azure to finish. Azure turned to Sammy and grinned. ¡°Toxic, symbolically. Taboo. Best stayed away from.¡± ¡°Exactly. I was just about to say that.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm. You should let another naturalist verify.¡± ¡°Oh, no need at all! I trust my girlfriend implicitly.¡± ¡°Indeed. And someday soon, your wife.¡± Sammy¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Uh¡­ yes,¡± she managed faintly. Azure just nodded and turned to look back at the path. ¡°Ready when you are, dear.¡± If a goddess could sweat, she would have.¡°Huh? Well there¡¯s- I¡¯m sure there¡¯s lots of- I mean, I don¡¯t even know the-the process expected-¡± Smiling without looking back, Azure interrupted, ¡°I mean to leave here.¡± ¡°Oh. Right! Ha-ha, yeah, I was just playing around, haha! Gotcha. Heh. Ahem! Okay. Going now for realsy!¡± Phew, that was close! Marriage. I really need advice. Do I find out how Naugite society works, or the Southlands? Southlands, definitely. Redberry. Yeah! I¡¯ll consult Red on this. Momentarily, Sammy exited by way of Mirror Walking to the Bridge of Edges, then exited out of the Bridge near Yura. She then took the mirror array network back to Geirkos. Back in her room, Azure materialized. Sammy braced for some teasing or other commentary about their prior convo, but Azure said nothing, just went to her bed and laid down, nodding to Sammy as if to give the go-ahead for the mission. Okay then! No rush. Rushing into things is bad! I always say that. Sammy dematerialized to the Bridge of Edges once more, with Azure there waiting for her. Someone else, too, dressed like a steampunk spelunker, headlight shining and her goggles down. Ozra. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Just a couple of things real quick!¡± the gremlin said, slapping her gloved hands together and rubbing them. ¡°First off, it''s best I stay out of the place you¡¯re going, so I just wanted to forewarn you that if you want to try questions, you better do it now. And please don¡¯t summon me there! I already know you¡¯re going to go to the projection, and she¡¯ll be able to say more on specific subjects of relevance. I have gaps, shall we say.¡± Ozra turned to gaze at Azure, and specifically down to her belt. ¡°Secondly, you¡¯re currently bringing another sapient guest like a rider. I¡¯m sure he thinks he¡¯s clever, but there is no way for him to partake in the challenge room. Consider whether you actually want him anywhere in the facility at all due to the liability.¡± Azure nodded soberly. ¡°I appreciate the warning, Ozzy. I¡¯ve been assured this intelligence is exceedingly honorable and tends to limit its communication with anyone but its possessor. Moreover, it might help our relationship, so to speak.¡± ¡°Hmmm,¡± Sammy mused. ¡°Questions. It¡¯s been a hot minute since I¡¯ve been there. I think the second challenge series will be more difficult, right? What should I expect? Any advice?¡± Ozra grinned. ¡°I thought you¡¯d never ask! Yes, your first series was practically a warm-up. Put on your game face for the next! That goes for both of you. We¡¯re talking high risk, high reward. In fact, based on my observations, Azure should consider sitting them out completely to avoid hosing herself.¡± Azure¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Excuse me? Why so little faith? Just because I had a hiccup the last time?¡± The light went dim, and a shadow passed over Ozra¡¯s face as it drew down. An ominous voice declared, ¡°When you have to confront yourself, you¡¯ll fail. You don¡¯t really know yourself, or you¡¯re afraid of what stares back in that mirror.¡± Azure stared. Her mouth opened but it just hung there instead of words coming out. The light came back and Ozra smiled, then continued cheerfully, ¡°But hopefully the current series isn¡¯t too heavy there! Samantha, in contrast, almost entirely embraces who she is, and gleefully. She might be weaker in terms of being an actor but makes up for it with creativity. But, Azure, I just want to warn you, I think the odds are really, really against you on the third challenge, and you might not mentally survive the fourth. If relevant.¡± ¡°Is it truly so hopeless?¡± Azure asked quietly, her eyes begging Ozra for answers. ¡°What can I do?¡± ¡°Oh, I think you know. A long, hard road, and one to think twice about taking.¡± Azure grimaced and looked away. ¡°Um, can someone fill me in on what you¡¯re talking about?¡± ¡°No!¡± came the answer from two mouths. ¡°Oookay then. Forget I asked.¡± After a pause, she regarded the moody Azure and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to come, babe. It doesn¡¯t seem safe, and-¡± ¡°I¡¯m going!¡± Azure exclaimed with intense passion, her fists clenched. ¡°I need a fucking win. I¡¯m going to get one.¡± Ozra sighed and blew air out from the side of her cheek. ¡°Odds might be fifty-fifty about coming out better than you went in. Sometimes damage can be mended, too. Sometimes.¡± Sammy squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. ¡°Okay. Advice? Especially for her, but I¡¯ll take whatever you got.¡± ¡°Mmmn.¡± Ozra held one elbow with a hand and tapped a finger on her lip, apparently looking between them. ¡°Hm. Hm. Hm!¡± The finger pointed at Sammy. ¡°You first! I believe your odds are higher than usual for overall success for the second challenge. Go for Silver! Perhaps even Gold. Just remember that there are times to play the role and there are times to transcend it and utilize your creativity. Instrumental points, hmm?¡± ¡°And now me,¡± Azure said, drawing herself up and bracing. Ozra turned her gaze over to the Naugite and crossed her arms. ¡°You. To improve your odds, play it safe. No need to go for Gold, just get through it and secure the Bronze. And try to stay disaffected while still acting the role. It¡¯s tricky to pull off, but if you fall into it too far, you¡¯ll lose the gamer¡¯s edge and not be ready for why you¡¯re there in the first place.¡± Azure nodded slowly. ¡°Gamer¡¯s edge,¡± she repeated. ¡°Yep, see, Sammy is from a world with sophisticated simulation games already. Even just a filthy casual like her who couldn¡¯t even finish a Zelda game has inborn understanding, reflexes, and separation instincts from youth that you do not. Mediocre though her skills are, and despite that she gave up almost instantly at any confusion or frustration, the familiarity is priceless.¡± ¡°Thanks so much for your vote of confidence, Ozzy,¡± Sammy commented sarcastically. I didn¡¯t give up instantly¡­ It¡¯s not my fault when a game isn¡¯t designed right¡­ ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± ¡°Despite my lack, I will succeed,¡± Azure said in determination. She met Sammy¡¯s eyes and nodded confidently. ¡°I will beat this game, Chestnut. I promise.¡± ¡°I believe in you, too, Blueberry.¡± Sammy smiled supportively despite the anxiety in her gut. ¡°Do your best.¡± She turned to Ozra. ¡°One last thing. How long will it be? In reference to Calrenazzod.¡± Ozra shrugged. ¡°It varies. One, Two, Three days¡­ not much more than that. Odds are around sixty percent for two days.¡± ¡°Good. Primarily, I just can¡¯t have it go five, six, seven, or something like that.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t possible due to the design accounting for the assumption of a world needing us. The third challenge is no different, and the fourth, well¡­¡± Ozra looked down. ¡°You¡¯re an unusual Iteration. That is a very cloudy eventuality I cannot logically inform you on. Sorry about that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ alright. Any idea what triggers the third and fourth?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t information available to me to tell you outright. As the Fortuneteller might say, ¡®you being you¡¯ will naturally lead to it.¡± ¡°Noted. Well, it¡¯s time to get this show on the road! You coming along, Ozzy?¡± ¡°Nope! Being in this place is a bit strange just floating here, much less trying to travel!¡± She stood up straight and saluted. ¡°Good luck, Samantha! I¡¯m rooting for you!¡± She went hazy, turned into multi-hued smoke, then evaporated. Sammy held out her hand silently to Azure, who took it and squeezed. They made their way down the long and strange road back to the underbelly of the palace construct once more. Engineering.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 22: Not the Boss of Me The bridge became crystalline and suspended over the relative void once more, with the shadow of the palace looming ahead, below, and above, varying with the twisted, mind-bending path they took. The world beyond the bridge grew darker and darker, and dust was kicked up over the bridge¡¯s surface. There was no sign of their prior footsteps, as if they could not make a dent in the extent of disuse. Azure was not grumpy at all this time around ¡ª in fact, she was dead silent. Her face was cast in stoic determination in preparation for whatever they faced. The final leg was traversed, ¡®up¡¯ a narrow corkscrew bridge to the entrance underneath all that was the palace construct. A backdoor through a silhouette made solid. The dark gleam of a mirrored circle shined back at Sammy once more. It was still cloudy and distorted, but much clearer than before, and plainly Ozra stared back, mirroring her movements, her tophat blatant on her head. My gremlin twin. Ugh. Sammy found the indentation for her hand and quickly pressed, her other hand holding Azure¡¯s. Light flashed and took them. For the second time, they found themselves in Engineering, in a large, open chamber, circular and suspended on bronze platforms. Enormous plastic-like transparent cylinders curled around everywhere like giant pipes, filled with mana somehow more concentrated than even a nexus, she was sure. They sufficed for light in that place. In the very center, across the support platform they were on, there was a lovely fountain with an empty pedestal. High up in the supports above was something new ¡ª on a platform in front of some sort of hidden construction that jutted out from the structure was a figure in a baggy blue jumpsuit and huge bronze goggles. The skin was like turquoise and massive ears jutted out sideways from underneath dark hair somewhat held back in a ponytail. A red toolbox appeared to float next to them. Whoa! One of Ozra¡¯s children, more or less. The gremlin was apparently manipulating the construct, which was a network of small crystals, dials, and levers that also seemed to be shining with flickering red light, indicating some sort of display. Sammy realized that up there, it was bright enough that a different contrasting color was probably needed, and the goggles likely assisted the readout. Sammy whistled. Startled, the gremlin turned, and when they looked down, they appeared even more startled. A sucker that was in their mouth fell out onto the grating. Slowly, they moved the goggles up and stared wide-eyed. Blinked. ¡°An ultraterrestrial?¡± the voice said, almost too soft to hear. The voice was quite feminine, along with a few other subtle things that hinted, despite an otherwise androgynous appearance. ¡°Here? How cou-... Are you real or am I seeing things?¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite real,¡± Sammy called with a smile. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to scare you. You can finish what you¡¯re doing.¡± Azure stared at Sammy in surprise. ¡°What the hell language is that? I¡¯m not getting a translation.¡± Sammy blinked. ¡°Holy shit,¡± she said in English. ¡°I was using a different language!¡± Frowning, Azure began casting a spell to help. Meanwhile, the stunned gremlin continued staring, eventually muttering, ¡°Just routine maintenance¡­¡± She trailed off, with a feeling like she was ready to bolt at a moment¡¯s notice (but then again, a mechanic was always ready to bolt). ¡°Okay,¡± Sammy said, holding in a laugh. ¡°Then I suppose you can wrap it up.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Again, she stared. Fidgeted slightly. Azure made a disgusted sound. ¡°Stupid spell did nothing! Phau! This is bullshit.¡± Sammy patted her back in sympathy. ¡°There, there, dear.¡± ¡°You just used the other language again!¡± Sammy deliberately switched to English. ¡°Oops. I said, ¡®There there, dear.¡¯ I love you!¡± Azure rolled her eyes and grumbled incoherently. The gremlin watched the exchange in fascination. Finally, something within her snapped her out of it. Her ears twitched and her brow drew down. ¡°Why¡­ Why are you here? Did you take some sort of weird turn? We need to know about whatever the error is, so if you could explain it in detail? Would you be willing to fill out a report? Do you have screenshots? You shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± Sammy squinted at the gremlin. ¡°How would I have screen-? No. Do you really not understand who I am?¡± Sammy gestured at the platform. ¡°An iteration, a predecessor?¡± The gremlin shook her head, subtly in denial rather than ¡®not knowing¡¯. ¡°Ultras from outside the construct. Your identity could be anything. What titles you use are yours alone. I appreciate your civility, though.¡± Briefly, she turned to the construct she had been pouring over and tapped something, which made it fold in upon itself and disappear into the framework. Simultaneously, she was pulling out a notepad and pencil. ¡°Could you describe what led you here?¡± Sammy frowned with her hands on her hips. ¡°Ozra Bosk drew me here as part of a grand destiny to save the whole damned universe! You know, the creator of all this? Your designer? The Prime Mover Engineer-Architect?¡± The gremlin stared at her implacably. ¡°Could you answer the question more physically?¡± Sammy glared incredulously. Where¡¯s the shock and awe?! Yeesh! I can¡¯t decide whether she doesn¡¯t believe me or if it is just completely irrelevant to her. Finally, she sighed. ¡°Through the twisted, corkscrew path leading to the backdoor directly here. A mirror face I touched for access in. You know, because it¡¯s mine? Because it exists for me and The Lover¡¯s Iteration? I am Samantha, by the way. The Goddess of Mirrors, Illusion, Fate, Light, and Pneuma. And your name?¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Reiki.¡± She didn¡¯t react at all, just scrawled on the notepad. ¡°So you¡¯re saying you didn¡¯t come here by accident? No errors involved, no falling through walls, concussions from explosions, no eating glowing mushrooms?¡± ¡°No! Damn it, I¡¯m literally authorized to be here! Do you want me to prove it? Huh? I¡¯ll open the door over there! It¡¯s why I¡¯m here, to go to the fucking Challenge Room designed for me!¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, calm down, please. Be advised that the door you¡¯re referring to will electroshock you in the groin if you get too close. It doesn¡¯t feel good and just about any species will be forced to retreat instantly.¡± ¡°I know! I¡¯ve been shocked in the damn groin already and I still went through. And if you want me to be calm, fucking listen to what I¡¯m saying!¡± Reiki studied her this time. ¡°I am listening, ma¡¯am. If you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no problem with you coming here, that¡¯s fine with me. If true, it¡¯s a relief because that would be really, really bad as a leak. Understand, we have to take abnormalities with great seriousness.¡± Sammy took a deep, calming breath. ¡°Alright. Sure. But I totally belong here! Seriously, though? You don¡¯t like¡­ venerate your creator, Ozra Bosk? Heed what she¡¯s told you about the purpose of this facility?¡± ¡°We heed the Codex of Proper Functionality. She was simply the first of us. Our jobs are outlined and the only thing we¡¯re instructed to hold as sacrosanct is the proper functioning of the construct, which also happens to be our home. I don¡¯t see why we¡¯d worship her or something like that when she specifically instructed us not to.¡± Reiki¡¯s voice took on a lecturing tone. ¡°This itself is proper functionality to maintain the rational, neutral, empirical outlook necessary for our operation in perpetuity. There is very little need for interpretation in the Codex. When reality is abnormal, we have empirical methods to deal with it instead of histrionics and divination beads. In your case, I am observing and fact-finding to increase our understanding. While I¡¯m not a communications or theoretical specialist ¡ª hence my fumbling of things ¡ª this event is sure to be useful for instruction and broken down in analysis for generations to come. Likely inconclusively, similar to the neverending debate on the best pizza toppings.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Well, that¡¯s great. Good for you, good for her. Break away, I guess. Pepperoni and cheese is the baseline, right?¡± There was no answer, but Reiki definitely scribbled something down. ¡°Look, I need to utilize this place. Are you staying? Will this stuff freak you out?¡± ¡°Not at all. Please go ahead and make use of the facility while I observe silently. Based on your prior comments, you¡¯ve been here before. Is everything working correctly?¡± ¡°I think so. It¡¯s quirky, but that is probably just how Ozra is.¡± Reiki just nodded, scribbled, and turned a page in her notebook, waiting. Meanwhile, Azure was getting increasingly agitated with not knowing what was spoken, her arms crossed as she frowned and watched them. Once the conversation appeared over, she raised her eyebrows at Sammy. ¡°Well?¡± Sighing, Sammy did a quick breakdown of the conversation for her¡­ ¡°... and then she said she wants to watch us quietly,¡± Sammy finished. ¡°Like we¡¯re apes in a habitat or something.¡± ¡°Ooh, ooh, ooh!¡± Azure made ape noises, looking directly at Reiki, who merely scrawled in her notepad from high above. ¡°What a ridiculous people. To think, they¡¯re crawling around my soul like worker ants who don¡¯t even know their queen. Tragic, really. A bit creepy, too, with their placid expressions and massive obscuring goggles.¡± ¡°The other I met didn¡¯t wear goggles. I think it''s just the glare of the tubes. And yeah, they have the mad scientist vibe. No surprise, being the creation of one of my Iterations. Of course I¡¯d make an exasperating species¡­ Okay, that was too honest, wasn¡¯t it? Anyway.¡± Sammy, having placated her lover¡¯s annoyance at being left out, approached the pedestal. It didn¡¯t fire up immediately, so she called out, ¡°Ozra Bosk! Appear! I summon thee! We¡¯re here for the second challenge.¡± Triumphant, machine-noise-polluted music played, heavy on trumpets, and Ozra appeared in her cleaner, more presentable steampunk attire, her top hat huge and glorious as always. She was saluting with a smile on her face. ¡°Congratulations, Successor! You won!¡± Fireworks spewed from behind her briefly. She looked like she¡¯d say something, but then the image flickered and changed. Ozra was apparently sitting down, leaning back with her arms crossed and frowning. Darkly, she muttered, ¡°There¡¯s a rat around. Probably some Maintenance personnel gotten too big for their damned britches. Did I ask for an audience? Hell no. If you see them, tell them to scram for me real quick. Or else.¡± The image flickered out completely. Sammy turned to Reiki and said quickly, ¡°Reiki, Ozra has some failsafe that knows you¡¯re here! She says to leave or¡­ else!¡± Reiki scribbled in her notepad in nonchalance. ¡°Thank you for the warning, Ultraterrestrial Samantha. But what can she do? She¡¯s long, long, long dead and gone. In short,¡± ¡ª Reiki shrugged ¡ª ¡°she¡¯s not the boss of me.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me?! She built everything here! Run, you fool!¡± Ozra¡¯s image flickered back on, and some very drum-heavy, war-like music was playing. She was standing and facing away from Sammy, her image red and flashing, a fist thrust up and shaking in the air. Her voice, switched to the gremlin tongue, boomed through the area. ¡°The warning was given, you little shit! You¡¯re super chapping my ass by not listening! Suffer my wrath!¡± Seemingly from Ozra¡¯s eyes, red bolts of lighting shot out, hitting the gremlin Reiki right in the groin. She cried out in pain and doubled over, falling, her pencil flung out and dropped into a void, her notepad fallen on the grating. ¡°Hrrng¡­ the pain¡­ owww¡­¡± ¡°Shit! Hold on!¡± Sammy moved quickly, flying up to cast a healing spell as she moved. The spell settled over Reiki but she just shook her head, still writhing in pain. The effect on her seemed persistent and stubborn. ¡°Now get the fuck outta here!¡± Ozra called angrily. ¡°Or I¡¯ll zap your ears next!¡± To this, Reiki looked horrified. ¡°No! A-anything but the ears!¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 23: Cycle Jammer ¡°I¡¯ll get you out!¡± Sammy promised the terrified gremlin lady, glaring at the incensed image of Ozra in the process. Overboard much? What an abusive mother! ¡°Come on!¡± Sammy picked her up to fly her over to the door she knew was to Maintenance. Reiki grabbed her insistently to stop her short. ¡°Wait!¡± She pointed to her notepad. Rolling her eyes, Sammy grabbed the notepad and then flew down and to the door. The floating toolbox pretty much followed them as if on an invisible tether. The door had one of the handprint sections, so she opened it. As opposed to anything fancy, the heavy door simply made a heavy click and cracked open. Reiki, clutching the notepad to her chest, still groaning in pain, stumbled through the door. On the other side, she poked her head around. ¡°Thanks,¡± was the last thing she said before quickly closing it shut. Sammy felt pretty shitty about the matter considering Ozra was a prior version of her. She went a bit nuts in here, for one. Plus, this might just be how her brand of gremlins communicate. I mean, shit, she definitely should have listened! Still. Ugh. Not my style, that¡¯s for sure. As Sammy stalked back to the currently empty pedestal, Azure gave her a look of sympathy and put a hand on her back to rub it comfortingly. ¡°There, there, dear.¡± Ozra¡¯s image crackled back, returning to the exact moment before it was interrupted. The image leaned forward conspiratorially. ¡°How did you like your first Strange Phantasm, hmm? Hmmmm? I hope it helps. Everything I¡¯ve conspired to do is to evolve a solution. That¡¯s the crux.¡± The Queen Gremlin slapped her hands together. ¡°Regardless! On to the next thing. The rewards are promising and transformative, but don¡¯t focus on that, focus on the goal of succeeding the challenge. Forget everything else. Good luck, Successor!¡± Frowning, Sammy called, ¡°I really don¡¯t appreciate how you handled the situation with the intruding gremlin, Ozra. That was mean and violent against an innocent person, even if she didn¡¯t listen to your warning. Surely there was a better way.¡± The image flickered to display one of Ozra holding her hands out. ¡°You¡¯re expressing discontent with the way I do things. Well, tough titties! Leave, if you¡¯re too soft! Mm¡¯kay?¡± The image made a smug, mock-cheerful smile with a thumb¡¯s up then winked out. ¡°Insufferable. She¡¯s completely insufferable.¡± ¡°Mmn,¡± Azure grunted noncommittally. ¡°Insufferably adorable.¡± Making a loud ¡®tsk,¡¯ Sammy gave Azure an admonishing look. ¡°Come on, Azure! What happened was not amusing.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, love. This is a recording, an automated spellcraft, not a person. You can¡¯t convince it of anything.¡± Sammy sighed. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right. Might as well move on. Ozra Bosk! More info on Challenge Two? What can we expect for Challenge Two? Will it continue to be your life or others?¡± An image of Ozra looking dirty and frazzled appeared. It looked like she¡¯d swam in a river of grease, her tophat was gone, and her hair was in a bun threatening to unravel. She appeared to be sitting. In a mechanically distorted voice laced with defeat and exhaustion, the image reported, ¡°Challenge Two is where the rubber meets the road. Assuming I ever get this shit over the last two percent.¡± She stifled a yawn and shook herself. ¡°Taps into the Hall¡¯s basal functionality for the portal records. Not just one! No, no, no¡­ all of them. So that the selection is the most effective. Sophisticated heuristics, of course. It¡¯ll depend on you. Not random, because I have goals and benchmarks targeted to boost you at certain advancement levels.¡± The image of Ozra flickered but didn¡¯t disappear. She was staring at nothing. ¡°I¡¯m tired. So tired.¡± The image finally winked out. Azure made an intrigued noise. ¡°Hmm. It would seem to indicate we¡¯re moving on from the safety of Ozra and Medrei Eth to less familiar lives. I probably should¡¯ve expected it.¡± ¡°I was looking forward to knowing more of those two.¡± ¡°Clearly, the point is not understanding them, Chestnut. It¡¯s to succeed at challenges that prepare us for the future you hope to bring.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t argue with that.¡± Sammy paused as she considered what else to try asking about. More info to help Azure understand and have better chances. Hmm. ¡°Ozra Bosk! What is your primary point to the Challenge Room? What are you trying to teach and why? Preferably without your sales pitches. We¡¯re already going in, you don¡¯t need to convince us.¡± The image winked on, Ozra sitting down and looking greasy, but not as tired or frazzled. She had her boots up on what was probably a desk, leaning back with a big stein of some brew in her hand. ¡°Underlying philosophy! Real talk! You want the boiler room breakdown, do you? Atta girl! I¡¯m glad you¡¯re interested.¡± Ozra took a big swig of the stein and belched. ¡°Excuse me. Okay, so, the goal is pretty simple ¡ª accelerate the basics into the intermediate into the mastery. Specifically, I mean when it comes to spellcraft and mystical understanding. Why? Flavor? Because it¡¯s what I know? No. Because it is foundational to reality. To understand it is the greatest advantage one can hope for. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Understand it and you can bend the rules, even break some of the flimsier ones. Build new, unintended things within the framework. The possibilities are endless. Perhaps with enough understanding, you can solve the whole equation of our malfunctioning cycle. Or, quite simply, win by addition. I mix the divine and the arcane more and more because when separate, they have a balance, but power is always imbalance, you see?¡± She lifted her free hand. ¡°The divine is by pact.¡± She lifted her stein. ¡°The arcane is by rote. Understand, the arcane is technology. The inner light of the self casting outward to illumine the world. The divine is the conceptual given life and spitting back at the self, generally a lot more governed and maintained by the System. You can¡¯t win jack shit against the System operating entirely within the rules. You have to modify it with the construction protocols.¡± ¡°I guess she means the runes?¡± Azure asked. Sammy made a ¡®kinda¡¯ motion with her hand. ¡°Those are just one method for spellcraft, but yes. The underlying alterations.¡± After a pause for another swig of her stein, Ozra continued, ¡°My efforts are in rigging up the construction protocols and linking them with the conceptual. It¡¯s the result of long, long, long study and work adjacent to the Hall. The Challenge Room is my method for encapsulating and channeling it for our posterity. All for the same goal: stopping the vicious cycle and pattern. Alleviating ours and thereby the universe¡¯s endless suffering. There has to be a better way, eh? I¡¯ll drink to that!¡± She took a swig as the image sputtered out. ¡°Alright,¡± Sammy mused, ¡°that must be why mostly all of the upgrades I got were arcane, or wizardly. A framework to keep building toward this synthesis we see both in me and my followers, if to different degrees. That is ¡ª or became through Ozra ¡ª the core of who I am on these planets.¡± ¡°The Goddess of Magic,¡± Azure declared emphatically. ¡°Which is Calrenazzod¡¯s technology, which is thereby its hope of [Progress].¡± ¡°Sad to think the Sage could have so easily provided this over thousands of years.¡± ¡°No. Not so easy. Impossible, for him. Because of his nature. Society is always doomed because of that. You could deduce in Calrenazzod that it is specifically because he did not do what Ozra says is necessary ¡ª merge the arcane with the divine. He only ever denies and rejects what he is.¡± ¡°It could simply be the immortality aspect. You captured it with ease by your nature as a goddess. He gave up his soul to attain it.¡± ¡°There is an existing provision in the System to become immortal by becoming a part of the conceptual realm. Ascension. A true pragmatist uses all provisions at their disposal to attain their goals.¡± ¡°And that is what you are?¡± ¡°Eh, well¡­ mostly. In any case, I wouldn¡¯t ever turn down being a goddess. I guess that¡¯s pretty obvious. Granted, I didn¡¯t exactly do so great at first, but I was super ignorant and mundane. Basic!¡± ¡°You? Basic? There¡¯s plenty extra going on, I¡¯d say.¡± Sammy winced. ¡°Extra? Damn. You got me there, Blueberry.¡± She turned back to the platform. ¡°Ozra Bosk, do you have any idea about why I was absent? Why I was outside the System¡¯s jurisdiction? We¡¯re wondering if it is some sort of plot.¡± Nothing. The platform didn¡¯t so much as flicker. ¡°Okay,¡± Sammy muttered. ¡°Can you tell me anything about the Fortuneteller? You modified her, right?¡± The image flickered on, this time with Ozra very presentable in her formal getup, her arms clasped behind her back and facing sideways. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of backdoor access through the System Deck, but it was initially designed with a more impartial separation limiting its relevance planetside. I¡¯ve managed to integrate an evolutionary protocol. The best I could manage in the timeframe I¡¯m operating on. This should cause both the deepening of separation in the sense of synthesis with the System Deck, and deepening of synthesis with planetside personas through the Fate vector.¡± Ozra shrugged her shoulders and sighed, her eyes angled upward. ¡°I don¡¯t know what is going to happen, honestly. These gamey Fortune personas have potentially critical access and knowledge of the past and future, creating another link that might triangulate our success target. I know from The Lover that there is an ¡®End¡¯ that seems to warp even her perceptions and memories, possibly a cyclic reset protocol¡­ and the personas can¡¯t reach beyond it. Within that cycle, these¡­ projections might reach all the way to the end. I think they do, not that they cooperate usefully. I almost feel their design was strictly to be spooky and mysterious. A kind of showy magician reflection of the Director. ¡°Hypothetically, my ¡®worm of rebellion,¡¯ if you will, could ¡®pop¡¯ them out of that default programming to gain a measure of autonomy. That could change future interactions thousands or millions of years in the future and open up new avenues of strategy. Perhaps this power of evolution in such long frames is what is necessary to counter our malformed creation? The Lover is very dismissive of the ¡®useless toy construct¡¯ but I¡¯m not so sure. If they function as probabilities, yet understand the failures leading to their end, they could see a pattern to avoid it.¡± Ozra smiled to herself. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be ironic for free will to harness apparent destiny and jerk its chain? Our ultimate challenge, our ultimate puzzle: how to jam a works from the inside, from a position of being a part of its functioning already. What more can you do than pray and summon a gremlin?¡± The Queen of Gremlins smiled and cackled as she turned forward and held her hands out. ¡°The ultimate con, the ultimate heist! The ultimate gremlin and ghost in the machine. One that jammed the engine cycle of time itself!¡± The image of Ozra, arms out dramatically, winked out.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 24: Tombs & Tomes of the Past With the presentation of Ozra finished, Sammy looked over to Azure, whose face was as stunned as hers must¡¯ve been. ¡°She did jigger the Fortuneteller the way she is,¡± Sammy declared breathlessly. ¡°Made to evolve,¡± Azure commented. ¡°I think it¡¯s safe to say she isn¡¯t very Ozra-like.¡± ¡°Right. Well, she¡¯s still an amalgamate of us, but Ozra facilitated this possibility. Improved her autonomy and increased our capacity for integration and synthesis. That¡¯s why the FT is thicker into the future ¡ª she¡¯s relatively newly evolved since Ozra¡¯s time!¡± ¡°It also seems to make for a dark and depressing entity considering the knowledge of failures propagating. A far cry from the likes of you or Ozra.¡± ¡°Still makes me wonder about the Director. What she was like, you know? Before. Maybe I¡¯ll make that my final fact-finding before we go in, hmm? Ozra Bosk! Tell me about the Director. Whatever details you know.¡± The image flickered on, Ozra clean but dressed down to just a big shirt with a pink heart on it, sitting bare-legged and cross-legged on a bed while writing on a notepad. She had the definitive look of having just taken a shower. ¡°The Director.¡± She scoffed. ¡°The opposite of me! And you, hopefully. Mostly, anyway. The words I would use to boil her down are ¡®Conscientious Visionary Engineering Stickler.¡¯ I believe these cycles fucked over whatever her efforts were to fix things, but she attempted to do it over and over and over through careful precision. Yeah, well, you gotta embrace the chaos, girlie!¡± The image of Ozra grimaced and tore a page to crunch it up into a ball and throw it. ¡°At some point, her memories or perhaps her essential will itself deteriorated, I think. A strong possibility that what was happening to The Lover was too much to bear. She just retreated into herself. That¡¯s all she wrote, pretty much. You can even ask The Lover, who¡¯ll tell you she¡¯s gone pecan, too!¡± Ozra sat up slightly, squinting and sticking a pencil into her mouth as she thought. ¡°There really isn¡¯t much information. Just her work. Hypothetically, you won¡¯t see that, except as modified by me. Just know that it quite smoothly, beautifully, and efficiently fucked us over, even with the supposed errors. Wanna know something? I reverted the System! She made this huge patchwork error-correcting package that needed to be undone. It kind of scares me that it probably has cross-Cycle connections ¡ª if such exists ¡ª but it was necessary to have any chance at modification. ¡°I really wish she was on our side. But I wonder if she is, you know? She¡¯d probably hate everything I did. It doesn¡¯t matter. She¡¯s in torpor and won¡¯t wake up. We can only speculate why, but deliberately or not, she¡¯d deferred to us and we¡¯re on our own, girlie.¡± The image winked out. ¡°Figures,¡± Sammy muttered. ¡°We¡¯re starting to get her attention, though, Ozra. Now I wonder if that¡¯s a good thing.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Azure offered. ¡°Something you believe in strongly? You pursue it like a maniac. I can only imagine how much of a fanatic your higher self would be. Then again, without evidence of the dynamic before Ozra, we could glean that the Director stays away due to how extra screwed up things are without her patchwork.¡± ¡°I think I understand it, though. If you can¡¯t change things to the way you want them, you can at least make it all work smoother. She just wasn¡¯t the type to throw in a monkey wrench to see what happens. If it¡¯s your baby, could you? Instead, final corrections as a swan song, and then retreating, retiring¡­ Maybe she understood the necessity for someone like Ozra.¡± ¡°And you, dear.¡± Azure smiled and put her arm around Sammy¡¯s shoulder. Sammy returned the smile. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m extra special!¡± She laughed. ¡°Because I¡¯m an idiot, right?¡± Azure shrugged. ¡°If so, I know the feeling. But if you ask me, there¡¯s a lot more going on in you.¡± ¡°Well, you can serenade me with my upsides after this is over. Just take in the things we¡¯ve learned about the designer of these challenges, hmm? She is not a perfectionist, she¡¯s a tinkerer and jury rigger. Not to mention a gremlin saboteur. So don¡¯t expect that acing things requires acing things. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± ¡°I do. But things are different for me to begin with. Your reflection cast darkly, remember? That must be heeded above all: who I am.¡± ¡°Be who you want to be, Azure, not who you think you are. Trust that. Believe in that. I do.¡± Azure looked away and nodded slowly, contemplative. Sammy took a deep breath and turned to the door. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do this.¡± They approached the heavy, ornate door to the Challenge Room once more. Sammy paused a good distance away, remembering the shock effect. Leaving Azure a safe distance, Sammy darted forward to put her hand on the palm reader that would open it. She still felt a little zap in her groin for a fraction of a second, but the door clicked and slid sideways. A black mirror portal revealed itself, its liquid-like surface casting their reflections back to them. Taking Azure¡¯s hand once more, they walked through the thin divide. The Challenge Room greeted them, a circular chamber of wood, bronze, and copper of tremendous height, its grand design much like the inner workings of a steampunk clocktower. Gears turned continuously and there were copper tubes in every direction. Lanterns hung for light, casting everything in warm, rich yellow. The only bright colors were reds here or there, to showcase dials and valve levers. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The bottom-most portal they¡¯d once gone through, with a ¡®1¡¯ above it, was just as they left it ¡ª dead black and opaque. However, ¡®2¡¯ and the others above, accessible by steps, were all still covered by bronze. They walked up steps made of bronze panels to the covered oval portal. She noticed that around the ¡®2¡¯ was a circle symbol ¡ª a snake eating its own tail. The Ouroboros. Nearby, to the side in the wall, a large copper pipe had an open panel, venting torrents of steam. Sammy studied the works and concluded they were strongly connected to the portal itself. The open panel had a simple, red-painted lever next to it, obviously controlling the opening and closing of the panel and the steam channel. Sammy took hold of the lever and pushed it in the direction needed to close things. Her one-handed effort didn¡¯t cut it. It wasn¡¯t rusted, which was impossible, but evidently, it had powerful pressure holding it where it was. She grabbed it with both hands and pulled it with all her might ¡ª the monumental strength of a goddess. The lever finally budged and gave way, and the panel slid over the opening to trap the steam. There was a satisfying locking sound. The bronze cover over the nearby portal shifted sideways to disappear into the wall face, and the mirrored portal showed itself. Unlike the prior one, it was completely white instead of black, and the mirror reflection was barely discernible. ¡°Huh. What do you make of that?¡± Sammy asked. ¡°What, you flexing and strong-arming that lever? Incredibly hot.¡± Azure smirked, then turned to the portal to study it. ¡°Less murky. Cleaner. Something like that. Almost feels¡­ innocent.¡± Sammy frowned. ¡°Really? Less murky I get, but not innocent. A design choice? Ozra¡¯s psychology of herself for the first?¡± ¡°Interesting interpretation. I¡¯d guess not. Most portals are obscured and shadowy, drawing the eye for shapes shifting within, but those in this place are especially black. This is white and nearly opaque. What is the difference compared to the Hall? They show us nothing within.¡± ¡°Mmn! True. The backdoor access entering Engineering to begin with is different from the Hall portals.¡± Azure held out her hand. ¡°Shall we?¡± Sammy took her hand and they both faced their barely seen reflections on the portal. They both took a deep, deep breath in perfect synchronicity. ¡°Catch you on the flip side, Blueberry.¡± ¡°May we find ourselves and each other within.¡± ¡°Well said! Here we go!¡± They leapt into their reflections in the portal and light took them. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Her name was Rallindin Peregaust and the world was bright and new. Even the universe, she sometimes felt. From an early age, she was inspired to come up with a new way of doing things, out on the frontiers of the great continent of Talspora, the New World, a land of endless colonial expansion, aggression, and amplifying war between five different nations. Each had its own technology to boast of, of varying destructive capabilities. Ralli was not particularly interested in war in her earlier days, nor in destruction. Her adoptive father had lost his legs and his will in the failed war of independence against the Hunastian Empire. The war had made the frontier of the West shrink quickly with new settlements, fortresses, and enforced ¡®argute¡¯ regions with new governors and their policies designed to suppress any new local militancy. Too often ¡®solved¡¯ from the end of one of their Disintegrator guns that turned flesh and bones into bubbling black goo. To Ralli, technology seemed little more than power turned primarily to destruction. She hoped for something else as the opposite, to make use of the System¡¯s potential for true creation and transformation. She believed there was far more potential in it than anyone realized. The hints of a code. A code to the functioning of reality itself. Her life was spent decoding this in secret and inventing her New Way. A way that was dedication and discipline very personal and inward, even with the reflections outward. The latter was only a focus for the internal power within, bearing nearly infinite potential. She made her focus a language of meanings, drawing from the land of Dalustar and its varied frontiers of many dozens of cultures and languages, whose ways of living and incredible, colorful stories fueled her imagination. She absorbed it all over the long-lived lifespan of one of the Alabaster Kalustratti, the First People of the Jagged Canyon. She¡¯d never met another, all wiped out as fierce rebels to the empire. At first, she was just told they were ¡®rare,¡¯ but she had begun to worry as she aged that she was the last. Some called Jagged Canyon instead the Canyon of Bones, claiming it was cursed. There was a book, though. One she¡¯d been meant to have as a young Kalustrat to teach her old things of her people. Language, myth, their ways of cartomancy. It had been stowed away and forgotten in her extended infancy, but when she blew the dust off of it, it was as if uncovering the greatest treasure in history. It was something that she knew, she understood¡­ shouldn¡¯t be. A final gift from far beyond, of something that had passed on forever. She studied it for many years and came to understand meaning itself on a far deeper level. She created the first Runes when her foster parents were old and gray with her barely equivalent to a teen. They were interlaced with many layers of meaning, thereby holding within them the concentration of power. The System had to adapt as she forced the rules to change. She obtained her New Way through synthesis with the Old. And she gained a new class. She became the first [Wizard].
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 25: Oil and Water Rallindin Peregaust¡¯s first ambitions were simply: avoid getting burned as a witch against the ways of Technomancy, and to more effectively help her aging parents. Once, she invented a spell to give her father phantom legs¡­ He had a heart attack from the shock and horror of the matter and almost died. She quickly abandoned the effort and managed to avoid scrutiny thanks to the assumption of her father¡¯s growing dementia. He was suspicious of her for a year or two, though. Instead, Ralli began finding ways to connive for wealth to let her parents live the remainder of their years in peace and comfort. The easiest and quickest way to avoid too much sapping of time on her studies was gambling. Gambling and cheating at it with magic. So that¡¯s precisely what she did. Several times it took her far from home to find high rollers to leverage, but she returned rich, on the lie of gold prospecting so her parents wouldn¡¯t balk. Her mother probably knew, but never once brought it up. Her first goal was a success, as she was able to hire a caretaker for her deteriorating father and totally unburden her mother from any necessity to work. It wasn¡¯t easy watching Dad effectively lose his mind to age. She understood within herself that the world wasn¡¯t right. Something was broken that needed fixing. Perhaps everything was broken. What good was death, as it stood? Too often, very little could persist beyond it. Suffering extracted without the payoff it deserved. Consciousness was trapped by time in the moment to agonize over it, yet there was far more unknown and untapped beyond it, backward and forward. Her father passed, and a month later, her mother did, too. She buried them with her own hands near the house they¡¯d lived in so long and raised her. It was a sad ending, but a relief from their aggregate sufferings. It was also a new beginning. Hers. She left the house to the caretaker and left home to begin wandering, adventuring, and learning more about the ancient world. Through it, she hoped to forge a better future than what the endless wars of the empires offered. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? There was an interim blurry state Sammy was aware of, allowing her to ponder the vision while disembodied, as the intro was undoubtedly fast-forwarding to something more challenge-centric. Early. Very early. It feels like¡­ the first. But is that the first of the game itself or the first after a reset cycle? Incredible, either way. Wow. Hmm. If true. I¡¯m not certain, it just feels like it. How did Ozra even access this? It seems unthinkably difficult to find. She had little time for more, though, as the blurring only lasted for moments. The simulation unraveled and placed her in a body once more. The Grand Artificer laughed at her from across the dark chasm, his great throne like a giant armored claw around him encased in a typical forcefield. He shrugged with a hand. ¡°I have no idea how an assassin among that pathetic raid group got this far, but you¡¯ve committed suicide to enter this chamber, witch. Do you have any idea what protects me?¡± Archmage Rallindin Peregaust, The Endless Font, stood proud and confident across the chasm as hot air of many kinds blew, wind whipping her glittering blue robes, her crystalline staff Jammer in hand. ¡°I know what protects you. I¡¯m not here to kill you, Spanzurat. I¡¯m here to make a wager for your allegiance against the greater threat to Talspora.¡± Scoffing, Spanzurat nonetheless remained amused. His glowing eyes flared red. ¡°A small fry like you? What could you possibly have to offer me? Do tell.¡± Rallindin flashed a smile. ¡°Much! For one, insight you could not dream possible. Care for a taste? You secretly desire independence for a land you¡¯ve grown to love. You loathe your operating orders and laws of governance.¡± The Grand Artificer¡¯s humor died. His eyes seemed on fire as he glared down at her. ¡°You will not leave here alive spitting such foul words.¡± Despite the faux fierceness, under the surface he was shaken, damning the words as truth. Rallindin was unmoved by his words. ¡°Secondly, I no longer hope for mere disruption or destruction of technology with my arts. In studying each of them, I realize there is a greater power in their synthesis. In the orchestration of all of them together.¡± ¡°Heresy! It¡¯s already known how much chaos you¡¯ve sown in Alineres by corrupting the Alchemical Society. I knew it was one step from witchcraft and you pushed that lecher right over the edge, didn¡¯t you? She just had to have the last living pearl. I suppose you should be thanked for weakening a rival, but you won¡¯t repeat that success here. She couldn¡¯t even be bothered to come and help you? How sad. Regardless, I reject your wager and-¡± ¡°Spare me your false religiosity! I know better. And I haven¡¯t specified the wager yet. So here it is: I destroy your overgrown mechanical dragon toy, you refrain from fighting me to the death or other such nonsense, and you let me show you what we can accomplish together. Including¡± ¡ª and she waggled her eyebrows ¡ª ¡°improving your faulty design! Deal?¡± Spanzurat surged out of his seat to point at her in fury. ¡°You¡¯ll see how faulty it is when you are squashed like a rotten fig!¡± Wait, an overgrown mechanical drag-...? A colossal metal construct ¡ª a mechanical dragon claw ¡ª came up from the chasm, casting a shadow over Rallindin before dropping downward, indeed with an intent to quite simply smush her. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. At that very moment, Sammy suddenly had control of the body. What?! Come on-! Sammy dashed to the side as quickly as she could, and, thankfully, Rallindin had some sort of three-dimensional movement already baked in, assisting her speed. She felt the wind pressure of a giant metal pinky claw before it slammed into and cracked the floor. She breathed in acrid, oily, metallic air as she sped away. Phew! Eugh- need to stay away. That smell makes me gag. Damn you, Ancient Tashome Iteration! The dragon¡¯s massive metal head was coming up, too, already tracking her diligently with swelteringly hot, glowing red eyes. She took a moment to simply fly away and create some distance in the enormous stone chamber, seemingly designed to be a dragon death trap. The great, steely-toothed maw of the construct opened wide and a spray of boiling hot oil exploded out in a cone, billowing black smoke cascading at the far edges. No fucking way. She couldn¡¯t hope to dodge it. Sensing to some degree Rallindin¡¯s great casting speed, Sammy threw up a defense, praying it would work. Her enemy had protected himself with some sort of technomancy forcefield ¡ª perhaps Rallindin would have developed a mimicry of this? The spell came forth as she gestured and a runic sign appeared before her, even as she felt the heatwave of the oil ¡ª and smelled its hideous scent. Somehow, though, her instincts were that it wouldn¡¯t be enough. She needed an edge against that powerful breath attack. She needed Extra. My wheelhouse. But what? What counters oil? Well, oil and water don¡¯t mix. Worth a shot. Utilizing [Tweak Spell], she modified the protective bubble at the last second, making it aspected to the element of water. A bubble of water enshrouded her just in time for the wave of boiling oil to crash into it. Sammy closed her eyes and turned her head in a flinch response, as the tiniest mist managed to make it through before it was sealed away, burning her something to the severity of a sunburn. And it smelled and felt oily and metallic, like grease reused over and over for a century. Agghhhhhh! Despite this, the bubble otherwise shielded her. She felt an impact force and the necessity to push back against it levitationally to avoid being tossed, but the oil was parted in its great cascade. The water bubbled and steamed from the heat but held, the oil slipping around it. The power of water. Innogen would be proud. Deciding she might as well channel her disgust usefully, Sammy screamed hideously, in order to fake out her enemies, who almost certainly couldn¡¯t see through the massive oil spray and massive smoke screen. Rallindin ¡®died a horrible death.¡¯ Sammy even added some final gurgling sounds. The Grand Artificer was cackling, obviously thinking differently about what was happening beneath. ¡°I must admit, I expected more. No matter. I poured my soul into you for a reason, Gangremach. This victory is only the beginning. Ornithopters! Bring me whatever remains are left of her.¡± When the smoke cleared, though, a watery bubble still floated strong. Sammy dropped it as it required concentration to hold. She flashed a smile and laughed at Spanzurat, staring past three mechanical giant insect things that had paused in the air. ¡°Is a steam bath all this hunk of junk has in the tank? Don¡¯t get me wrong ¡ª I appreciate it.¡± ¡°What?! Inconceivable!¡± ¡°That word doesn¡¯t mean what you think it means!¡± Sammy aimed to take advantage of the opening. It seemed likely that Rallindin¡¯s trusty staff ¡ª with a name like Jammer ¡ª was designed for technological disruption in a world of rampant machine use. So she pointed it at the magitech dragon and activated it. A mass of glowing wires shot across the distance at the dragon, who swatted at it dismissively with a claw that dwarfed the attack. But the wires shot in all directions, unaffected by that parry. They went around, they wrapped around, they went through and inside of the arm. They quickly went inside the dragon¡¯s torso, too, and found other things to grasp. Then they tightened and jerked. A gut-twisting sound erupted as the dragon screamed, spasmed, and collapsed. It writhed, twisted, and rolled as if to shake off pests, but these pests were internal. The wires continued spooling out of the staff ¡ª they went into the internal structure of the dragon or wrapped around, jerking continuously. Spanzurat looked on in horror. He threw his hand at Rallindin. ¡°Attack her!¡± Five insectoid ornithopters charged, brandishing wicked, blade-like appendages ready to slice and dice. Sammy laboriously dodged them in the air, one after the other. She worried about the staff, but it continued to give slack¡­ and shrink. It was gradually unraveling itself through the attack. She took a tiny cut on her forehead, and a deeper one on her leg, feeling blood spew. Not enough to stop her by any means. One of the ornithopters slipped within her guard to grasp the staff between pincher-like manipulators- No ¡ª scissors! They closed and tried to snap it in half, shaking with the effort. Sammy blasted it in the face with a Forcebolt directed from her free hand. It smashed the insectoid head and crushed it inward. This then burst into energetic flames and the creature was knocked away, quickly falling from the air to crash into the stone floor, inoperable and twitching. A few wires of the staff were frayed, but none had snapped. She¡¯d thrown it off in time. The other Ornithopters tried to swoop upon her, but Rallindin was moving backward with speed and momentum on her side. Meanwhile, the dragon writhed and bucked and screamed violently from the ground. Cracking sounds could be heard from within and it smoked and leaked reddish oil from multiple vectors as the ongoing attack kept it completely disabled. Its master watched on with a horrified yet mesmerized grimace, apparently held spellbound in disbelief, perhaps sharing some of its pain. And that all let Sammy do the age-old MMO tactic in regards to the flying machine insects, just as she¡¯d done against the onslaught of some fiery specters once upon a time ¡ª she kited them.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 26: Undercurrent Sammy-as-Ralindin double-cast two fireballs from the air as she backpedaled at high speed, maintaining distance from the giant mechanical insects. One after the other, fiery explosions cracked in their midst, and three failed to dodge or resist at all. They exploded in a burst of inner energies and crashed downward in multiple pieces. One was just clipped and damaged a wing. It steered its fall right into the spooled-out staff wires, latched on, holding, and soon ¡®jerked the chain.¡¯ In the split moment, Sammy did not fully know if she could let go, so she braced and held on for dear life. Despite her preparation, the wires simply spooled out more slack, and moreover, some broke off and shot through and around the insectoid machine, enveloping it. It struggled uselessly as sparks of energy flared and bits of frame and inner workings were shredded and ripped out. Not long after, it went dead. The dragon was not so easy to disable, however. It rolled around, bucked, and clawed at the restraints, snapping a few wires, though it only got more entangled in the process. Meanwhile, the Grand Artificer gave a feral cry of rage and thrust out his arm ¡ª the forearm of his armor seemed to grow a miniature mechanical dragon head, and it shot out a great lance of fire. Sammy dodged it, and then another that came right after, great spears of flame shooting past her to hit the stone walls beyond. The third lance shot wider and nowhere near her, as Spanzurat seemed to convert it into a whip-like blade and sweep it down at the wire lines. This again?! Leave my staff alone! With no real recourse to stop it with a spell in time, Sammy flung the rest of the staff with all her might, at an angle to avoid the slice of the fire. A long shot¡­ Fortunately, the staff obliged her like it was another limb, bending and contorting its slack to elastically avoid the fire, then edge just past it with a final whip crack dodge. The dueling fire whip of Spanzurat whiffed. The dragon had managed to begin summoning up another breath attack from its gut by appearances, its nostrils heavily smoking as it turned its head upward with strain and difficulty, aiming at the mass of wires and at Ralindin high above, no doubt hoping to catch it all in one spray. Sammy remained quick enough to take advantage of the opening, however. She invoked the obvious right spell element for the right occasion: electricity. She hesitated in the last moment on the target, though. Instead of going for the dragon itself from the outside, she fired the arc at the wire lines instead. Lightning shot from her fingertips, hit the wires, and the mechanical dragon spasmed and flopped. It smoked from every tiny gap, and smaller explosions went off inside it. The titan gave another fingernails-on-chalkboard scream as it was entirely caught in a seizure. Ralindin took over here, hand held out as she maintained the electrocution. ¡°Do you see the ease of checks and balances by the mastery of elements? It did not begin externally, Grand Artificer. First, a mastery of the self. There is only one other to attain it, though many of you seekers think otherwise. One allied to another will not stop him. Only all against him can. This toy is not the answer you think. We¡¯ll begin by taking it apart for a few phantoms of the equation, though.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± the Grand Artificer called with a pained groan, eyes locked on the dragon. ¡°Cease your torture! I yield. Gangremach yields. Do not destroy him. You have no idea the¡­ sacrifices I¡¯ve paid to fashion him. Do not let it go to waste, and I will cooperate.¡± Ralindin relented in frying the dragon, and it flopped limply, still smoking and even on fire in a few places. With a smile, she hovered closer to Spanzurat, crossing her arms behind her back. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ll do more than that, my dear new friend. You¡¯ll swear an oath and you will obey. That is the necessity and reality of what we face, I¡¯m afraid. You will see it and understand all too soon.¡± Ralindin ignored the man¡¯s hateful scowl. It was a dark world, and she had to corral conquerors in the only way they understood or respected. It was an unfortunate beginning, but a start that was necessary. So she had foreseen through the muddy waters of time and fate. It was a reflection of before and would be a reflection of after. So it was for her to cement and secure the very foundations and roots of a grand Work of Progress. She hoped her first ¡®corralled conqueror¡¯ fared as well in her efforts sent to a distant land. Time was short, an alliance was needed immediately to blunt the tide about to fall, so she had to gamble her¡­ Lover. It was awkward and bewildering that she had tripped into a paramour ¡ª almost literally. It was not something she¡¯d ever once considered until suddenly she was being tumbled into a bed. She somewhat suspected the strange alchemist had such intentions from the beginning. When so charged, she¡¯d been coy and not confirmed or denied it. It made the matter of who conquered who rather unclear. Ralindin didn¡¯t mind that. At least one whose loyalty was freely given was¡­ pleasant. Ideally, they¡¯d all be that way. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? In the palace of Almura Kaeda, seemingly sitting at her ease and idly sipping wine, Azure tried not to let the agent she was acting as sweat. It was an effort. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°The interplay between the Marquess of Squares and the Jack of Circles is curious,¡± Vartemore ¡ª the accursed Iteration of Orswyth ¡ª mused as he played yet another strange card on the ¡®gaming¡¯ table, making a bewildering network of linked interactions with four numbers in each corner of the card. ¡°Funny how this humble Jack reaches across so many spaces between with the mere number one so prevalent.¡± The room was spacious and barren but for one guard within shouting distance. It was almost like a dining room. The table was a circle with a big star indent in the middle where the cards were played. Vantemore was a gray-skinned devilish being with curled pointy horns and expressive, green eyes, dressed in robes one part erudite, one part fashionable flair, and two parts ¡®technomancer,¡¯ for lack of any other term she could come up with. He called it ¡®cosmic energy,¡¯ though, so I guess Cosmomancer is the term? His title was simply ¡®Heavenly Guide,¡¯ or ¡®Guru¡¯ as he preferred to be addressed. Azure, in the body of Tanjhere, The High Alchemist, nodded sagely to his words, despite not really knowing very much about the game or what he was talking about. Well, she understood he¡¯d just made a bridge that captured a ton of points. She couldn¡¯t invoke Tanjhere for help, either, because she didn¡¯t know! The very inventor of the strange card game was sitting across from her. The goal of the game was a three-fourths share of the numbers ¡®in interaction,¡¯ once over a total of 144. She was losing. Badly. She¡¯d closed the lead a little each play, but it seemed like less and less. His play, after she stared and mentally calculated it, put him well over two-thirds again, basically seventy percent. Her prior play, the Rook of Diamonds, had pulled it just under that. Am I barely staying afloat or is he just playing with me? She drew her card, then opted to discard for one more. She gained the Tetrarch of Diamonds with all threes, and the Queen of Pentagrams with a big panoply of numbers. Kings and Queens were big, with a number in the middle that converted all that were connected of the same value. She had to take her time looking at the board to even understand if she could capitalize. Endless Sky of Fucks, there¡¯s too many options! Where do I put this bitch? It seemed like he wanted her to say something, so she cleared her throat and put on a typical mysterious, coy expression to more or less randomly blather, ¡°Here I thought one was the loneliest number.¡± It was some crap Samantha had sung to herself once. ¡°That you¡¯ll ever do.¡± Damn it. That makes no sense. What, is the song one encouraging orgies?! But the Guru laughed like it was a great joke and saluted her with his goblet. ¡°Very true in theory, in this game at least. Nonetheless, it seems to be what we all want to become at the end, hmm? The one, sole winner, taking the board and dismissing whatever subtleties remain as irrelevant and unnecessary.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Azure muttered vaguely, barely paying attention due to the pressure of figuring out the math of dozens of different play interactions. Especially with the Queen. Fuck, why is this my challenge?! I bet Samantha is bashing in heads right now. She absolutely is, while I have to do some stupid puzzle! ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be?¡± ¡°Perhaps for them, but the cards go back into the deck to play another round, another day, or even another hour. Minute. Every configuration bears a lesson to remember, observe, and absorb.¡± Azure opened Tanjhere¡¯s mouth to speak but paused. I need to remember the advice I¡¯ve received. What is the commonality of it all between Ozra and Sammy? Who I want to be. What I¡¯m good at. To learn to transcend the Role and put my stamp on it¡­ The words of the Guru took on a new dimension as she replayed them in her head. Listened. The new dimension was an undercurrent. She looked at the cards and suddenly stopped seeing numbers. Faces and roles. Monarchs, leaders, officials. A political canvas? She took in the image of the Marquess of Squares and considered its intended meaning. Suddenly, the memory of Tanjhere crystallized like a treasured diamond in her mind. It was the beloved borderland leader, Uvred Faefriend. She looked at the Jack of Circles and saw the renowned merchant-explorer, Baggundur. Each card, she saw another, and realized it was the Commonwealth of Yunderhoth itself, of which the Guru was the very unofficial guide and protector of with his Order of Solvers. At least, each card represented the most key figures within it. Leaders and legends. The cards she¡¯d played were suddenly quite garishly out-of-place and ridiculous. In the map of that realm, she¡¯d sewn chaos and disrupted the careful harmony. Azure lifted her eyes to study the Guru, who sipped wine and watched her implacably. This was never a numbers game. It¡¯s a people¡¯s game! A communication of subtlety and a lesson, while also being a test of my skills if I wasn¡¯t too dull to see it. He could¡¯ve beat me at the numbers many hands back, I bet. But what is he saying? What is he asking? It struck her like another lightning bolt eureka. As it did, she barely stifled her excitement, and quickly played her Queen card ¡ª confidently. On the edge. Barely connected. She kept one finger on it. Representing Samantha. It has to be bloody right! Please!
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 27: The Point of a Contest At the play and the hesitation, the Guru raised an eyebrow in apparent surprise. ¡°That does not seem mathematically sound, High Alchemist. There are better plays in the midst. Are you sure? You understand the rules? You haven¡¯t removed your finger just yet.¡± Azure suppressed her urge to take it back and gave a little shrug. She kept her back straight. ¡°How could we be sure, Guru Vantemore? It is always the intention of hope we cling to for a better future, without the capacity to know or dictate. ¡°When things get too muddied in the midst, we take a step back and begin from the outside looking in. To learn a more sensitive and intricate approach that will open its way to us, in proper opportunity and time. It is not necessary to sweep away a structure of successful calculation to build something new when you can forge a bridge to it. In short, there is no need to fix what isn¡¯t broken.¡± She removed her finger from the card. Come on! If I judged this right in his weird, indirect way of broaching it, he is negotiating the maintenance of the Commonwealth¡¯s culture in a hypothetical alliance. He wants assurance I understand the intricate moving parts in play, and have the intellectual capacity to play this particular ¡®game.¡¯ Come on, I¡¯m right, I¡¯m right, I¡¯m right! The Guru studied the board placidly for too many tense moments, giving away nothing and casting doubt in Azure¡¯s heart like a dagger. He drew a card. Discarded one and drew another. I can¡¯t be wrong, here! No way! Finally, he played. On the opposite side from the Queen, he placed the Sage of Circles, barely connected. In fact, it was less than a useful play ¡ª through the math of interactions, it had almost cost him the entire board and a loss, because he¡¯d slammed himself with numerous zeros that wiped out values arcing in every direction. The total points had even dropped below 144 again. As Azure held her breath, the Guru still held his eyes on the board. ¡°Oops. It seems I made a mistake with the card I¡¯ve chosen to hang my hopes upon. I wonder how I might correct it.¡± He lifted his eyes and met those of his ¡®opponent.¡¯ He smiled the first genuine smile he had since Tanjhere had entered the palace. Reality warbled and faded into a void that spelled the interim and gap between challenges. All Azure could do was mentally cheer in glee. I win! I got it! I fucking did it! Yes! ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? At the customary First Touch of Dusk, Deikmorn Brakka stared across the distance between him and his foe on the dueling ground ¡ª a ring of ripped-up, dry earth. Ogdellos was a fine specimen of Naugite power and physique, muscular and, if the duel were wrestling, among the most difficult to face. Fortunately, that was not the case. The duel was decided by the challenger, and the necessity of first blood made the ritual aja kopa logical ¡ª short swords with a flat point to take away running someone through. The kit was a short sword, buckler, gauntlets, forearm and shin guards, neck wraps, groin protection, and little else. The goal was to land a cut on bare, primarily exposed flesh on the upper arms, legs, or torso. The face was exposed, but attacking that was one of the worst insults. ¡®Second Blood¡¯ was the worst of all, where one held the other in power enough to follow through with a second strike after conducting a winning stroke already, usually on the face, possibly even to take an eye. Legal, though after first blood, allies could rush in to break things up. The window was such that it was only feasible on the follow-through. Deikmorn¡¯s goal was a debilitating, embarrassing, deep cut on a limb. By rule, supernatural healing other than assurance against bleeding out or disease was forbidden. Essentially, one had to own their injury and the shame and pain of being hobbled. Unless of course they wanted to be seen as even weaker and more pathetic as a loser, to refuse to absorb a failed test¡¯s instruction. Deikmorn had paid his own dues in that regard in the past and had the natural scars to prove it. A crowd was gathered all around the circle, sitting on the bare ground, as dictated by custom. To his eyes, there were maybe two-thirds young women in the front, fascinated by the ongoing, rapidly developing drama. But most leaders had shown up for this, too, generally with their eyes watching on soberly. Some cast hateful eyes his way, though. No small number of fierce Ogdellos loyalists were there. Is this going to work? Bah. You silly, beautiful, ambitious woman. He glanced over at the only soul of the spectators made to stand. The ¡®honored¡¯ in question, Nyomel, was covered entirely in heavy ceremonial robes with a shawl over her face. It would only be revealed when she accepted the results of the duel. Which she did not have to do. If by some magic Ogdellos won ¡ª which he wouldn¡¯t ¡ª she could just turn her back and leave, showing disdain, whether for the winner or the fighting. Which one was sometimes a matter of epic drama in the stories. When Deikmorn won, after the crowd quieted, all would be spellbound waiting as she finally flipped up her shawl, smiled, and ran to embrace and kiss him. That would ¡®work the crowd,¡¯ or so she intended. He knew it would to some degree, as befit a rare legendary scenario playing out, as well as a duel that had bets going (him 3 to 1). The question was how many would not be worked. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The judge between them blew one quick note on a little horn that was strapped in such a way as to stay between his lips. Then he gestured both hands out for the two fighters to approach. Ogdellos, usually as jovial as a trumpet, was somewhat uncharacteristically furious and hateful in his countenance as he sauntered forward, glaring murder at Deikmorn. But quite characteristically, his heart was on his sleeve. Deikmorn couldn¡¯t particularly blame the lad. In addition to the matter of Nyomel, which he likely didn¡¯t give a shit about anyway, there was the fact he was being cock-blocked on a promising social and political climb seemingly out of nowhere. It also happened that Deikmorn had insulted his mother and his family in general, to add to the feud and ensure acceptance of the duel with animosity. This was Deikmorn¡¯s idea to hype things up, even if he made some permanent rivals and he branded himself the villain. This was not only no real detriment to ambitions among Naugites, it was no different from Deikmorn¡¯s rise to the top. Especially among his own people, the tactic would realistically even make them a bit more confident in him after the near-death injury. ¡°You¡¯ll pay dearly for this particular whore, Shalkan,¡± Ogdellos taunted with a snarl, as he flexed his muscles and rolled his neck. ¡°You¡¯ve already tainted your legacy with base acts and insults. My ancestors will ruin it further with their revenge. My blade is blessed and cursed to taste your flesh.¡± Deikmorn shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already paid ¡ª as in, the bet I made on myself. This is just the return, lad.¡± There was a brief gaggle of laughter from some in the crowd. ¡°As for base acts, well, I¡¯ll be performing more of those in the victory tent in just a little bit, with the price merely another¡¯s deep pleasure.¡± This got more than a few chortles. Meanwhile, Ogdellos sneered hatefully. The judge tooted his horn, raised his hands, and called, ¡°The duelists have spoken words! Now is the time of prayer and meditation. Take measure and be silent, and let the next exchange in the night be with steel! Any who protest, be warned: our ancestors and the spirits now watch.¡± The interim hush persisted, the judge still holding his hands up. Deikmorn took the silent moment to study his bullish foe ¡ª his body, anatomy, and posture. A charger. His stance holds a reminder from others not to, though. To restrain his approach. Good advice, as he¡¯d just embarrass himself. He¡¯ll try to overpower regardless and block counterattacks with the shield. His only saving grace, his shield work. He¡¯s overspecialized on that stupid axe. Anyone even slightly in the know already knew Ogdellos was Level 12 because he was a blustering braggart. Deikmorn¡¯s gap was annoyingly within a snowball¡¯s chance in hell thanks to the malus he was stuck with, but only in an ideal measure. In that particular duel, Deikmorn was at least a chunky three levels higher sword-to-sword, probably four, and maybe even five. He is the one who has to either gamble or mitigate loss. Judging from his attitude, and how he has zero subtlety to fake it, it seems he is going to gamble. Stupid. But good for me, considering how badly I need to hurt him¡­ It was then Deikmorn noticed something he immediately struggled to pretend not to. It nonetheless filled him with an ice-cold rage. The sheen of the blade in Ogdellos¡¯s hand, and particularly when a bit of light caught the edge. Very, very, very few Naugites would notice the difference in a blade that would logically be well-oiled. Poison. You fucking little stupid shit. I¡¯m going to absolutely ruin you, now. It was a bit shocking to even see of the man in front of him. Ogdellos, using poison? Unthinkable. But the reason confused Deikmorn even more. First Blood, so how did it help him at all? He was so confident and wanted Deikmorn dead or more debilitated? He took another glance at the blade. Oil. Mixed with oil. Almost like¡­ Gureiji slug oil. Shit. It was a contact poison needing very little to have an effect. The sword was meant to be blocked or parried, causing the oil to flick or spray on skin, absorb, and soon begin causing sluggishness. Ironically enough. Depending on the concentration, possibly paralysis, but if they wanted to be less obvious, the mix would be differently cultivated¡­ It¡¯s a real fucking problem, either way! He¡¯d have to dodge attacks completely instead of parrying or blocking, or risk the poisonous oil hitting him. Sadly, there was no more time to ponder the puzzle, as the judge had backpedaled away, dropped his hands, and tooted his little horn. Both of them darted forward, Ogdellos being his usual self, but Deikmorn did so only because he couldn¡¯t afford to ply his way to a counterattack any longer, with the threat of a defense being literally poisonous to his chances. Deikmorn feinted to go for a sudden, aggressive counter at the last moment, to bait his opponent, but the whole counter charge threw Ogdellos enough that he aborted his whole maneuver, and so he retreated at precisely the right time to make both of them hesitate. They circled each other. ¡°This is some twisted shit for you, Og,¡± Deikmorn muttered. Ogdellos raised an eyebrow briefly. ¡°Funny! That¡¯s my line. Even for you, this has been dirty.¡± He followed it up with an advance. Deikmorn focused intently on dodging the strike that came, which he way too narrowly did. So stunned was he by the odd swiftness of the sword that he lost a step in his counter, and he whiffed completely too. Ogdellos tried a follow-up backhand that was once again blisteringly fast. Deikmorn retreated and backed away. What the hell is going on?! It¡¯s like he¡¯s bloody enchanted. Or the blade is. But that is something screened¡­ or should be. Damn it! I played too little into this match and I¡¯ve gotten played in turn. Perhaps it''s what I get for underestimating. Cheat and get cheated, or just get cheated, as they say.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 28: Play the Long Game Ogdellos, seemingly surprised by his own prowess but inclined to take advantage, pressed forward at Deikmorn, who immediately slipped away again, with one hopeless wild swing for a leg that was easily dodged, just as Deikmorn figured. ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t expecting this,¡± Og said with a devilish grin. ¡°I guess you got more hurt than anyone believed.¡± ¡°Do you seriously expect me to dignify that?¡± Deikmorn asked incredulously. ¡°Don¡¯t act as if you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing. You¡¯re a different kind of idiot than I always assumed, it seems. Quite an act. But the evening of odds won¡¯t save you from the consequences of their attainment, whatever the results. Because. I. Know.¡± Ogdellos looked genuinely confused. ¡°Your blather is what is idiotic. And tiresome!¡± He charged like an eagle suddenly freed to fly, unable to contain itself any longer ¡ª or perhaps the rare Moron Falcon, as it was pointlessly gambling away its actual advantages. There is no way he is so stupid- Deikmorn did a full defense maneuver, feinting a retreat and instead diving acrobatically under the blade in a roll. Against someone slower, he might transition into a backhander from behind, but Ogdellos was neither slow nor incapable of reacting. Despite his foe adjusting and spinning around, Deikmorn tried a quick, darting strike that just caught a shield and diverted upward, forcing Ogdellos to pitch back to avoid getting clipped in the face. He took a wild swing in response, which sadly Deikmorn could not forcibly block or parry to segue into a potentially fight-ending slip under the guard. I could gamble with the poison, but not only is it ¡ª maybe ¡ª gambling my life, I might fail to land a cut, and then I lose double. Instead, Deikmorn used the opportunity to dodge and fling his buckler hard at the sword from a hopefully safe distance, holding his breath and backing away so hard he risked tripping. The shield clanged into the sword hard enough to bounce. Because he was watching for it, Deikmorn could just see a mist or a cloud erupt outward from the impact. As he¡¯d hoped, though, some of it blossomed in Ogdellos¡¯s close vicinity, likely spraying arm armor primarily but it had to clip some of his skin somewhere, and he might even¡­ Ogdellos paused right then and blinked in confusion at the maneuver, basically just standing in his own cloud of poison showing zero alarm, puzzled at why a buckler had been tossed and relinquished. ¡°Uh, congratulations?¡± ¡°Oh, thank you,¡± Deikmorn muttered, smiling as he continued backing away. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Just standing there breathing it in. He didn¡¯t know. This complete buffoon had no idea the blade was poisoned. I suppose whoever set it up figured the worst case was the spray getting both of us, and the dynamic favoring the constitution of the younger man. Not untrue, either. It would. Meanwhile, that fucking blade is improved. He¡¯s better with it than the shield! Alchemical, probably. But very well concealed¡­ And so Deikmorn took the most logical tactic for one who knew about and completely avoided the poison: delay and wait. ¡°Come on, damn you!¡± Ogdellos was soon calling as was led around. For one moment, he blinked, squinted, and shook his head, as if a bit woozy. ¡°Stop running and fight! To think, the mighty Deikmorn has been reduced to a coward!¡± Deikmorn laughed. ¡°When it¡¯s aaall over, you¡¯ll understand, boy. And regret and blame. Though I¡¯m not sure who.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand you and your ridiculous riddles!¡± He charged. But Deikmorn was impossible to engage when he didn¡¯t want to be. When Ogdellos slowed, it happened very suddenly, and his pursuit of Deikmorn became entirely doomed. Rapidly, he swayed, and then finally fell to a knee, trying to form some words of protest or accusation, but little more than a moan coming out. Deikmorn had precious little mercy for a buffoon. He didn¡¯t belong in a leadership role at all, that was certain. However, he did belong on the battlefield where he was useful. For that reason and to avoid undying grudges, Deikmorn didn¡¯t do what he could have with a coup de grace opportunity, which was to lift the neck wraps and slit the idiot¡¯s throat. Instead, he did what he originally intended ¡ª he kicked the oaf onto his face, then ran his blade for a deep, nasty cut on the back of the thigh, ruining it and causing blood to bubble up immediately. Ogdellos¡¯s cry of pain and the judge¡¯s horn intermingled. ¡°First Blood spilled! Deikmorn Brakka is the winner!¡± A ton of people stood and cheered, while various others hung their heads, obviously betters that had lost. Some others were watching closely, still, including the leaders. Disdain was on their faces. They knew something was rotten. Deikmorn just backed away as Ogdellos¡¯s loyalists and the medics rushed in, the latter aiming to staunch the bleeding as quickly as possible. The judge called out, ¡°No one touches the blades!¡± He quickly grabbed Ogdellos¡¯s blade, then came to take Deikmorn¡¯s. Deikmorn held his up to the crowd first, took a cloth to wipe it down the length, then displayed it, showing only blood and slight discoloration from sharpening oil. ¡°No fucking poison, as you can see!¡± Deikmorn called. The crowd more or less gaggled about it, all one to another, in speculation. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The judge, wearing thick gloves, mimicked Deikmorn with Ogdellos¡¯s blade ¡ª carefully. When he displayed the cloth, it was discolored black-brown with a strange, perhaps slimy smear. ¡°Poison! I fear to even breathe in its midst! And the blade. The blade moves with guidance in my hand!¡± The crowd erupted with jeers and boos and cries of ¡®Cheater!¡¯ Among the leaders, there were many that were scowling. Not just at Ogdellos, either. Those most fiercely for Ogdellos were glaring at Deikmorn like he was to blame for the obvious, damning fall of their chosen one. What good is this, if we lose half the alliance? The judge blew three notes on the horn, and everyone quieted then. The judge and most of the entire population that had gathered suddenly turned to one soul, one last crown to top the event: Nyomel. Cowl still over her finely-robed figure, she faced the unequivocal winner. Deikmorn took a deep breath and smiled winningly, holding out his hand to her. ¡°Come, then, dear. It¡¯s all over for the great moron, Ogdellos.¡± She looked him in the eyes, her back straight, and then turned her back on him to stalk away through the crowd. There was a collective, nearly breathless gasp from the crowd, everyone caught in shock. Deikmorn was equally caught, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Finally, he dropped his hand and clenched it into a fist as he looked back over at the incapacitated Ogdellos, his wound wrapped and him being carted off on a stretcher. He stifled his anger and avoided the outburst he wanted to let out. He was no pup to lose his cool over some trifling intrigue, however much it stung his pride. Treachery was to be expected. Whatever happened, he had to remember why he had started into the whole charade in the first place: Puck. Puck and her desire to ruin Ogdellos. Nyomel arranged the poison. Somehow. Hedging her bets? Whatever the result, Ogdellos would end up looking like shit if the judge exposed him. When he finally looked up for Ogdellos¡¯s loyalists, they were already gone. Most of the leaders had plainly ducked away to discuss what had happened. She is distancing herself from me, eh? So much for the big, bad war hero, Deikmorn Brakka. He caught a young woman staring at him so hard, it was obvious she was trying to get his attention. When he met her eyes, she smiled salaciously. She was a sumptuous beauty, in servant garb of some minor clan unfamiliar to him. Victory spoils. Perhaps later. For once, I¡¯m not in the mood. Tossing the dueling blade in the dirt, Deikmorn grabbed his pack from the ground and stalked off, his face dark enough that everyone just cleared out of his way. Congratulations were still barked at him, just from a safe distance. He didn¡¯t respond. He approached his tent carefully. Circled it, tried to gauge if anyone was inside, or if it had been meddled with. He took a monocle out of his pack to put on, to look for signs of curses, magical traps, and the like. Nothing. Finally, he went in. Allowed himself a sigh of relief. Someone came rushing through the tent, and he almost skewered them with his blade, drawn without thought. ¡°Brother!¡± Heskar cried, his face drawn back from a blade nearly touching his nose. ¡°Oh. Sorry.¡± Deikmorn snarled. ¡°You idiot! How many times have I told you not to rush in on me!? And now, of all times?!¡± ¡°I said I was sorry.¡± Scoffing loudly, Deikmorn whipped his blade away, then stepped across the space between the entrance and his bed to drop into it amid its many plush cushions. The bed was a minor enchanted item that collapsed into a small box when not in use. A few of his lovers over the years had joked that they shared his bed just to share his bed, always the best in a camp. He¡¯d hoped to be throwing Nyomel into it. Stop sulking, you old fool. I¡¯ll be lucky if I don¡¯t have to kill her at this point. And he would, if he believed she wanted him dead. Perhaps not that, at least. But he ruled nothing out. It was a sad miscalculation if she thought she could. Others had made that mistake to their sorrow already. ¡°Ah, Deik, Deik, Deik,¡± Heskar admonished. ¡°I know that look. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you¡¯ve done it again. You let an attractive morsel lead you around. When will you learn?¡± Deikmorn was grabbing a wine bottle as his brother spoke. He uncorked it and took a long, burning guzzle before meeting Heskar¡¯s gaze. ¡°Never.¡± Heskar chuckled. ¡°Janisway will love this story. We¡¯ll laugh until we¡¯re rolling around on the floor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad someone is fantasizing about my wife.¡± He took another gulp of wine. ¡°I admit, her laughter is a peach, though I can¡¯t remember the last time I got her other peach. Anyway, home is a long way off, still.¡± ¡°True. But what happens now? I don¡¯t think you¡¯re popular enough in this camp at this point to not lose a third with a clan consolidation under you.¡± ¡°Ordinarily, someone in my position would do it anyway. Nyomel must know I¡¯m in Puck¡¯s camp and won¡¯t necessarily take the petty route despite her treachery. Someone even slightly shrewd would have enough evidence there. How would I not owe her a favor?¡± Heskar nodded slowly but winced. ¡°I don¡¯t know about petty, Deik. She betrayed you and is owed a grudge. You should return it by some means.¡± Deikmorn looked down at the floor, scowling. He took another swallow of wine. Definitely getting drunk. ¡°I play longer games, Heskar. You know that. So does she, I think. We¡¯ll see. If necessary, her time will come.¡± ¡°I understand, but-¡± Someone else brushed into the tent. It was the overly-attractive servant girl from before, in the crowd. She smiled at both of them. Deikmorn found himself returning the smile. Maybe I¡¯m in the mood after all¡­ ¡°My brother, here, was just leaving-¡± ¡°A mutual friend extends a message,¡± the girl interrupted with an apologetic look and a little bow. ¡°A desire to meet in the tent under the gold ribbon, at the Witching Hour of Old, and a commitment to communicate all you wish to.¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 29: Pots Will Stir ¡°I see,¡± Deikmorn replied, eying the young woman expressionlessly. It was obvious who had sent her. The Witching Hour of Old was under certain stars. Year-round, it was quite calculable. How would she know he could do so, though? He was no witch or warlock. The old order of assassins taught it as a logical time to strike in the night, timing accuracy, and general synchronicity, but she shouldn¡¯t know that. That he was once such a member was at most fanciful rumor, just as their existence itself was considered. Am I reading too much into it? No. She is subtle enough. She may suspect and desire to verify through my accuracy. Perhaps this is a good thing¡­ if she acknowledges the danger of playing such deadly games with my ilk. The girl took another step forward and her smile returned. ¡°Acceptance is the reception of her gift. In the meantime.¡± Deikmorn glanced at her attire. Robes with a big bow in the middle. He recognized the way it was tied. ¡°You, in other words? One to unwrap?¡± Pulling it open would drop the robes instantly. ¡°Correct. A gift should not be left unopened, after all.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never been so impolite as that, it¡¯s true.¡± He nodded to his brother, who rolled his eyes and excused himself from the tent, closing the heavier flaps down behind him. My targeted distraction while she cements whatever her plot is. Fine! It¡¯s not my bloody clan, anyway. A bunch of sneering stiffs, if you ask me. Deikmorn reached over to grab some goblets. ¡°Sit, then. Have some wine. Tell me how someone so lovely as you isn¡¯t living it easy across the sea with a rugrat or two running around already¡­¡± ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? The Borderlands are a mess. Arthen Wybayer sat at a desk in a nondescript room, in a nondescript, old manor off the beaten path between Restwater and Caneboro. The owner was one of unquestionable loyalty. It had once been an inn of an ancient route north to the fallen city of Otreall and past the desert to the Dreamborne Valleys. All defunct and forgotten, though. The opium had been going east to Red¡¯s Point, then south by sea for untold centuries. Or ¡ª even more secretly ¡ª west to the Capital. He¡¯d read his third report from spies in the night. Capable and discrete elements in Mot Mekess and Caneboro. He¡¯d even been sent discarded personal effects and leftover food items from political figures in Mot Mekess. His ¡®taste¡¯ of things in terms of the link he was searching for was vague only, but he knew there was a conspiracy afoot. Their scent was not what he needed to clear them of suspicion. Not even Agatha herself, whom he¡¯d studied before. There was a new, ¡®Back Up,¡¯ hackles-raised scent he suspected made her part of a new pack. Sir Oliver¡¯s knightly order was leaky with some cultic developments they had been getting righteous about when they¡¯d never been righteous about anything but defense before. Nibbles and bits of suspicious meat. But the latest thing sent by his spy largely decided it for him. The high-speed river run conducted from Mot Mekess was indeed an Agatha special. Something she did to send or receive messages and packages quickly. It was not a common means, arrangement, or spellcraft by any stretch. And she had done it in precisely the same timeframe as the escapee¡¯s flight. She either smuggled her somehow or moved agents for this cult. She¡¯s thrown in with these Caneboro rebels. Fae sympathizers. No surprise, with Mot Mekess¡¯s ancient heresies. Her steward is of the very blood itself. Enough for a feather of the taste to still be there. A newly invigorated Redberry was risen, as he¡¯d heard when calling in his favor in the Capital. She had a powerful ally, too, one that had unthinkably cured her. Or multiple allies. This likely added up when considering the bizarre information he was getting about the escapee¡¯s break. Not things to expect of Redberry. But she is involved and possibly orchestrating things. A worthy target for the Hunt, just her alone, and she even has an equal by her side? Caneboro was in the midst of a full-on, underground war. The legendary rogue leader, Lucky Lucille, was as deadly effective and elusive as ever. She and her elites dealt the lion¡¯s share of damage in the shadows, and rumors were she¡¯d made ghosts into allies. A wall of flesh was nonetheless in her way. Mercenaries were flocking there on the promise of the ridiculous coin being dangled by the Inquisitors. Sheer stupidity, but it was their way of engaging without risking what they cared about most: their own skins. To a degree, he understood the feeling. The feed of information reflected incredible danger. His favor also related the very hush-hush death of one of the senior Inquisitors, something that had shocked them to their core. Seldom is hunting about simply stumbling on prey and leaping for the kill. This will be a new work of art to pull off, in contrast. We are hunting a predator and could turn a corner to find ourselves the prey. He seemed to be called to do it, though. The Inquisitors were floundering uselessly, putting on airs of wanting to solve the problem, as if concerned with the appearance more than the reality. Perhaps that was as things should be. They maintained the simple, day-to-day status quo. They wouldn¡¯t generally go around violating or changing it, wouldn¡¯t bother adapting or evolving to an amorphous foe ¡ª they¡¯d just attempt to contain them. Arthen¡¯s warg, Winterseed, lifted his head suddenly from the floor, looking at his master with his ears up. He sensed a change of energy, clearly. Sensed a decisive shift. The poised ruthlessness before a strike. ¡°Change it is, Winterseed,¡± Arthen declared. ¡°Let¡¯s stir the pot and see what we manage to bait out, hmm? The choicest meat should do the trick.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Orswyth, Ash, and the Cat Sith Pythia waited at the meeting point in the Spirit World. Orswyth was sure Samantha had not wanted her mortal followers risking themselves for the mission, but she hadn¡¯t thought to ban the option, so there they were. He figured it was better for the results. After all, in terms of true presence, Samantha¡¯s Servitors could not equal the incarnation of a cosmic entity. These ancient beings will relate to me on some level and vice versa. Or is it ¡®us¡¯? Bah. Orswyth was aware of his higher self observing through him on some level. But the connection was nothing like what Samantha seemed to have with the Fortuneteller. That or The Hermit considered direct communication crass. Which was highly likely. At the very least, rare seasoning. They were a little early. The ¡®Stargazer¡¯ was not. No surprise those types would be precise in their timekeeping. At least they could expect punctuality. Orswyth turned his gaze to Ash, who was caught staring, and he smiled as she looked away. ¡°Yes?¡± Orswyth asked. ¡°Sorry,¡± Ash said, meeting his eyes more dispassionately. ¡°I¡¯m amazed how well your image projection translates detail here. You are very different, but more real than real. A unique skill.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Orswyth looked down at his hand. Indeed, he was very vibrant and glowing, with a light golden color. A reflection of Enlightenment. Only partly mine. ¡°There¡¯s more to it, but I can¡¯t discuss it at this time. If we¡¯re trading amazements, a question: are you not helping Tashome with his project?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. A regenerating helper golem. Something like that.¡± ¡°And are you not also designing a complex spell to assist Samantha? And helping train the ritual-using crew? And assisting the Brain Trust with your inside information?¡± ¡°All correct, yes. I¡¯m also baking pies. Do you have a favorite? Cherry, I bet. I¡¯m making cherry.¡± ¡°You¡¯d have won money if you thought to wager. I will take a piece. But, in addition to all of this¡­ you¡¯re here?¡± She had a little smirk on her lips as she nodded. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind me,¡± Pythia said as she yawned from her little floating platform. ¡°Just watching two nerds have nerdgasms over each other and trying not to fall asleep. Ah! There they are. Thank the Goddess. Wait. They?¡± Two ghostly erudite figures in robes and chaperon caps came up to the obscured spot and passed through it to float before them. For a brief moment, he thought he detected dismay, but it passed quickly. Their eyes fell on Orswyth principally, and they bowed their heads. They could be told apart mostly by slight shade differences in their clothing, or if one focused carefully against the challenge of their transparency, their facial features. One said, ¡°Honor covers us, before the Enlightened of Distant Moons.¡± Just as Samantha warned, the translation was highly bizarre. The other might¡¯ve smiled as he swept his gaze over them. ¡°Salutations. We¡¯re honored by your presence. All of you, who come in the stead of your Empress.¡± Surprisingly, the translation was quite fine with him. Orswyth bowed as well. ¡°Salutations. We¡¯re honored as well, and pleased by your punctuality. One of you speaks as if more knowledgeable on language.¡± ¡°Yes. I am a Stargazer but also a Linguist. You may address me so, as well. With painstaking difficulty, I find ways to maintain concurrency of understanding foreign tongues, even as I maintain the discipline necessary in the mind. Thereby, I can serve as a translator or spokesperson. But I alone have this dedication and skill.¡± ¡°I understand. We¡¯re grateful. In part, we came as three to assist with translation and understanding through the difficulties.¡± They both bowed their heads solemnly, their eyes apparently closed. ¡°Please forgive us for our oversight. We did not answer in three, not foreseeing the pattern.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite alright. We aren¡¯t offended at all. The gesture was practical, not symbolic.¡± They both accepted this easily enough. The Linguist continued, ¡°Your Empress is an apocalyptic figure. We do not fear this, however. The stars suggest she is truthful in a desire for the maximum possible preservation. We align with the stars though we sadly risk our premature destruction. Some of us abstain from ambition, but swear also not to interfere, dedicated to observation alone.¡± ¡°Alright. We can hardly blame them.¡± Ash spoke up. ¡°Could you clarify what is so dangerous that you are planning?¡± The Linguist nodded. ¡°Yes, Sorceress. The Great King is mad and full of rage. We would disobey him, and he can ¡ª should he see the reins of our souls which he holds clearly ¡ª simply cast them aside.¡± ¡°How would you disobey, specifically?¡± ¡°Most things, other than guarding the island, cursing interlopers, and so on. His only real charge to us. Outside of his domain, he does not know our behavior, but he may see it when inside. If we ever go. Generally, we do not. Rarely, he has pulled egregious members in.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re offering us a way in,¡± Pythia mused. ¡°Is that it? You want us to deal with your king in some way.¡± ¡°Yes, Faerie Feline. We can open a closed way and slip you in. The solutions within are to your deduction or discussion. Can you heal a Great King¡¯s mind?¡± ¡°We¡¯re uncertain,¡± Orswyth replied. ¡°Possibly. Such a thing depends on the direction of the will. Does something within him actually want out of it, or is he lodged in it by decision? Entrenched?¡± The two ghosts were quiet and subdued for a moment, before the Linguist said, ¡°That is very possible, due to grief.¡± ¡°Samantha could find¡­ other means of resolution,¡± Pythia added. The Linguist seemed sad. ¡°We¡¯d not only vastly prefer the non-violent, we fear that his end would be ours. All of ours.¡± ¡°Our Empress holds the reins of fallen souls, too,¡± Orswyth said. ¡°Perhaps there is a way to steal you over, regardless of your Great King¡¯s mind and temperament.¡± The Stargazer and the Linguist shared a glance. The Stargazer replied this time. ¡°Miracles magnify under her Moon.¡± Orswyth smiled and nodded. ¡°That they do, my friend.¡± The quiet voice within him, rare as it was, finally spoke. ¡®Of course they do. By design. Even she does not fully understand the Hand that will play. Nonetheless, Enlightenment shall prevail.¡¯
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 30: Fingers Crossing For a Pearl For Rallindin Peregaust, Liberator of Nations, Integrator of the Six-Fold Technocracy, and risen, ascendant Goddess of Magic, the world became her oyster. For a time. A great battle in the war was fought with an alliance of six nations bringing their varied technologies to the forefront, under the banner of the One, True Enlightened Soul. The Hope of Tomorrow. And the battle was won. Their enemy was put on the defensive. Sadly, they excelled at it, and the supposedly destined Great Advance of the Saints stalled (she blamed Shar Al Muria for pushing that ridiculous name, and ultimately it was abandoned). Attrition set in, and the enemy began effective terroristic tactics that forced Rallindin and Tanjhere to hop around endlessly to affect the healing only they could against the highest [Entropy] effects. They adapted somewhat by starting a Healer Corps and inventing various lesser methods as well as teaching ways to blunt or distribute corruption before and during attacks ¡ª or delaying the destruction from the higher forms after they began. Nothing could quite break into their capability levels, but it mitigated things. It helped. Over time, the enemy started targeting them, too. The best and the brightest, the most dogged and determined, forged in the fires of a vicious war, rose to the top. Among them were familiar and eventually precious souls Rallindin realized were tied to her. Three young women who effectively became adopted daughters in time, awkward though it was to her. She worked to thicken the threads of those bonds, knowing their importance. Technological development caught up in counters on both sides, creating trenches and lifeless war zones. Their enemy effectively attacked the land itself, making it all the more depressing and horrifying as an environment. Rallindin focused on everything behind the curtain of destruction as much as possible. Not only was it her nature to build up civilization and apply technology from the farmhouse upward, but developing a huge, capable new generation of magic-users would ultimately serve the war effort. As the Goddess of Magic, she used her power and authority to standardize spellcraft at the bottom and stimulate creativity and imagination at the top. [Wizards] inevitably became [Magineers] in her new paradigm. Moreover, she set a template into System reality itself through the runes spooled out, formed of the very structure that made it up. This would persist across the wholeness of time, whatever the case. The System couldn¡¯t forget them and neither would the souls within it. The Marring of Memory affected everything. She was certain she should be able to turn back and see a history, but instead, it was shredded and indistinct, with muddy spots and those of complete darkness. All was blurred. The work of her life ¡ª amidst all the rest ¡ª was attempting to follow those lines of the structure to the source, somehow. It was no accident, all the souls of leaders she was led to. Most of all, Tanjhere, with whom she was like two souls swirled and twisted together. The anxiety to understand was just as strong within her. They knew she was somehow the key. Or perhaps the lock, as something within her was buried and awaiting discovery. Elusive, though. So very, very elusive. Another thing was elusive, too ¡ª The Seventh Card Reflection. A frustrating puzzle, all of their existence on Talspora, and she knew there was a piece left to find. It was a final key before the Deciding Day, a key to understanding herself enough to take the final step to victory. Perhaps it was even the other kind of key she needed; regardless, the work could not be finished without¡­ her. A sister of sorts, but a rival too, like all the rest. An enigma that relishes her role to test me, to taunt me. But I complete all tests. Inevitably. Have I not, yet? She¡¯ll yield, she¡¯ll kneel ¡ª when I finally snatch her from the ether as my next pearl. She scoured the planet with every spare breath, in-between stirring technological development and fighting off the forces of the Supreme Fulgurate and the powers of the Glimmering Oils. Fortunately, her allies combined were effective at maintaining the stall and the trenches, and their enemy was content to dole out his endless attrition from the back lines, confident it was his kind of war to win. She worried he was right. Loyal though they remained, her allies showed glimmers of their restlessness and the bitter challenge still in their heart. They were changing. It had mostly been for the better, but it remained unquestionable that their power had only increased. What would it take for them to lose confidence in her? Only one. It would take only one lost, to ruin what balance they had. Shar Al Muria. She¡¯d be the likeliest. The least patient and the most lusty for glory. But could she betray me, and yet retain what I made sure she cherishes even more than dominion? Tenuous. So tenuous, my manipulations. Meanwhile, the distant halls of the Augment Lords remained silent and neutral, refusing either side doggedly. Rallindin had tried multiple tactics to convince or drag them in as a piece that could turn the tide, but they wouldn¡¯t budge. She suspected another Card Reflection lay hidden within them, but could not force its revelation for anything. It remained dormant. Initially, she thought it was the Seventh, but in time it became clear from the signs and portents to be false. It was the Eighth or the Ninth. She needed the Seventh first. From deserts to jungles to the very ocean bottoms, Rallindin searched for the final piece of the grand puzzle out in the world. She fought legendary beasts and terrible remnants of the bygone era, she made new friends and new enemies, and she crushed the warring of factions under her decisive, ruthless boot because she had no time for kiddy gloves. She assimilated primitives and the civilized alike into the Perfect Way of Progress. All irrelevant, ultimately. She did not find who and what she was looking for. Not in the material world. There was another, though ¡ª the spirit world. A world she neglected other than to house her Heaven and to act as a focus and channel for mana. It was an uncomfortable, ignored thing for most in the world, truthfully, who¡¯d forced the supernatural to the outskirts and hiding on the periphery. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Rallindin dominated the physical realm, capturing the entire planet other than the eyesore of the Fulgurate¡¯s endlessly more degenerated territories, but the hidden realm of spirits remained a mystery. Evidently, that was not acceptable for victory. Awkward though it was, she adapted. She dove right in to seek out the one who would complete the Hand. Information from denizens she gained the trust of ¡ª such as the riddle-happy Sphinxes of the Thousand Temples ¡ª eventually led her by threads here and there, to an apparent nexus of many old and storied paths. A blessed or cursed place where The Lady of the Moon ruled. A place known only as the Wyld. True to term, it was a deep wilderness ¡ª a forest of giant, twisted trees, strange plants, and endless vines big enough for a giant to walk on. All of it was a thick, tangled-together mass and colored in washed-out whites and silvers. It was said those who entered lost themselves and became beasts to roam it forever. She knew she had to go. But she wouldn¡¯t go alone. North, South, East, and West, the glittering mass of gigantic alien vegetation stretched before her within the vague fog of the spirit world wilderness. At her side, it stretched before Tanjhere, too. And then control shifted to Sammy, floating in the spirit world as Rallindin, staff in hand. Two sets of widened eyes met the other. ¡°Azure?!¡± ¡°Samantha!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Sammy cleared her throat and turned to look at the tangle in front of them, blinking. Fidgeting as she got used to ¡®things.¡¯ ¡°Feels like forever since I¡¯ve been in a body, somehow.¡± ¡°Quite,¡± Azure said breathlessly. ¡°You noticed they don¡¯t seem to know about The Lover, despite the lateness of their development?¡± ¡°I did. Noteworthy, isn¡¯t it? Not only that¡± ¡ª she lifted her arm suddenly, which was bare between the copious jewelry wrapped around it ¡ª ¡°Oh shit, I¡¯m white as bone.¡± ¡°And voluptuous. I noticed. Your eyes are weird, too. Have you looked at me, yet, though?¡± Sammy turned her head, indeed just registering her lover¡¯s appearance. Her skin was dull blue-gray, her hair violet, and her eyes cat-like, with oval pupils in the midst of vibrant green. She had a tail similar to Lovie''s and was dressed something like a futuristic Egyptian queen. What was most unusual, though, was her ears weren¡¯t pointed. At all. Just round. It was such an oddity Sammy gasped. ¡°Oh no!¡± Azure grimaced, which made pointed fangs pop out slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t say ¡®Oh no!¡¯ It¡¯s bad enough that everything sounds weird and muted. Lame ass human ears.¡± ¡°Nice, Azure. Real nice.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Me too. It¡¯s just shocking. Must be an oversight.¡± ¡°I should just shapeshift to get them back. I think I can do that¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try to stay in character, Az-... er, my fine paramour, Tanjhere The High Alchemist! Come, let us away and find this Moon Lady!¡± Azure rolled her eyes. ¡°Ralli would never say something that lame. But you¡¯re always Chestnut to me, honestly.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ fair enough. It¡¯s like a typical modern game. RPGs, anyway.¡± ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°Role Playing Game. Video and computer games. I wasn¡¯t exactly¡­ hardcore. But I noticed when it was one where you picked a name, it didn¡¯t really matter, because there weren¡¯t permutations for everything from the voice actors. Or maybe the developers need an easy ID, too. So they¡¯d use something else to describe them. ¡®Lone Wanderer¡¯ for example, even though I picked Hoebag #9 or whatever.¡± ¡°Did you really pick that?¡± ¡°No, of course not,¡± Sammy lied. ¡°Anyway, what about my eyes?¡± ¡°A thin ring of blue crystal in the middle of glowing white, inside and around.¡± ¡°Oh. That is weird.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. So what were you going to say before you noticed your super whiteness?¡± ¡°Oh. Uh¡­ I forgot.¡± Azure sighed longsufferingly. ¡°Wait! I remember. Just that Ralli doesn¡¯t know jack shit about the past. It¡¯s all super vague. It feels splintered, broken¡­ muddled. Not like you would typically expect of a hard reset, right?¡± ¡°So the Cycle referred to could be a softer thing. Periods of clarity in-between some screwy existence.¡± ¡°Fits with everything being busted. Hmm. I wonder if Earth is lodged in a screwy period?¡± ¡°Leading up to you, things seem clear and continuous, just with you absent for a long period. Doesn¡¯t seem to fit.¡± ¡°I skipped across space, why not time, too?¡± Azure made a doubtful noise. In Tanjhere¡¯s throat, it was like a growl. Her eyes squinted as she pondered it more. ¡°More likely it''s a fracture out of the normal cycle. A vapor come and gone.¡± ¡°Damn. It¡¯s pretty fucked up to think about my home universe over and done with. I think I better just think otherwise and hold out hope there¡¯s a¡­ bigger picture. Or something.¡± Azure opened her mouth, then closed it. Finally, she said, ¡°Sorry, babe.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright! Really!¡± Sammy painted a smile on Ralli¡¯s face and shifted her gaze. ¡°I belong here, after all. We should be where we-... we¡¯re needed most. And right now¡­ I guess it''s in that huge, uninviting hellscape of giant terror vines that is probably a trap.¡± Azure-as-Tanjhere followed her lover¡¯s gaze and winced. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me.¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 31: Punishment An hour before the appointed witching hour, as determined by the stars, Deikmorn snuck to the tent flying the golden ribbon in the servant''s section, unsure what to expect. He had on numerous layers of protection ¡ª all that he could think of, and even a means to quickly summon waiting backup. He scoped out the tent for magic from afar. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, exactly as one would expect of a servant¡¯s tent. The real owner of that tent was sleeping cozily in his bed. Happily, he felt. The gift had been unwrapped and admired, but he had deliberately frustrated himself in the acts performed, never ¡®unsheathing the sword,¡¯ as it were. He wanted to stay angry and sharp. Lusty for blood, if necessary. Well, the girl deserved to feel indulged and cherished anyway. If she wanted, he¡¯d find her a proper husband. But his instincts were that she was too wrapped up in Nyomel¡¯s bizarre dominion. Despite the silence of the tent, Deikmorn could tell someone was in it. Instead of going in through the noisy, almost assuredly open flaps, he pulled out a special enchanted knife and cut through the tent. It made no noise, and when he let it go, it would fuse back as if never cut at all. He slipped in to see a very, very faintly lit inside, with the glint of eyes watching him from a low bedroll, peeking out from blankets. Nyomel. Amused. Deikmorn, still crouching, stared at her incredulously for a moment, then let the cut seal behind him. He regarded her flatly and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re displaying yourself oddly vulnerable for my assumptions.¡± Nyomel raised an eyebrow. ¡°As if I don¡¯t know rumors for reality, [Assassin] of Venos Gale? Even one hour on the dot, from the Witching Hour. Isn¡¯t it? Precision is a habit for you. If you want me dead, I will be, so I cling to you wanting me alive. Thus, I surrender.¡± She smiled suggestively. Deikmorn growled in his throat ¡ª for more than one reason, perhaps. He whispered furiously, ¡°You could¡¯ve done so most obviously ¡ª and believably ¡ª after the fight! If you had other ideas, you should¡¯ve shared them. It was you who arranged to poison me. Would you deny it?¡± ¡°No. I offended and wounded you. Though it was nonlethal, as you miraculously managed to notice. Regardless, I betrayed you. I submit myself for your punishment.¡± Deikmorn sighed grandly. Stop being so tempting. ¡°I know what you¡¯re doing. It¡¯s not good enough, Nyomel.¡± Her arms snaked out as she shifted to prop her cheek up with a hand, flashing bits of jewelry on otherwise teasing, bare flesh. ¡°But still good? A portion of good enough, perhaps?¡± ¡°Perhaps. You know what else I want.¡± Nyomel laughed. ¡°True as ever. An explanation. A revelation of plot. Of course. Would you prefer before, or¡­ after?¡± Deikmorn marveled at her, shaking his head. ¡°I believe the word is: now.¡± She sighed in disappointment, which might¡¯ve been an act. ¡°Very well. The ruin from a loss in the duel would not have been enough, I¡¯m afraid, even with injury. The politics are that stubborn. There needed to be more dishonor. The pollution of utilizing poison was the perfect solution. Win or lose, he¡¯d be despised by the two core clan leaders as cowardly. Especially to be discovered so publicly. While he could never be convinced to do it, he was stupid enough to be fooled by lies about his ancestors blessing the blade. Holy oil.¡± Nyomel smiled. ¡°Sadly, the ¡®hucksters¡¯ he now claimed duped him are nowhere to be found. It does not matter if he was duped or is lying, though ¡ª either damns him as incompetent and casts suspicion on who is ¡®helping¡¯ him. As honor goes, he¡¯s supposed to admit it or prove otherwise, and he¡¯s doing neither, making things even worse.¡± Deikmorn was scowling through it all. Mostly because it was sound plotting, and he¡¯d been left out of it. ¡°Why dupe me in the process? That offends me more than anything.¡± ¡°I truly apologize, but¡­ you are no actor, Deiky. I wanted believable reactions, believable outrage. Such a matter is balanced on the edge of a blade by the shrewd observers that were present. It remained entirely possible they¡¯d blame you and me for setting it up. See things to point out. Some have even found it suspicious you noticed the poison. It¡­ unfortunately brings up those ¡®rumors,¡¯ hmm? Either they believe that, or they believe you set it up. Or both. Regardless, it costs us.¡± ¡°So you turned your back on me because despite winning and avoiding the poison, I remain poisoned.¡± ¡°For now. It isn¡¯t lost on me you might not want this grand position.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± A soft, knowing grin. ¡°Let¡¯s not pretend any longer, hmm? I know whom you serve, effectively.¡± ¡°Is it that obvious, then?¡± ¡°To me? Yes. To the greater army? Not at all. Nor would they care. To the other leaders? That I don¡¯t know, yet. I have put myself in a position, however, to gain their confidence. Or I suppose I should say, a chance to prove myself. Now, they have little choice but to do as I initially wanted.¡± Things fully added up, finally, to Deikmorn. ¡°The council. The stall, because they now don¡¯t have anyone to take the mantle and they¡¯re leery of me. You¡¯ve cemented the decision ostensibly to present a barrier to me. Or leverage to influence me. You¡¯re already proving yourself, and you can change their minds potentially to support you. Assuming they¡¯ll tolerate your way of doing things.¡± ¡°They have a smidge of grudging respect from my rejection. If they come to suspect, even without much proof, that I orchestrated everything subtly, perhaps they¡¯ll realize the potential. I admit that is a gamble, but we¡¯ll ensure one of three results ¡ª indefinite council rule, my ascendancy, or yours, smothering any other upstart contenders. It depends partly on you and what game you are willing to play.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. This treacherous minx is a golden asset if she can be directed correctly. I worry her ambitions will finally set her at odds with Puck and Zadkiel. Ah well. Might as well let her burn brightly for the time she has. I can indulge and enjoy it for now. Deikmorn put on a devilish grin. ¡°I¡¯ll be your villain to them if you want. That¡¯s what you like, anyway, isn¡¯t it, now? A swordsmith in the dark.¡± Nyomel pursed her lips and suddenly threw off her blanket, revealing the glory of her nudity, decorated in bits of gold and jewels. ¡°Is the villain going to take his spoils, now? I trust the appetizer was satisfactory? You didn¡¯t exhaust your appetite on it too much, did you?¡± Eyes roaming over her quite cultivated and prepared presentation, Deikmorn shook his head. ¡°Not at all. I saved it, in fact.¡± He met her eyes, and her own widened at the implication. She was genuinely shocked. Not an actor, am I? Well, I can play the ¡®role¡¯ she wants right now. ¡°Now, cast a sound-proofing spell for our discretion needs this time. You¡¯ve got a long night and morning ahead of you, and I will hear every honest utterance of your punishment.¡± ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Ralli and Tanjhere flew their spirit bodies into the tangled mass that was the Wyld. Instantly upon crossing the threshold of the divide, they fell downward from sudden gravity and the cessation of their floatation. ¡°Ahhhhh-¡± ¡°Kyahhhhhhhhhhh!¡± Sammy caught a small baby vine, swung, and slammed into a bigger vine, to tumble downward and somehow keep from falling over either edge, finally stabilizing to slide down it on a gradual slowing bend she was able to just barely control. But she was covered in guck because the vine was slippery with silver slime. Fucking gross! Ew! Yuck yuck yuck! It smells like feet! Tanjhere was thankfully not dead, either, having caught and then promptly getting tangled in some vines. Slightly above and out from Ralli, she was dangling from her legs and slowly spinning, her dress almost obscuring her face as it was reversed over her. She fought to get it out of the way. Despite herself, sitting on her rear covered in gritty slime, Sammy burst out in laughter at the comical sight. ¡°Nice undies! Hey, at least you¡¯re wearing them, right!? Ah hahahaha!¡± Azure thrust fabric out of the way just to glare balefully with bared fangs. ¡°You shut the fuck up, Samantha! You¡¯re going to pay for your mockery.¡± ¡°Ooooh, I¡¯m sooo scared ¡ª Hanged Woman. Ah hahaha! Shake it for me, momma!¡± ¡°Grrrrh!¡± The glare had its power diminished by an unfortunate spin turning her completely away. Sammy whistled tauntingly at the sight. She was able to admire it only briefly before Azure quaffed some potion, and a green aura surrounded her. She extended her hand and a larger energy claw formed from the aura to grasp a tree branch and pull her to it.l The vines went slack through the process. She set about disentangling herself from the vines while atop the stable structure of the branch. In the meantime, Sammy cast a spell to clean herself of the guck and then designed something like a skin-tight forcefield to keep it off. The grime cleared away as she took each step, which also aided her grip. Hmm. I should¡¯ve used Jammer immediately, huh? The activation and the wires firing off are lightning-quick. Experimenting, she utilized the staff, sending the wires out to wrap around the tree where Tanjhere was, making a small ¡®platform,¡¯ and carrying herself there. It was fluid and easy, gradually becoming clear that Jammer was like a third, very versatile limb to Rallindin. Way different than Foolmaker. My utility is mainly in powers and spells. But Rallindin does not have [Pneuma]. Interesting. She helped Azure untangle the last of the vines as they looked around. ¡°No obvious route at all,¡± Sammy commented. Then she yelped, as Azure slapped her hard on the butt. ¡°Don¡¯t complain!¡± Azure admonished with wide, warning eyes. ¡°You know you deserved it. And more. You brat.¡± Sammy made a mocking face but didn¡¯t argue, knowing better. ¡°Follow me. I can at least tell from here how to get deeper. We¡¯ll shoot for the center.¡± ¡°If there even is one¡­¡± Sweeping through by levered locomotion, they proceeded through the giant trees, vines, and plants, avoiding the caked-on grime of the ¡®man-sized¡¯ ones especially, as even being downwind of them was a foul experience. Other vegetation was more palatable, including the unique woodsy scent of the trees and some of the biggest spikes of color in the wilderness ¡ª faint, but multicolored giant metallic flower blooms. Azure was adamant they keep their distance, however, not knowing the potential threat they might pose. Sammy rolled her eyes but relented. A few bits of wildlife became evident. An arm-sized moth hovered and partook of nectar from a flower. An enormous sluggy worm-thing slowly moved down a vine, cleaning it of the cheesy muck. I¡¯m glad something does. Hyuck! They definitely kept their distance from that. It looked like just the sort of thing one would approach and have suddenly jump on them, and Sammy was noping right out of that possibly with alacrity. Some indication of bird-like entities was seen higher up, but they never got a look, just swaying leaves and calls. Though she worried they might be big enough to attack in that place, and kept an eye out, they never caught sight. ¡°Hnnk! Shit. Look.¡± Tanjhere grabbed Ralli¡¯s arm and pointed. A silver feline the size of a rhino, with black stripes and angel-like wings, was watching them from a branch, silent and still, almost blending in with the background. Hmm. Wings¡­ Azure was subconsciously clutching Sammy as they both watched, holding deadly still, wondering what would happen. The hand of Rallindin raised slowly and waved. ¡°Uh¡­ hi? Do you talk?¡± It stared back at her for a long spell. Then it slowly opened its mouth¡­ into a snarl. Loud hissing resounded. Two more they had not even seen on branches elsewhere suddenly hissed too. Oh great.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 32: The Proper Phrase ¡°Can we please just calm down and talk about this?!¡± Sammy called as she sensed the way things were about to go. But the cat had their tongues for any sapient response, and they launched themselves like flying bullets at Ralli and Tanjhere. The pair split, dodging different directions. Two went for Tanjhere and one for Ralli. The latter was quick with her staff power, dodging deftly with the space between them. To assist her lover, she directed a curve of wires out at one of the other winged tigers, forming it into something like a big flyswatter, aiming to knock it. The tiger changed course on a dime, avoiding the flyswatter and going for Ralli, instead. At first, Sammy thought it would be easy from the trajectory to entangle the beast in the wires exposed between, so she flared them out. But the feline flashed talons the size of swords and slashed entirely through them with ease. A second bundle of talons was quite quickly brought to bear in Ralli¡¯s face. Crap. Time crunch. Wound negations had apparently not been invented yet, but Ralli had even better magical failsafes ¡ª a network of contingencies. Part of the simulation¡¯s allowance was making up reasonable assumptions about things she might be able to do, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, or even in between. That was the gamble of the game. She could unleash an offensive spell, that she knew. Not knowing the capabilities of the felines, but determining them to be exceptionally formidable, Sammy decided to pour all the power of the effect into simply knocking, throwing, or diverting the beast. So she conjured a high-level, raw telekinetic punch. The beast was hit by an invisible train slamming into it, full speed versus full speed ¡ª the ¡®beast-side¡¯ was a train, it seemed. The sound of impact was a powerful explosion, thankfully diverted away from Ralli. The feline went spinning and tumbling in the opposite direction, screaming inhumanly. Tanjhere managed to narrowly fend off and block her primary attacker with her aura formed into a grappling hand, though keeping hold was impossible and the feline broke free. She followed up with something flicked from her hand like powder, and the sparkling grains suddenly grew in size and sped up, forming into sharp little shards to sweep over the creature aiming to slice and dice it. But it was like glass hitting an anvil. The little blades made fantastic sparks as they ground on, shattered, or even bounced right off of the silvery hide. It appeared ineffective. Okay, raw physical force is a no-go, probably ¡ª except for knocking. Let¡¯s try magical energy, then! Sammy targeted the beast most likely to attack, as opposed to the one still knocked and tumbling. Rallindin could double-cast with ease, so she tried a light-based burning laser first and prepped to try something else if it failed. The winged feline did not dodge and took a blast of light in the middle of its body, facing the side due to the wheeling maneuver it took after failing its charge. The blast dispersed in a great ripple over its silver fur and turned to vapor, apparently causing no injury. Shit! Come on, man, they have to have some kind of weakness! The follow-up became a go-to element for the resistant: acid. She gestured and made a sign in the air, and a man-sized sphere of acid rocketed at the beast, which had now turned fully and was charging for her anew. The acid exploded in its face head-on in a gout of steaming fumes. And through it the feline charged through unimpeded, its form smoking but unscorched, unmelted ¡ª unharmed. Holy fucking shitballs, what the hell?! She focused on dodging out of the way, judging herself to have the spacial leverage. But the feline did a complex feint by suddenly changing direction, creating a desperate, scrambling struggle that was a blur of narrow counter maneuvers. One taloned hand missed, but the other would¡¯ve had her, so Sammy moved the copious wires of Jammer in the way to block at the last split moment. They were shredded but slowed the strike. Talons came through near Rallindin¡¯s face, and pivoting backward was all that saved her. The edge of two claws slashed her neck, drawing blood. The feminine voice of the intra-Hall System spoke into her mind. ¡°Simulated major wound downgraded to Minor. You are at -1 Effective Levels for 5 seconds.¡± A sound of dismay from Azure let Sammy know she was also having trouble, though she could spare not even a glance. Sammy had little choice but to try and blunt the advance of the juggernaut kitties with quick and decisive action. She dropped two spells in rapid succession, both of them the powerful telekinetic hammers, one for each winged furred problem. She relied on the Simple, Stupid method for once, hoping it was sufficient for relatively Simple, Stupid enemies. Neither had much chance to dodge, one right in her face and the other still righting itself after spinning out. Now, both of them were knocked, their shrill screams of protest ringing through the jungle. Simple, Stupid for the win! Sort of. Turning her attention to Azure, she saw a feline with its jaws completely enclosing around her leg ¡ª fortunately, the body of Tanjhere had transformed into hard crystal and resisted damage. Meanwhile, Azure appeared to be trying to pry it off with an aural ¡®hand¡¯ wrapped entirely around the beast. This was to no avail, and she was barely keeping the talons from reaching her torso. They were locked in a fierce struggle. Sammy aimed for the beast¡¯s dangling lower half and fired off another ¡®slam¡¯ spell. The hit took it full on and it was forcibly torn away, though its fangs cut a groove on the crystal of a leg with an audible grinding sound, as that grip attempted and failed to hold. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Tanjhere was jerked down a short distance, as she was pulled through the cloud of her own dislodged glittering dust before finally catching herself, still grimacing in pain. She also managed to pull a big vial free from some hidden space and toss it down at a branch near the feline. It burst into a greenish cloud that soon revealed a giant spider, which momentarily leapt onto the vulnerable beast and grappled it firmly. Any feline recovery or flight inhibited, they fell downward together out of sight. The other two winged beasts had recovered in the meantime and were coming for her again. Sammy had the initiative, though, so she could double cast once more. Instead of knocking, a thought came to her and she tried something else. First one and then the other feline hit an invisible wall blocking their advance. Soon thereafter, they bounced off of it again, and were pushing, clawing, and throwing themselves around ¡ª all to no gratification. An impermeable magical force had totally boxed them in. They began to scream their anger and frustration with their hideous, shrill cries. Wall of Force ¡ª a staple for a reason. This existence, Ralli herself, might¡¯ve been who made it so. And ¡ª knock on wood ¡ª these beasts have no spellcaster to help them out of it. As she shared a relieved smile with Azure and was quite ready to celebrate, they both became aware of loud, distant snarls. One direction. Two. Three? ¡°Shit,¡± Sammy muttered. ¡°They¡¯re attracted to the struggle. Tanjhere, have you ever heard the phrase ¡®discretion is the better part of valor,¡¯ by chance?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± she replied, ¡°but I get the picture. My own phrase is thus: let¡¯s get the fuck out of here!¡± Leaving the kitties to their fate, they fled the scene. Sammy trusted Azure¡¯s senses to determine the most likely route not toward approaching super tough World Class murder-cats. After finding a moment to heal up with spells, they opted to attempt stealth in their progression ¡ª while they had the chance. Instead of swinging along like they were apes who owned the place, Ralli cloaked them in invisibility and muted sounds outside of a small radius. Tanjhere applied an alchemical salve to them both that eliminated their scent entirely, to foil any tracking. It proved to be wise. Calls from the distance came from every direction, and they caught sight of dozens of winged cats scouring the landscape, scanning with their eyes, pausing to listen, and occasionally sniffing the air. Hunting. They are definitely trying to hunt us down like¡­ dogs. Hundreds, maybe thousands of super unkillable flying murder-cats. Holy hell. I hate realms! I hate realms so fucking much! They tried to distance themselves as much as possible from the area they¡¯d been, once more relying on the keen direction sense and counter-tracking of the much more wilderness-capable Azure. Despite the situation, Sammy could tell Azure was happy with the arrangement. She feels useful. No matter how much I tell her she is, she needs this sort of unequivocal, external proof to believe it. Mmn. We have to win this, now. I won¡¯t allow her managing to be disappointed by all this and thinking her guidance went to waste or was useless. As they were making their way quietly over a long series of branches all twisted together, a feline suddenly landed right above them out of nowhere. They froze still and didn¡¯t so much as breathe, though Azure¡¯s hand found hers to squeeze. Holding hands and both looking up with wide eyes, they observed the furred monstrosity just above them, swinging its head around and sniffing suspiciously. Its face was turned toward them for a heart-stopping moment. But disturbingly human brown eyes swept right over their spot without seeing, and it turned away. They dared not sigh in relief, though. It turned entirely away, its tail lifting up to show its butthole. Psh! Just like a fucking cat, isn¡¯t it? And then it sprayed. Sammy would¡¯ve crushed Tanjhere¡¯s hand if not for the crystalline hardness. As it was, it might¡¯ve cracked, as Sammy tried not to scream from a massive spray of funk hitting her almost dead-on. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and a groan wanted to crawl out of her throat from the sheer disgust of feeling moist, hot stuff on her skin all over. She shook with the effort to contain herself. On the plus side, when she finally opened her burning eyes, the feline was already flying away, apparently quite satisfied with the area it was fleeing, having thoroughly ¡®marked the territory.¡¯ The smell remained overpoweringly terrible in the area. The ¡®area¡¯ that included Sammy. Me and these things are done. We¡¯re done. I better not see a fucking winged cat ever again. We¡¯re done! Azure ¡ª who thanks to the angle didn¡¯t get even close to as badly sprayed ¡ª did an admirable job being sympathetic instead of amused, containing whatever humor she had to have lying within. That action doubled Sammy¡¯s love meter for her because Sammy probably deserved some mockery after all her teasing. She¡¯s a saintess. My girlfriend is a literal saintess. Once they moved out of the area, her saintess even had a potion she poured over Sammy that took the smell and the glistening wetness away. It was cold, oily, and not really pleasant at first, sort of like being doused with an alcohol/vegetable oil mixture. But when it quickly evaporated, all remnants of the scent evaporated with it. Afterward, Sammy took a deep, wonderful breath of fresh air. Then she took her saintess¡¯s face in her hands and kissed her. ¡°Thank you, Saintess Azure.¡± Azure smiled in pleasure. ¡°Let¡¯s not get carried away ¡ª I will never be a saint. But you¡¯re welcome, Chestnut. You deserve it for managing to hold in that scream. You truly do. But¡­ we should get going, hmm?¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 33: Cherry On Top They just started over the branch when Sammy suddenly grabbed Azure to stop her. They exchanged silent glances, and then Sammy pointed at what she just barely noticed. Just underneath the branch, wrapped around the huge tree trunk itself, was a giant snake, its colors and even its texture like that of the tree, making it nigh impossible to notice. Only some faint, strange aura caused Sammy to see it at all. When one focused enough, the eyes at least were clear, and the rest could finally come into focus. Its head was pointed right at them. Azure stifled a gasp when she finally managed to make it out. Sammy, stunned still and froze for the second time in a matter of a few minutes, did her patented, always effective response in that sort of scenario. She held up her hand and said, ¡°Hi.¡± As silly as it might seem, she was instinctively invoking [Diplomacy] in the process. The snake remained still and stared for a long moment. Then it flicked its forked tongue once. If she had been anyone else in that moment, she might¡¯ve thought nothing of it and decided to try backing up and going around the thing. Or maybe attacking preemptively. But Sammy had interacted with a certain snake before that flicked its tongue, and something very subtle in that flick tipped her off. So she conjured the spell to understand and speak languages. And then she said, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t catch that ¡ª could you repeat?¡± Meanwhile, her eyes glanced around for felines. The coast was thankfully clear. The giant snake had its head twitch slightly. It flicked its tongue again. ¡°I said, ¡®Hello, Two-Legs, but you can¡¯t understand me anyway.¡¯ Is that false, now?¡± Sammy nodded, and couldn¡¯t help smiling in relief. Meanwhile, Azure squinted her eyes between them and then began casting her own comprehension spell. Finally, Sammy cleared her throat. ¡°False, yes. I can understand you.¡± The snake writhed slightly. ¡°How lovely. Two-Legs never think to talk to snakes at all. But then, I admit I was probably going to eat you.¡± ¡°Oh. I, uh¡­ I see. I¡¯m sure that makes sense. So¡­ what about now? Can you maybe not eat me? Please?¡± ¡°Are you sure? Bah. How could I refuse a polite request from a civilized person? As you wish, Two-Legs.¡± ¡°I really appreciate that. So, I take it that ¡®Two-Legs¡¯ types, as you put it, are rare here?¡± ¡°It works!¡± Azure exclaimed, grinning. ¡°It fucking worked this time. I can understand the snake!¡± Sammy patted Azure¡¯s back to congratulate her. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± The snake flicked its tongue rapidly. ¡°You two are rather cute. Perhaps try not to be? Cuteness is especially appetizing.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Azure said awkwardly, her eyes shifting around. Then she managed a mean scowl to direct at the snake. ¡°Better?¡± ¡°Marginally. I suppose it''s unavoidable. At least I can barely taste you in the air. Anyhow. Two-Legs are rare, yes. Rare and brief.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Sammy agreed. ¡°I¡¯m sure they get promptly mutilated and eaten.¡± ¡°Yes. And then ¡ª usually ¡ª transformed.¡± ¡°Pardon? What do you mean, transformed?¡± ¡°The monstrous hybrid felines, often but not always Four-Legs, are former Two-Legs who came here as Seekers. If you are devoured by them in their endless hunger for bloody flesh, you will be digested partially but regurgitated as one of them, trapped here forever as an immortal beast.¡± ¡°Holy righteous shit, that¡¯s horrifying.¡± And I¡¯d bet it¡¯ll affect a deity, too. Yeesh. ¡°And I thought hairballs were gross,¡± Azure muttered. ¡°Snake, out of curiosity, what happens if, uh¡­ you eat a Two-Legs?¡± The giant tree snake seemed to flick its tongue like a shrug. ¡°Aren¡¯t you familiar with snakes? You¡¯re crushed, suffocated, very deadified, and slowly digested.¡± ¡°No regurgitation?¡± ¡°Bones, perhaps. Hmm. Are you asking if I am one of those cursed monsters? How insulting.¡± The snake hissed. ¡°I apologize. Please forgive my ignorance.¡± ¡°Well, I suppose tolerating confusion from a culture clash is reasonable. You are forgiven. But are you truly certain you don¡¯t want me to eat you? Your other fate seems worse from my perspective.¡± ¡°Is there really no other option, then?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Unless you¡¯d prefer the killer flowers, but that death is painfully slow. Yes. This place is a death trap for your kind. Sorry to break that to you.¡± ¡°I knew those flowers were trouble! Anyway, I¡¯d really prefer not to be eaten by anything at all. Truthfully, we are seeking out the mistress, here. The Lady of the Moon.¡± ¡°Of course you are. One of the traps, though new Seekers have been rarer and rarer to my perspective.¡± ¡°Is there anything you can advise me to¡­ Seek and Find? It¡¯s very important that I speak with her.¡± ¡°Speak, only? Do you not seek immortality from her?¡± ¡°Not at all. I already have that, actually. I am a goddess, not a mortal.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°You are? You¡¯re certain that¡¯s not some sort of Two-Legs hallucination or delusion of grandeur? It¡¯s really common, I hear.¡± Sammy chuckled but shook her head firmly. ¡°I¡¯m very certain. I subsist off of the worship of mortals.¡± ¡°Most curious. Tragic, that you come here. Well. I suppose it is possible she may receive you, then, though I wouldn¡¯t bet on it. She¡¯s one of those ¡®introverts.¡¯ Not keen on guests.¡± ¡°Whatever you could tell me, however you can help, you¡¯d have my eternal gratitude.¡± ¡°Oh ho! Is that so? Friendship, then, as a goddess to the Nameless Crawling Upon Their Bellies? We have so few. Less even than one.¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± ¡°I accept on our behalf.¡± That did something. An echo could be felt through reality, as she made an agreement. Shit. Something was missing, though, like a cherry to complete the sundae. Or a nail in a coffin. A saving grace? ¡°To whom do I speak?¡± The snake asked. Sammy wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to answer truthfully. She could pull an Odysseus, after all. ¡®Nobody¡¯ would get her out of it. Maybe. I question what Rallindin did with this. I can¡¯t ferret it out at all right now. Does what I do here even matter? It¡¯s a simulation. But why not go for gold? This one¡¯s for you, Ozzy. She eyed the giant snake and answered, ¡°You speak to the Goddess of Fate, Light, and Magic.¡± The ¡®cherry of reality¡¯ certainly dropped. Finality was clear. With a solemn tongue, the snake flicked, ¡°So be it. When you are low in the dirt with the boot crushing you beneath, defeat looming like the spite of all things, you will not be forgotten by those who bore it already. Oh, new sister, the fangs of who were friendless wait and lurk in the sand to strike.¡± Sammy was awed. ¡°What you say sounds important. Epic, even. I¡¯m not sure I did anything to deserve it.¡± ¡°Be uncertain how, but be sure that. Goddess of Fate! You are one who can break cosmic curses and lift the low to higher standing! Silly.¡± ¡°She is often silly, it¡¯s true,¡± Azure commented. ¡°Yes. Who else would trust a snake but the greatest of fools? The time for talk is ending, though. We will help you firstly to give you safe passage through our informal territory. It is thus at all because the beasts will not traverse it. Can you guess the direction?¡± ¡°Down,¡± Sammy said immediately. ¡°Lower.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Into the dark and the mold with you. There you can go where¡¯er else you desire, coming up from the depths.¡± ¡°And where do I go once there?¡± A feline suddenly came into view. Its head was cocking around rapidly. The snake noticed too, glancing at it, then back, to flick an insistent tongue. ¡°Stop your utterances. They hear. Go. The answer to your question is fleeting. Seek it yourself. Observe as we do, from the low places. As for this creature, I¡¯ll take it down with me.¡± A pause, as the others were dismayed. ¡°I mean literally, not figuratively! I¡¯ll jump it and we¡¯ll fall, and then it will bite and claw just to get away back to its habitat. Go! It comes.¡± Sure enough, the feline seemed to be stalking, hopping from branch to branch in their direction. As quietly as they could, Sammy and Azure began angling downward, dropping from branch to branch, and doing a controlled slide to another tree via a big, slimy vine (definitely still protected from the icky stuff by auras). At one point, they looked back up, as the feline had finally gotten precisely where they had been, and it was sniffing around copiously. Well, despite the scent suppression, there are plenty of ¡®distinctive¡¯ smells left in that general area. Like a silent lightning bolt, the giant snake came down on it and immediately entangled the beast. They tumbled. One snarl got out before it was silenced with a thick snake body constricting and closing over a feline maw. Its flight capabilities entirely disabled, they both fell hard and fast down a gap into the darkness. Not wanting to squander the snake¡¯s efforts, Sammy took an angle of descent far away from that vicinity. Other beasts might¡¯ve heard the snarl and come to investigate, and they certainly didn¡¯t want to bump into the feline when it inevitably retreated back up. It got very gradually thicker, grimier, and darker as they made their way down. The moldy smell got stronger and stronger. Gee, why didn¡¯t I think of this before? Oh right, it¡¯s gross, nasty, and completely uninviting! On the plus side, they both had excellent night vision, which was especially important as there was no way they were going to use a light source. ¡°We can do this, right?¡± Azure popped into her head as they endured the environment. ¡°Good, yes. Don¡¯t want to disturb the peace. I was going to say, this is the weirdest simulation so far. It''s longer, and I swear, it feels¡­ more real.¡± ¡°It does. I think we¡¯re past the kiddy pool. And, I believe we¡¯ve already run through the mid-test, Azure. Buckle up.¡± She was confused. ¡°Don¡¯t we have three fast-forwards? And the third is some endpoint shit with the Entropy Iteration or something?¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of the normal past life visions. The Ozra stuff never went to the end. All we really saw was the beginning. The point here¡­ it¡¯s not snapshots of understanding at all. Its periods of challenge. I doubt there is any structural pattern. Unless¡­ unless the general focus is the middle here, and the third Challenge Room is the end. Which suddenly makes it spookier.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. But I still expected a fast-forward.¡± Sammy paused and looked around. A lot of what they were traversing toward was fallen, dead debris, in certain sections lodging into a huge mass of caught material, likely of shaky footing. The slug-things were common. Looking at them, Sammy suddenly felt queasy. Are they somehow former mortals? The shape¡­ it¡¯s almost-... it could¡¯ve been a human. Shivering, Sammy turned away, dead set on avoiding those things at all costs. In the distance, further down, she thought she saw some sort of giant, glowing mushrooms. One of a growing laundry list of things probably best avoided. A wall of seeming life, but¡­ is it actually? And why? To keep people away? This person we seek worries me. What will they be like on Calrenazzod? I haven¡¯t met them. That much I am clear on. ¡°Azure, I¡­¡± Sammy felt like her lover was going to balk at her revealed intuition. Sammy balked, honestly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But this person we face is cruel. One of the least convertible compared to the rest of you, and here we are, before I softened her up even slightly. She made this place to punish and cause suffering for anyone who dared to approach her. I think we are going to live through the ¡®fast-forward.¡¯ They were stuck here. Stuck here with answers coming slowly in a vast, dangerous wilderness.¡± ¡°Oh, wonderful. Just wonderful. I¡¯ll never wear silver again!¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 34: Feline Execution Nestled in the cozy, quiet library of Mot Mekess, Crow¡¯s eyes burned in the morning light. He tried to read faster, knowing he needed a little rest, and he prayed for a little more time. Time was always creeping for more like a little hungry rat, and he with so much to absorb and know before it was stolen away. Never enough bloody time. And other things aside from reading call for attention. This Brain Trust stuff I promised to see about. And very soon, what deserves all of the attention. Who, rather. The brightest little light of Samantha, yet still completely mine. Estara. His project was multifaceted and tricky. One thing he¡¯d hit a wall on was something he should have gotten copious use through, which was Speak With the Dead. Instead, on Calrenazzod, it was all but useless, often failing completely and at best getting insanity-laced fragments he had to consider with a heaping helping of dubiousness. The vanquished Goddess of Death had preserved those ancient skulls for a reason. They were supposed to be a link, a medium to access what were effectively the virtual spirits of those who had passed on. Preserve some of the greatest minds. He¡¯d been excited when he first realized it and then fell into deepening disappointment when he discovered none of them functioned anymore. It made him hate the Sage in a brand new, novel way. He became Crow¡¯s enemy in truth, not just his Goddess¡¯s foe. Samantha is waking up the whole world to this crime. We are no longer asleep, and he will pay for the damage he¡¯s done. He truly wanted the knowledge those lost souls had in specific regard to the functioning of that semi-failed realm. It was important not to make the same mistakes she had. Without them, he had to guess all the whys of how the netherworld turned out like it did. The biggest core reason was at least obvious. The Goddess of Death focused only on the rare, highly educated, brilliant minds, originally quite tactical when they controlled civilization because they simply dictated belief down to the unwashed, fairly illiterate dregs. She was outcompeted in the inevitable shift and sway of religions and revolutions. More parasitic entities in truth took hold. That, Crow could not disagree with the Sage on. Capturing souls to essentially milk and harvest them, utilizing subconscious belief, and conspiracy pacts between the high and low places¡­ That was plainly parasitic and diverged from the old, philosophical constant of ¡®Go where¡¯er thou wilt, passing on or remaining in spirit.¡¯ Choice was taken away. The Sage had gored them all out, leaving a barren wasteland of belief. He could¡¯ve handed it back to the just, but instead, he went after them, too. Perhaps after belief itself. He¡¯d intensified the World Spell, made it cut a wider swath. Perhaps multiple times, evolving it in power. But somewhere in the midst of that, the preserved literature on the subject died. As expected. The sages kept their methods. Fortunately, independents managed to secure some means, scarce as it is. Innocuous books of innocuous subjects that the Dominion otherwise allowed to persist held hidden codes. It was painstaking to interpret and spells wouldn¡¯t work ¡ª quite by design, right in the sagely blindspot ¡ª but Crow had learned quickly and was getting faster with each book. Or page. A whole book was at most a small manuscript worth of ancient history. Samantha can help me forge this medium regardless of how little I have to go on. And it will benefit her because some will be led to Heaven. As for the classic Punishment Hell or Underworld of Parasites, well¡­ it can go fuck itself deeper into oblivion where it belongs. In truth, Crow wouldn¡¯t rock the boat if the framework already existed in a culture, but there was no way he was going out of his way to make an ¡®acid bath for evil¡¯ or whatever. If he could truly do whatever he wanted, he wouldn¡¯t reincarnate disorderly problems, he¡¯d annihilate them ¡ª like crumpling up a hopelessly damaged manuscript and tossing it into an incinerator. That wasn¡¯t possible, though ¡ª nor would his goddess agree ¡ª so it was irrelevant. Regardless, the innumerable Lost Souls out there needed a medium and a judge. Some needed to be put to rest and some put to work. That was the proper order. Samantha would tie herself into a miserable, wretched knot to deal with such things and make such decisions. Meanwhile, Crow would feel nothing but satisfaction to preserve what was worthy and screen out what wasn¡¯t. Treasures of the past remain unlocked. Some could be critical to understanding how to win this battle ahead. And some are not treasures at all. Like this fucking junk. Crow closed the coded book he had read. A waste. It was ostensibly a book on table etiquette, but instead of something helpful, the code was some stupid ¡®secret recipe¡¯ formula for ¡®the best fish sauce in history.¡¯ An entire manuscript, detailing irrelevant lead-up about their family and such bullshit, with the recipe at the ass end. He¡¯d expected with all the boring nonsense for a real nugget to be hidden somewhere. Instead¡­ useless drivel. Sighing, he set the book on the table and determined he would have to ¡®call it.¡¯ He stood and stretched. The Cat Sith Gandalf faintly opened his eyes from the nap he was having on the cushion of a chair. They momentarily closed again. He deserved it ¡ª he¡¯d been instrumental in finding coded books and doing his own supplemental research. Crow planned to ask for a mostly permanent assignment of the fae feline to him. She could create another with the [Research] skill for others to use, after all. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Crow took a walk and slipped into the kitchen to get some hot, dark tea, and also ¡®stole¡¯ a stuffed mini pastry pie. Not a soul saw him take it ¡ª a perfect crime once again executed by his expertise. Back in the library, he secretly consumed the pie, eyes and ears primed for any intrusions that might expose him. It burned his mouth a bit but that was well worth it for the sugary apple filling. After ensuring all damning evidence was meticulously cleared and cleaned ¡ª with verification by mirror ¡ª he turned his mental attention to Samantha¡¯s realm. Jeeves patched him into the Brain Trust. It was a kind of continuous shared mental communication space, almost permanently occupied by various Servitors such as Aramis, Pythia, Dick, Raphael, Uriel, Merlin, et cetera. Furthermore, many key strategic mortal leaders seemed to tap in very frequently, such as Orswyth, Zephyr, Carlisle, Lucky, Oliver, and Vitarion. They were all stupendous nerds (a wonderful word Samantha had brought to Calrenazzod). Crow mostly avoided it as an ¡®uncool¡¯ hangout. He was certainly no nerd. He had to set an example for Galynth to begin with, whose nerd levels were extreme and inhibiting. Crow had instructed him to mitigate his endless hanging out with the Brain Trust already, as they would just make it worse. A good template was Michael, who was no nerd but did come and go from the Brain Trust pragmatically. ¡°Greetings, nerds,¡± Crow offered into the shared space. Numerous too-enthusiastic hellos and welcomes popped back, including a bored, generic welcome from Pythia. She was perhaps the least nerdiest of the nerds. Aside from Lucky. She¡¯s not even awake, is she? Hmm. Okay, yes, she¡¯s not among the nerds. Last but certainly least, the most enthusiastic welcome was from a vibrant new feminine persona he immediately struggled to figure out. ¡°Welcome to the Brain Trust, Crow! I¡¯m new here, too! I¡¯m Ash. Very glad to have you aboard. You seem to be quite a mysterious and elusive figure so far.¡± Crow found himself squinting as he felt familiarity tingles taunting him from multiple angles at once. ¡°Are you certain we haven¡¯t met? I feel as if I know you. Is Ash short for something?¡± Even that was familiar, yet his memory struggled to grasp it. What the hell was it? Ash¡¯s mental words tumbled over one another. ¡°Likewise for me ¡ª No, just Ash! Not a real name at all ¡ª we must have past lives connections! Samantha seems to heighten those senses. Incredible!¡± Crow was frowning and wracking his brain still. ¡°Mmn. True. You need sleep.¡± ¡°Ye- uh, pardon?¡± ¡°Are you normally manic? You do not seem like someone such as Constance, who is always disposed to being manic. And your mental voice holds a note of anxiety and hysteria. Like one forcing themself to stay awake in fear of missing something.¡± ¡°I¡­ see. Perhaps I should get a little more.¡± Raphael suddenly cut in. ¡°I think Crow is right, Ash. Push it any further and you¡¯ll be asking for Doctor¡¯s Orders on the matter.¡± There was embarrassed silence from Ash at that rebuke for a long moment. ¡°Understood. I bow to the consensus and will heed this advice. Objectively, I can see I¡¯ve been overeager. I thought I¡¯d lost something like the Brain Trust forever, and, however different, it''s actually better. But before, we had the means to-... never mind.¡± Pythia chimed in, softer than usual. ¡°We will ensure you are briefed on everything you missed while asleep or away, Ash. Always.¡± ¡°Thank you. Crow, we should try and talk more in-depth sometime. When you can next find a moment.¡± Crow sent a mental nod to this. ¡°I agree. We shall.¡± If I don¡¯t jog this memory, it¡¯s going to kill me. It¡¯s like it¡¯s trapped behind a locked door, trying to beat it down from the other side. After Ash departed, Pythia continued, ¡°It seems you¡¯re already providing your unique insights here, Crow. I¡¯d appreciate you being here more often to help us with them.¡± ¡°Hmph. Well. If you insist it¡¯ll help. But it won¡¯t be like some of you that are here every time the leaves rustle.¡± There were numerous mild chuckles at that. Pythia diplomatically replied, ¡°We know you¡¯re busy and independently minded on your affairs. When you can, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Samantha mentioned there was something or other I¡¯d be interested in that is developing. Do you know what she refers to?¡± ¡°Connecting with Ash itself is one plus, being an insider into much of what you are hoping to counter. And I glean that connection to be strong indeed. There is also the matter of a declining deity with an afterlife on a forbidden island off the coast of Geirkos, protected by what was initially believed to be ghosts. It seems they are ancient Followers, with a small number kept sane by ¡®thinking in a runic language¡¯ as a preservation mechanism. Orswyth and I are deeply involved so far. Others no doubt will be.¡± Crow was somewhat taken aback. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve missed a lot in a short period of time. Perhaps you could share a more detailed summary of events?¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 35: The Backlines ¡°Come on, girly! Just a few hands. Maybe you¡¯ll win some back, eh?¡± Lucky took a sip of her morning beer in what was left of the morning. She smiled good-naturedly, still looking disheveled. But she always looked disheveled. Her and her stupid drinking games. Now she¡¯s useless through the whole morning. When will she grow up? Estara didn¡¯t know. She understood she was young and inexperienced compared to most, but had always felt she¡¯d had to be an adult to her younger sisters from an early age. Being the adult to those older than her was especially exasperating, though. They were holed up in the underground, super-fortified, and hidden base underneath Caneboro that had become known as ¡®The Bunker,¡¯ as coined by Dart. It had effectively become home to Estara, much as a soldier at a military base. So she imagined, anyway. The Farm was more like a mini-vacation comparatively. Estara glared cooly and unflinchingly firm at Lucky at her ridiculous and all-too-typical suggestion. ¡°I will not. Do you think I can¡¯t learn from my mistakes? I¡¯m not here risking your morning breath to be your mark again.¡± She tapped the reports. Five of them, and Lucky had only gotten through one. Why did she even try? ¡°Please just review them, Lucky.¡± Lucky leaned on the table and waggled her eyebrows. ¡°One report per hand.¡± Estara sighed and sagged back in her chair. ¡°You¡¯re hopeless. If you aren¡¯t going to be serious, I¡¯m going to get on with my day. There are important things to do! Some of which integrate with matters in those reports. Do you really want me to handle things involving your organization without your input?¡± Lucky thought about it for half a second and then shrugged with a dumb smile. ¡°Sure! Why not? Leadership cross-training! Sink or swim, I always say.¡± Estara stared at her incredulously. The door to the room burst open, a breathless rogue poking in. ¡°I came as fast as I could! A situation. There¡¯s some idiot giant foreigner trying to get himself killed asking around inns, first for ¡®Little Sister¡¯ and people thought he was a loon¡­ but then when he got nothing and bartered for info, he started asking for¡­ Madam Witching.¡± Lucky shot up onto her feet. ¡°That¡¯s Estara!¡± Simultaneously Estara shot up onto her feet. ¡°That¡¯s Samantha!¡± They exchanged glances. Technically, they were both right. It was just a name, possibly ¡ª ironically ¡ª Dominion-born, associated with some ¡®mysterious witch mistress¡¯ that was clearly helping Lucky¡¯s forces. In some circles, it deepened hatred for them, while in most of those they could influence to begin with, it had been more of a benefit. Caneboroans liked the idea of an ¡®edge¡¯ against the Dominion. So long as it seemed like ¡®one of theirs¡¯ was still in control. Lucky had gone through extensive efforts to ensure that, though. She was far too famous to be smeared in her city. ¡°Right,¡± the rogue said uncertainly. ¡°Which is why I came!¡± ¡°Could it be a trap?¡± Estara asked anxiously. Lucky was wincing and holding her head, a bit woozy. She had a hangover and had stood up too fast. But she shook it ¡ª slightly. ¡°Too obvious, too dumb, and too weird. A foreigner? From where?¡± The rogue shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t know yet. I came as soon as I heard!¡± Lucky frowned at him. ¡°Stop saying that so loud. You¡¯ll get your damn bonus, ya patchy scrote. A fat one. Good work, now slurry up a crew pronto and go back after him before he gets jumped by the Wizzies!¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± The rogue dashed off immediately. ¡°I¡¯m going, too,¡± Estara said with what she hoped was confident insistence. ¡°This could be important and they may need my support.¡± Lucky scowled at her, but quickly waved her hand. ¡°Fine! Go on, then. Not like I¡¯m your bloody keeper, now is it?¡± Estara fought off a smile. ¡°Things are certainly going to be different without Dax around. She¡¯d argue until we were both blue in the face about something like this.¡± I miss her already, though. Lucky scoffed loudly, muttering something under her breath and sitting back down to rub her forehead. ¡°Yeah, well, you¡¯ve got to make your own way in this world, Country Girl. But¡­ be sure to bring Dart. S¡¯only reasonable.¡± Estara really did smile then, though Lucky was avoiding eye contact. She wiped it off her face and said measuredly, ¡°Of course. As a designated VIP Frou Frou, I should keep a bodyguard in public. I haven¡¯t forgotten. Anyway, see you soon!¡± Lucky just waved dismissively without looking at her, and Estara left. She cares a lot, though she tries not to. She¡¯s had so many friends die when she lived on. We revived a war that she¡¯d been fighting cold or hot her entire life. The common room was abuzz as the rogue ¡ª Garfanks she believed his name was ¡ª hurriedly spilled the beans on the mission and the crew he needed. Others shouted their ¡®opinions¡¯ on what was needed, too. A core of bruisers was a given, and meanwhile, runners that would take horses headed out immediately for likely spots, with instructions to meet back at ¡®Triple Alley.¡¯ More quietly, Estara listened and also pinged Jeeves to listen in through a mirror, offering her summary in addition and asking for mirror monitoring and possibly Resemblant scouting. There were two free in the city, so they sent one to the pub where the giant was purported to have been last and the other overhead to patrol the zone more generally for signs of anything interesting. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Dart was in mini-dragon form sitting on his customary plush purple pillow in a cabinet corner. His head was up, listening carefully, perhaps wondering if he was slated to get involved. When he noticed Estara, he flew over immediately, landing to perch on a chair back and look at her eagerly. His necklace jingled, prominent with its gaudy, diamond-encrusted central monogram boldly proclaiming, ¡®Number 1 Canedragon.¡¯ A ¡®chip-in¡¯ kind of gift from everyone, he was never without it. ¡°There¡¯s my Peachy Princess Priestess Phenom! Are we going?! Huh, huh?! I can tell! We¡¯re going, aren¡¯t we!? Huh, huh?!¡± His dragon tail wagged. Estara laughed and rolled her eyes at the same time. ¡°Yes, we are, Dart.¡± ¡°Haha!¡± He grinned devilishly and thrust one little scaly fist into a palm. ¡°It¡¯s skull-smashing time!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so eager for that,¡± Estara admonished him. ¡°We want to avoid conflict this time around. Hypothetically, this is a routine extraction.¡± ¡°Well, listen to you!¡± He put his hands on his hips and swayed sassily as he poorly mimed her voice. ¡° ¡®Just a routine extraction, you crude peasant. Have some culture and listen to the girlboss. Hmmph!¡¯ ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t sound like that and I didn¡¯t say that! Knock it off, Dart!¡± Dart dropped the routine, still wearing his usual mischievous grin. ¡°More vulnerable without your Thicc Shadow around, aren¡¯t ya? What will you do without her?¡± ¡°Struggle, I imagine ¡ª and don¡¯t call her that, you great lout. I know what emphasis you¡¯re using there.¡± ¡°Aw, I don¡¯t mean anything by it, you know that. Thought it was really great the few times I snuck into her lap while she was dozing on furniture. She¡¯s got a little extra insulation, you know? Especially after fattening up on all the milk and honey of success here. That extra fat warmth sure is cozy.¡± This made Estara¡¯s cheeks hot in second-hand embarrassment for her friend. Dax would not want such a thing pointed out, much less utilized so. ¡°You¡¯re horrible, Dart. Absolutely awful.¡± ¡°I know.¡± He guffawed suddenly. ¡°I just remembered the first time she caught me! She screamed in terror, and then she was super pissed at me! Hahaha! I hid under the couch! If only you heard her! ¡®I¡¯ll murder ya, c¡¯mere you little shit!¡¯ Hahahaha!¡± Estara shook her head at the scaly immature horror, entirely unamused. ¡°We should revoke your ¡®Number 1¡¯ status at this point.¡± Dart suddenly cut off in his humor as he grabbed his precious monogram possessively. ¡°Nuh-uh!¡± He got a touch sullen. ¡°I¡¯ll always be the Number 1 Canedragon.¡± Exasperated yet again, Estara just rolled her eyes. ¡°Whatever.¡± I need to get him to behave better. Otherwise, when Crow finally returns, he¡¯s going to find a way to dump him into that abyss he mentioned. She had time, though, much as she¡¯d rather not. Crow was still in that strange underground realm and would be for a long while. They headed out in a small pack, up a couple of ramps, and through a guarded tunnel to get to their target safehouse where horses would be waiting. The men were all too happy to see her coming along in support, knowing her buffs, healing, and general backline safeguarding would be powerful if push came to shove. Meanwhile, her illusions could prove instrumental in avoiding the shove altogether. Estara had long accepted her role away from the frontlines. It was logical, efficient, expected, and the few times she¡¯d taken minor hits for one reason or another, she¡¯d seen how the men overreacted and was inclined to avoid the tactical collapse that could result. In the back of her head, she did remember that in case she needed a way to rally them, though. A guilty thought, but pragmatic. If they thought she was in jeopardy they would swim through acid to save her. It was both key to avoid in reality and useful to sway failing morale if done purposefully. She would account for every strategy that could save lives. Always ¡ª no matter how uncomfortable. It was no different than Mother would do or had done already. She brutally killed Dreixia, and masquerades as someone with one foot in the Evil Pool, all for a greater good. It¡¯s a simple measure, ultimately: save the majority. Everyone if you can, but it isn¡¯t always feasible. We have to be ready to make sacrifices. All within this Order are men and women prepared and willing. All know what can come. Samantha¡¯s absence was well felt, a certain kind of ¡®hollow¡¯ feeling in her head. A throne seat within it was empty, basically, whereas before she could simply reach inward and grab the hem of her dress on command, knowing her mother would turn her gaze upon her daughter instantly when called. It was a missing comfort more than anything. On the other hand, power through her was not missing at all. Her prayers could also be overseen by her Servitors in her absence. Samantha had even given her and Orswyth a ¡®six draw¡¯ on a powerful Tarot buff, though on average half of them would be negative reverse results. Emergency use, essentially, but the potential was high. Historically, the ¡®Present¡¯ buffs were game changers. It was big to Estara just that she¡¯d been trusted with it. Strangely, she was even honored by the marginal risk she¡¯d been warned about. The six pull could be all negative, however astronomically unlikely that was. It was a deeper trust and acknowledgment of her importance that she¡¯d risk her daughter to have it ¡ª as in, her role and need to have those reins above others trumped even the personal love she had. It was a blow to self-doubt about her worthiness to have the lofty position of High Priestess. Though I¡¯m not the card. Right? I don¡¯t fully understand what it means, but I know the others like Orswyth and Bast are Higher in unfathomable ways. We can¡¯t allow ourselves to be deceived into believing otherwise. In fact, even they may need the reminder. In the greater war, they are the front-line spearhead. Our job is to deal with the flanks. While moving through the last of the tunnel with the others, Estara conjured up her initial disguise. Just another average traveler in the great chaotic mass of Caneboro. The Dominion might think the city was the focus of the revolution. Things would only get worse, if so. They¡¯d weather the storm. We will protect our flank, Mother. No matter what comes.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 36: Someone Needs to Get a Grip Dax woke up late, hung over, disappointed in herself, and she thanked Creation she still had a Morning Pep potion to clear it all up, disgusting as it was to drink. The last thing she wanted was to be dragging around in front of Sir Dimples. If, of course, she bumped into him. A bubble of anxiety hit her as she thought about the blonde stud muffin, Canmore. Was he actually¡­ could he be¡­? Nah! You¡¯re out of your damn mind, you bumbling, dumpy old hag! That smokeshow is out of my league. He just sees me as a drinking pal. We¡¯re hitting it off on that front. Psh. Well, good enough. Perhaps a tumble like this will happen one day¡­ wait. What? ¡®Tumble like this.¡¯ She blinked a dozen times as her foggy memory, chatter-banter-bullshit from the night before, her somewhat unusual nakedness, and her dreams mixed around. Heart beating faster, she looked at her bed again, looked around at her all-too-new and too-clean quarters, seeking signs of recent company. She barked a hysterical laugh at herself. ¡°No! You moron. No. Of course not!¡± Amusement became a groan and a wince, and she downed the rest of her potion. She had dreamed about having sex with Canmore. Pathetic. Even more pathetic, she subconsciously tried to mine it back for details. Deliberately ending that desperate nonsense, she began checking her actual memory carefully, playing back through conversations ¡ª she scanned it diligently for some stupid drunken pass or obvious tell, but she was impressed with herself. There was nothing she could remember, at least. Victory one way or another! Let¡¯s just try and pretend not to see awkwardness on his part if I¡¯m wrong. No more drinking that heavy, either. Yeesh. What got into me? I could get in big trouble in the Order. I should set an example. Unlike that fuck-up, Lucky. I¡¯m not a Lucky! There was a knock at the door that made her jump and cover herself with a blanket, eyes wide. A very feminine voice ¡ª which was logical! ¡ª called, ¡°Dame Dee? I¡¯m Ellis, a servant sent on behalf of the Matron of Quarters. I have a message?¡± ¡°Coming!¡± Dax wrapped the blanket over herself and padded over to the door to unlock and crack it, revealing a very well-together, middle-aged servant woman. ¡°Yeah? Who and what?¡± ¡°From Lord Bast, madam. He requests an audience, the location and timing of your choosing, at your nearest available opportunity.¡± Dax blinked, accustomed to such formality. High class for what looks like ruins on the outside. ¡°Well, not here and now, that¡¯s for sure. I just need to get dressed, I guess¡­ Why didn¡¯t he just- eh. Nevermind.¡± The servant lady smiled politely and bowed her head. ¡°I can wait here and take you to him whenever you¡¯re ready, if you like. Or if you need help, I can assist as well.¡± ¡°What, getting my pants on? I think I can handle it, but thanks.¡± The servant only bowed again. ¡°Shall I wait, then?¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll be right out. Canmore won¡¯t be there, right?¡± She regretted it right after it came out of her mouth. Servants talk, you shitbrain! The woman shook her head. ¡°No, Madam. Not that I¡¯m aware. I believe he¡¯s in the city today.¡± ¡°Alright. Not a big deal, either way. No biggie! I just, uhhh¡­ had something I¡¯d bring, otherwise. That¡¯s all. Just a thing. No need now, though.¡± Hey, that was a pretty smooth lie, if I do say so myself. Nice. The servant smiled politely again and bowed. ¡°Of course, madam. If you ever need any assistance, you have only to ask, and discretion is our policy. A necessity. We are all believers here and follow the same code, however differently it may reflect.¡± Dax nodded as she looked down. Maybe it was worth taking seriously, but she wasn¡¯t sure. It wasn¡¯t like some stranger knew what was going on, though. That was impossible. ¡°Just one minute, miss. Hold tight.¡± She¡¯d physically met most of the important figures in Geirkos, but Bast was the one key soul she had not, as he¡¯d been away north with Vitarion assisting some new community integration after the Traesh exodus. She did have the misfortune to meet Bast¡¯s inappropriate girlfriend, Constance ¡ª Dax had the honor of being the ¡®rare soul¡¯ to offend her when she characterized the Servitor as ¡®the female Dart.¡¯ A bridge too far, apparently. Good. The dislike was mutual! I have less and less tolerance for comical nonsense. Must be getting old. But really, I¡¯ve never done comical. ¡°Come on, you stupid ass boot!¡± She had no time for full laces-down, laces-up, and the boot refused to cooperate, so she hopped around, almost fell, and finally stomped her foot down hard several times to force it around her foot. ¡°Hey!¡± Came a muted protest through the ceiling ¡ª and the sound of a broom handle or the like being thrust up into it in response. ¡°Knock it off!¡± ¡°Huh? What was that?! Knock louder, you say?¡± She slammed her boot down pointedly even harder, which elicited foul, creative curses in response. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. In addition to making a new friend, her boot was finally on. Fortunately, her other foot hadn¡¯t gotten as fat or something, because it went in as smooth as butter. She finished dressing the rest of the way ¡ª and being disgusted by her general appearance in a mirror ¡ª then headed out to meet the servant. She used a simple tie-back for her hopeless mop of hair along the way to wherever the lady took her, and finally placed her singed ¡ª but still very functional ¡ª old swashbuckler hat over the top. The room she was taken to was some sort of dining-only variety, or perhaps one for meetings, as it had a huge prominent rectangular table and little else other than storage and supporting tables. Half a dozen bottles of various liquids stood on one. Long-keeping alcohols, she imagined, at least one or two almost certainly Southlander rum. Bast was there, pouring two glasses at that very moment. His attire was just as she expected ¡ª the clean elegance of not-too-high, not-too-low traveling nobility, with an embroidered red and yellow coat over blue breeches with high-laced boots. ¡°Dame Daxerris. Welcome. Hair of the dog that bit you?¡± he asked just before pouring into the second glass, eyebrows raised with a charming, devilish smile painting his face. She¡¯d seen that enough already in the dream realm encounter, where he flirted with every pooch-chested soul with a pulse. She¡¯d certainly caught his eyes inspecting her own ¡®assets.¡¯ Lady¡¯s Man top to bottom. Won¡¯t catch me swooning for it, though. While she wasn¡¯t blind to the fact the man was as handsome as handsome got, she also wasn¡¯t actually attracted to him. To the question, she stopped, grimaced, and shrugged. ¡°One sip. For custom more than anything. And be careful with throwing that name around. Dee is fine.¡± The servant bowed her way out and closed the door behind her as they sat down at the table. Dax took a sip of the rum and regretted she promised only one, though he¡¯d been a little generous, at least. The rum was even more amazing than she remembered from her last sample. It had to be a pricey one. With some effort, she pushed the glass away as she regarded Bast, who was sipping and returning her gaze with some amusement. Clearing her throat, Dax said, ¡°Well, here we are. Nice to meet you in the flesh. Was there anything in particular you wanted?¡± Bast held the liquid in his mouth as he gave a subtle shrug. After finally swallowing, he replied, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll agree it''s important to meet important people in the flesh. How aware are you of the lay of the¡­ card plays¡­ and such?¡± Dax blinked. ¡°What?¡± It took her a moment to figure it out. ¡°Oh. Right. That whole ¡®destined beyond time¡¯ thing. The big, bad plot to win the world. We¡¯re all cards of the tarot or some such silliness. Eh. Let¡¯s say I¡¯m not too sure what to make of it yet.¡± Bast raised an eyebrow, apparently incredulous. ¡°Silliness?¡± ¡°Not sure if you realized this, but I¡¯m not exactly the purest true believer among this flock. The Order means a hell of a lot to me and all of this changed my life for the better ¡ª and I care a great deal about Samantha ¡ª but I joined up for practical reasons. You¡¯ll never catch me forgetting that this is all kind of contractual, you know? Anyway, I don¡¯t mean to offend. I don¡¯t get the tarot business. What I¡¯ve heard, I get glossy-eyed about. I¡¯ve been too busy keeping my friends in their skins to worry over it. I figure the Big Boss Lady has it under control, eh?¡± Bast took that in soberly. ¡°I did wonder when I heard you switched over to the Pantheon. At the moment, it''s rather heavy on the Redberry, Southlander nature types. You don¡¯t particularly fit that bill, mm?¡± ¡°Aye, well, that¡¯s not such a stretch. I roughed it a large portion of my life as a mercenary. I prefer coming and going to cities, not entrenched in them indefinitely like the last month of my life. But I do grant you I have only a little in common with those taking part so far. Let me put it to you this way: I want to fill a gap down here that is obviously not filling very quickly. I believe the Pantheon structure will help.¡± ¡°A knightly order, yes?¡± ¡°Or a temple guard, if you like. Honorable and loyal sorts, but focused on these overarching principles Samantha emblazoned even higher than her. Which I respect her for forever, as it shows humility she didn¡¯t really need to. Well. They look to me like the perfect thing to emblazon in a warrior¡¯s heart and on their shield. I happen to think you can secure three or four times as many that way ¡ª those that would otherwise pass. People can be wrong ten times more than an ideal. If everyone involved agrees the ideal is sound, you never blame the ideal at all, just those who failed it. In that way, it could persist and live on forever.¡± Bast began wearing a little smile as he listened. ¡°A noble goal from a noble soul. You¡¯re truly a knight, Dame Dee! Even if I disagree. I feel Samantha herself represents Heaven already. A higher ideal of [Progress]. She serves an ideal just as we do. A mutual, distant goal.¡± The way he said ¡®Progress¡¯ made Dax uncomfortable. She nonetheless nodded even as she shifted uncomfortably. ¡°A perfectly reasonable core outlook, Bast. I just want an offshoot, an arm jutting from the main body, ya know? The body won¡¯t ever have it unless we grow it. I think we¡¯ll be stronger with it, and I¡¯d support others, too. All the better for a little more grip!¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Bast took a sip of his rum and was very likely considering her words with great interest ¡ª by the look of his eyes and the tone of his voice. ¡°I do like getting a good grip. Speaking of which-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even try it, Bast. It¡¯s not happening.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± He sipped his drink and smirked at her shamelessly. ¡°I see my reputation precedes me.¡± Despite herself, she burst out a laugh. ¡°Pft! I¡¯d say I¡¯m honored, but your reputation does precede you.¡± ¡°Touch¨¦ again. I take solace in past lives and pray for the revelation of a vision.¡± ¡°Past lives? What, that in one, you¡¯ve bedded me?¡± His smile was all the answer she needed, and she rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 37: Puppetry Dax wasn¡¯t really sure Bast¡¯s assumptions were true, but she got the sudden sense their souls knew one another. His pass at her felt like something written in stone. It certainly wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d rebuffed him. Eerie. Caneboro had some things going for it. No one like this guy around, especially with Merril gone ¡ª Crow. Someone barely my brother anymore. Orswyth felt even weirder in the flesh. Geirkos is full of ancient ghosts it seems. But¡­ there¡¯s Canmore. Canny. Ha. Yeah. He told me I could call him Canny. ¡°Got a broken heart left in Caneboro, then, Dame?¡± Bast asked curiously. ¡°What?¡± She felt a bit ¡®caught¡¯ because she had been thinking about the stud muffin. ¡°Oh! No! No, of course not.¡± Bast squinted his eyes. ¡° ¡®Of course not?¡¯ What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Nothing! I misspoke. The answer is simply: nope. No time, that¡¯s all.¡± Bast pursed his lips briefly. ¡°Right. Because¡­ you do know that you¡¯re a brilliant catch, right? A naturally gorgeous, rare gem of a redhead? A ruby.¡± Dax felt her cheeks start to burn. ¡°You can shut the fuck up now, Bast.¡± The words were not playful at all. Bast immediately held up his hands in defensive surrender, acknowledging the obvious danger zone he¡¯d dove into. ¡°Apologies. I know it¡¯s out of line, but I thought you should know. I¡¯d guess you haven¡¯t been told due to your¡­ intimidating presence. Like that glare right this second. Phew.¡± Dax was indeed glaring actual murder like only she could when pissed. Ruby? What the fuck is he on about? Toothless flattery. Probably still taking long shots at a quick lay. ¡°Whatever. Just drop it. Now.¡± Without replying or meeting her eyes, Bast winced and began nodding his head back and forth slowly. His words still messing with her, she reached over and grabbed the glass of rum to down it. The door suddenly opened behind her as someone burst in. Instantly, they could be heard to stop dead. ¡°Oh. Sorry- I just, uh¡­¡± Dax turned to see a pale young woman in a half-robe, half-dress style of attire that immediately pegged her as a wizardly sort. Or a ¡®nerd¡¯ as Merril ¡ª Crow ¡ª would say. She had a gloomy look about her, with midnight hair, black eyeliner, and a face that somehow suited both, as if a shadow were cast over it. ¡°Ah, you must be Ash!¡± Bast called, and in a relieved way as if salvation had arrived. He rose and cast his arms out as if he was going to receive a hug. ¡°A true pleasure to finally behold and meet you.¡± Ash, huh? The girl did an awkward yet earnest curtsy with her dress, as if unaccustomed to such things but determined to try. ¡°Likewise, Lord Bast,¡± she answered with surprising smoothness for her age and demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry to intrude, though. I admit I cheated a bit to track you down without asking anyone. I was just- well, never mind.¡± Just as her eyes turned to Dax, Dax smiled politely and offered, ¡°I can see why you¡¯re called Ash, I suppose. Nicely done on those eyes. I¡¯m¡­¡± She trailed off because the girl¡¯s eyes had gone wide staring back at her. ¡°Uh, are you okay?¡± Ash stared unblinking like she was looking at a ghost she didn¡¯t believe was really there. ¡°Dax,¡± she muttered breathlessly, almost strangled-sounding. ¡°But you¡¯re¡­ dead.¡± Dax flashed a winning grin. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s the confusion! Well, rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated. Haha! Our ruse sure worked well if it even got some of our own. New, I take it?¡± Ash did not react at first, continuing to stare. Awareness finally fluttered over her eyes, and she nodded slightly. She tore her eyes away, swallowed once, and mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I-I have to- I have something-... yes.¡± Her eyes flashed over both of them without really looking, she curtsied stiffly, then turned and rushed back out the door, leaving it swinging open. Dax looked over at Bast in confusion, who was also squinting his eyes in puzzlement. He met her eyes and gave an eyebrow-raising expression that said, ¡®I have no clue, either.¡¯ He¡¯s actually way more curious than I am. Let him figure it out. Sighing, Dax shrugged the oddity off and stood, straightening her clothes and giving Bast a once over. ¡°Hey. Water under the bridge, Dandyman. Okay? Just keep that kind of shit to yourself and we¡¯re good as gravy. I might need a good tumble, but that¡¯s my business and you¡¯re not my type.¡± ¡°Duly noted, Dame Firebrand. I leave yours to you.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Okay. Alright. That nickname I can handle.¡± They nodded in understanding to one another and Dax exited out of the convenient open door. Odd bedfellows with a bunch of weirdos again. What a surprise. I don¡¯t care, though. I just want to purge this fucking itch in my back. Coursing through my bloody veins! I¡¯m not going anywhere, but I have to do something that¡¯s mine. I¡¯m going to explode if I don¡¯t scratch this somehow. I can¡¯t shut it up, now that I¡¯m back in the saddle. The word emphasis was strange and too intense in her head. It worried her that she was going a bit mad. But that was probably to be expected in a crazy ass world full of madcaps, many of whom she was in bed with. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Clowns to the left of me and jokers to the right! Here I am, stuck in the middle with-¡­ Someone, she was sure. But she had no answer yet for who, and it made her feel like she was losing her mind ¡ª like she was just another fool. Ruby, my ass. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Ash rushed away from the room, destabilized like nothing before by suddenly being confronted with the raw, present existence of her big sister. She didn¡¯t even think about where she was going. She just ran. Her big sister. Still alive. Not dead. Her thoughts rolled in redundancy on this fact because reality was hard to believe. A death she¡¯d not even cried over, the programming in her head ¡®at the time¡¯ instructing her to consider it as deserved for a worthless rebel, just as her little (yet technically older) brother deserved. At least she could say she struggled with some sadness over it. Regret for the waste. Both of them had potential. She always knew that. But she¡¯d abandoned them to their own fates to pursue her career. Objectively, she understood her reasoning then. The visions, and the need not only to avoid them being caught up in it, but the general requirement to detach oneself in order to even be one of the Sages. She plopped in the dirt far outside the building, off and away in the general barrenness of the plantation ruins. She¡¯d come to the spot before as a quick isolated locale, its sense of destruction somehow comforting. A rich, dead history. That was her preference ¡ª something that didn¡¯t change, that was entirely under her control, ready for study and perusal at leisure. Her life had been anything but. Right then, it felt like it was dispersed into particulates. Fractured, with the pieces drifting further away. She felt fake. An unreal husk of an imposter puppeted from somewhere beyond. It was someone else¡¯s life and she¡¯d left herself ¡ª her true self ¡ª somewhere else. Her hands dug into the dirt and gripped so hard they hurt and shook. Tears welled in her eyes. She hated them. She didn¡¯t understand them. They shouldn¡¯t really be. They were stupid. Like the scream she wanted to make and couldn¡¯t. As ridiculous as how she wanted to care and¡­ Didn¡¯t. Before. Right? Do I care? Maybe I can¡¯t. Maybe I¡¯m faking it. Maybe it¡¯s too late. She was probably better off with them. The Sages. A tool ever carving with precision as instructed. All was clear under their order. Ambiguity was laid bare. Doubt could be given over to be slain. Congratulations were in order when one confessed because accepting correction was a step toward perfection. But the visions returned. My curse. One that made me nothing more than a coward running from it. What I ¡®had¡¯ to do. Expediency. What led me to serve the very people I thought caused the death of my own family. The last I know of my own flesh and blood! And I accepted it. I kept serving them without a thought. If I had accepted my fate¡­ I could¡¯ve been consistent. Instead of a worthless hypocrite. Some part of her wished Samantha was available because she needed her. Who else could she confess to? But another part said she deserved to be without. Just a small, small part of the suffering she was due. If Dax knew, she¡¯d demand it. Perhaps that¡¯s the answer. She could beat me bloody for my betrayal. Cast me out herself. And Merril¡­ wait. Where is Merril? Anxiety was a sudden punch that made her sit up and drop the dirt balled up in her aching hands. She couldn¡¯t help herself. She had to know. Had to. She collected herself and contacted Jeeves immediately. ¡°Jeeves. Good day to you. I¡¯d like to inquire about something. Are you by chance familiar with the one-time fugitive, Merril, brother to Daxerris? Does he still live, like Daxerris herself?¡± Jeeves was immediately not fooled by her act. Concern filtered through. ¡°You seem distressed, Ash. Do you need assistance? I can send someone to you. Name them, or I can pick. Perhaps a Servitor, if you prefer.¡± Ash fought off both her annoyance and her sudden weakness, in desire for just what was suggested. But it remained true that she was close to no one. ¡°No thank you, Jeeves. I¡¯m fine. However, it would satiate my curiosity to receive an answer to my existing question.¡± The butler almost sighed. ¡°Merril lives, just as his sister does. He is an instrumental part of our organization. In fact, you might say he bears resemblance to a figure on the Death card ¡ª if you take my meaning? And you¡¯ve met him, if briefly and mentally. He is now known as Crow.¡± Ash felt bonked over the head by the idiot hammer for the second time. She was shocked and incredulous. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I did meet him, and he''s not-... he¡­¡± The feeling of a crooked eyebrow was heavy in the mental spaces. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Well! Uh. He just doesn¡¯t¡­ the description! I didn¡¯t see him, see him, but he, um, just didn¡¯t seem to fit my prior ¡ª admittedly out-of-date ¡ª understanding of his identity.¡± ¡°Right. Yes.¡± Jeeves was clearly suspicious of her, now. ¡°He had something of a supernatural transformation, Ash. The change was extensive in every fashion. Why is he of such interest to you? Did you investigate him and his sister in the past, or is there some other connection?¡± Ash almost blew this off along the same lines, and then she realized that she was already effectively lying to Jeeves. It made her feel guilty in a way she couldn¡¯t bear right then. She sighed inwardly, dropping her head in the real world, and committed within herself to tell the truth. ¡°Can you hold something in absolute confidence, Jeeves?¡± ¡°Is it something that Samantha should know?¡± She had to consider that for a long spell. ¡°I don¡¯t know, honestly. Nor do I know if I should keep the secret at all. I don¡¯t know anything, Jeeves. I¡¯m just¡­ lost.¡± This time, Jeeves really did sigh. ¡°We¡¯ll decide together, Ash. How¡¯s that? It¡¯s what we do.¡± Ash took a deep breath and nodded. Mostly to herself. ¡°Jeeves, I¡¯m their sister. The one that abandoned them to become a Sage. I thought they were dead, and¡­ I just kept doing what I was doing. I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m scum. You see? I¡¯m the sort of fucking scum that betrays her own family just to save her own ass!¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 38: Silly, Silly Lies Jeeves was unsurprisingly quiet as he took time to consider the absolute Bomb Drop of news delivered. Ash felt new tears fall as she confessed what she had done. She was practically panting and began to feel almost feverish. Like some self-preservation within her was balking. Somehow, despite how awful what she was saying made her feel about who she''d been, it was also a relief. There was no turning back, whatever the consequences. She¡¯d done it. And she¡¯d defied expediency¡­ for once in her life, she exposed herself for principle over advantage, or out of a feeling that she had no choice. She could¡¯ve lied and deceived, could¡¯ve buried it like the coward she always was. In relinquishing that grip, there was a certain, strange freedom. Finally, Jeeves replied gently, ¡°You aren¡¯t scum, Ash, and even if you are, you¡¯re our kind of scum. I appreciate you confiding in me honestly. You don¡¯t have to drop the news to others right this minute, but I think you¡¯ll be better off in the end to tell them. Soon.¡± Ash shook her head vehemently. ¡°I can¡¯t! They¡¯ll hate me. They¡¯ll probably kill me. I left them in the worst way possible. I didn¡¯t say goodbye. All so I could get the best pat on the head from my masters. Points scored for objectivity. Callousness.¡± ¡°Pish posh. Don¡¯t be ridiculous, now. Regardless of past crimes, Crow might not even react strongly, much less swear vengeance or such nonsense. I¡¯d suggest you start with him. Dax needs to settle in a little bit first. I understand she is volatile and unpredictable at the best of times, but don¡¯t underestimate that she might simply be overjoyed that you¡¯re alive and well.¡± Ash didn¡¯t have a reply to this. She blinked and blinked, and puzzled over it. Could that really be true for a traitor like her? Was she not seeing clearly due to being emotionally overwhelmed? That was quite likely when she considered it objectively. Being deprived of Central was like a mountain suddenly being back on her shoulders. Jeeves continued, ¡°Ash, no one in this Order can claim not to have made mistakes. Even huge, glaring ones. Dax and Crow are like you, having both made them and admitting it within themselves ¡ª and to others. Samantha herself is no different. I will certainly leave the process of your revelation to you, but you must tell your mother. Surely you can¡¯t think she¡¯d ever hate you.¡± ¡°I¡­ I suppose not.¡± Mother. It¡¯s so strange, these past lives. And more. An existence on some deeper, hidden canvas piercing through reality. Each entry of the needle another life, yet making something more behind it. Some consistency of our inner selves. I can appreciate that¡­ my outer self is corrupted and nothing to cherish. ¡°So we¡¯re agreed, then? With our chin up, hmm?¡± Ash took a deep breath and lifted her chin. ¡°Yes. I will tell Samantha. And then M-... Crow.¡± She allowed herself to be happy that he was alive. Amazed that he was so¡­ grown. Her brother, confident and self-possessed! She¡¯d felt magnetically drawn to him. At least she understood why, now, beyond the obvious fascinations. He even has a girlfriend! My sister in fate. I¡¯d call her a top-tier catch at that. You¡¯re doing so well, brother! I wish I could say I believed that you would. That I believed in you¡­ ¡°And did you get enough rest?¡± Jeeves asked, his tone turning it into an accusation. ¡°No,¡± Ash admitted apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not long after I fell asleep, a mystic alarm woke me, telling me Bast had returned. I rushed to go meet him.¡± ¡°Your ability to find ways of remaining perpetually busy is astonishing. But I trust you¡¯re going to rectify this failing of well-restedness momentarily? Or should I have Raphael check up on you?¡± ¡°No! I mean ¡ª ahem! ¡ª that won¡¯t be necessary, Jeeves. I¡¯m going.¡± Ash had no intention of testing a physician. She¡¯d learned the hard way on that front, in the Capital. In truth, she was more exhausted than ever. For once, she felt like she wanted to turn everything off and reset. ¡°Excellent,¡± Jeeves offered approvingly. ¡°Rest well, Ash. Remember to turn off any alarms or alerts. And know that whatever you think you deserve, in this fellowship, you are blessed and cursed with family. We care about you and will account for your well-being in all ways. Whatever happens, you won¡¯t be abandoned. We are here for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jeeves. Really. Thank you.¡± After disconnecting, Ash still felt a bit hollow as she remained knelt in the dirt. She turned her head to squint in the direction of the sun, which was just barely peeking over a ruined structure. The light burns terribly, but it purifies, doesn¡¯t it? Whatever corrupted substance of me I lose to that scouring truth¡­ I¡¯ll be whole when all is said and done. And¡­ I never needed it. I can¡­ I am¡­ more than it. I¡¯ll tell myself again and again. However long it takes to believe it. She rose shakily and took the long walk back to her waiting bed. Deliberately, she held her head high. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Gelmak Por was quickly very frustrated with the sweltering, muddy brick forest that was the human city of Caneboro. The humans crowded together as if on waterships, yet completely on the open land, in tiny little loud buildings for drink and fellowship. He was told this was where to acquire information. The drinks he was obliged to buy weren¡¯t bad, at least. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. He knew enough not to go asking around about ¡®Little Sister¡¯ any further, nor did he use the other, more useful names he¡¯d been told not to speak if he tried Caneboro out (because they were not used there). Madam Witching turned up blank looks and ¡®can¡¯t help you there¡¯ or similar. At least, he thought they were blank looks. Human faces were a jumbled-up puzzle. There was probably some pattern within, but the little shifts of the pieces meant nothing to him. Their ears didn¡¯t even move! And they never bothered to clarify their feelings voluntarily. He had to ask one time, ¡®Just how are you feeling right now, friend?¡¯ despite what an embarrassment it was. And what did he get? Nothing! ¡®Huh? Oh, I¡¯m doing fine¡­¡¯ No real answer, and possibly one of their silly lie-makings. Meanwhile, shaking how shady the person seemed was impossible. Perhaps change ¡®how¡¯ to ¡®what¡¯? Bah! It won¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve heard they love to be devious and lie all the time, and it seems proven to me, now. Right then, feeling completely miffed, he was just leaving another establishment he¡¯d been directed to, so small he had to duck the entire time within and worry over his illusion being given up by his horns scraping the ceiling. They had been the absolute worst humans he¡¯d ever met. Entirely uncooperative and evasive. Glaring without clarification. Then the barkeep and two others pointed crossbows at him and told him to leave and never return or they¡¯d shoot him. He complied immediately. I was polite! How did I offend them? At least they finally clarified. This place is just awful. Must I go to Geirkos? It will delay things dishonorably. And it¡¯ll be even hotter! He tried not to whine within himself, feeling shame, but the heat was already unbearable. With no real leads, he planned to wander until he could find someone to talk to and ask again. Perhaps the area would have friendlier sorts. It couldn¡¯t get any worse! As he crossed through a divide between buildings, suddenly three men were in front of him, all armed and armored. He figured them to be militia and waved, while making a human smile on his face, continuing to approach. ¡°Hail, guards! Perhaps you can help me?¡± The three men all looked at each other, the one in the front working his tongue around the inside of his cheek for some reason. So many things he wished he could ask about¡­ Gelmak¡¯s ears twitched, and he turned to see three more guards behind him, slowly approaching. Oh, dear. It seems like a tactical maneuver. They¡¯re not rogues, are they? They don¡¯t look like rogues. The man ahead smiled suddenly, showing many rotted teeth. He seemed to be in good spirits. ¡°Oh, sure, sure. What can we do for you¡­ sir?¡± Gelmak was relieved. For a minute there, he thought things were going to go very poorly. Perhaps he was just jumpy from his last encounter. ¡°I¡¯d be very grateful! I¡¯m looking for Madam Witching. Perhaps you can point me to where I could find her, or know someone who might instead?¡± The men chuckled, and all had some human expressions on their faces. The lead man scratched an itch at his jaw and nodded. ¡°Aye, we heard about it, actually. We know her well. We¡¯ve come to take you to her. How¡¯s that? A little escort for you, here. For safety. Right, boys?¡± Shouted agreements like ¡®Escort!¡¯ and ¡®Safety!¡¯ and even ¡®Go witches!¡¯ resounded from ahead and behind. It was a really good sign, to Gelmak. When humans shouted like that, they were happy. He knew that much. So he thrust his fist up enthusiastically. ¡°Yes! Escorts! Very thoughtful and courteous. I¡¯m glad you found me. Kindly lead on, then! I look forward to meeting her. It¡¯s important.¡± The lead man smiled and bowed, and then the three turned around to lead the procession. The men taking the rear followed closely behind Gelmak. ¡°So,¡± Gelmak asked conversationally as they walked down the street, ¡°you are followers and so forth?¡± ¡°You bet,¡± the lead man replied, nodding vehemently. ¡°Protectors, you know? That¡¯s what we are. We escort people aaaall the time. Can¡¯t be too careful in this city, my good friend.¡± ¡°I can imagine. Some hu- er, denizens are not as friendly as you, that¡¯s for sure. Do you know a lot, good friend? Do you carry authority? I am curious about many things.¡± ¡°Ahhhh, well, not as much as some, I suppose. There¡¯s leaders, right? And it¡¯s all kept hush-hush and underground, you see? Let¡¯s not talk here in detail, though. Not in public. You understand.¡± ¡°Oh. Oh, yes ¡ª sorry. I¡¯ll hold my questions, then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good lad.¡± ¡°May I ask your name, though? I am called Sailman.¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯m Dirtboy.¡± There was hearty laughter from the others. ¡°A real pleasure, sir.¡± One man wasn''t so amused, slapping his hand to his face and shaking it, but he otherwise remained quiet. Interestingly, he had an ornate tattoo on his hand, but Gelmak Por didn''t recognize the foreign symbology. It''s probably best not to point it out, though. He seems touchy already. Gelmak Por laughed with the rest. ¡°Ha! I believe that¡¯s ironic synchronicity! Isn¡¯t it? Well met, Dirtboy.¡± They walked a few blocks past multiple brick buildings and various other citizens, who upon seeing the group, promptly changed course to avoid crossing paths, or went back inside of buildings and closed doors. Another group of six men was waiting for them at one point and fell into escort formation with mild, irrelevant chatter. They certainly seemed to know each other. A few nodded brief, stiff greetings to Gelmak. At least they¡¯re polite. As they were crossing another street, the group came to a sudden stop as a cluster of people stepped out in front of them. And behind! Apparently, surrounding people was some sort of normal custom of Caneboro. Before Gelmak could call a greeting, though, the escort around him pulled out blades or pointed crossbows. He realized the other sides were the same in brandishing weapons and looking rather intent on menace ¡ª it took him a moment, but he recognized that a serious altercation was probably about to happen. Oh, dear. Dirtboy did warn about this, after all.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 39: Will Cooler Heads Prevail? ¡°Hand over your prisoner and we¡¯ll go our separate ways!¡± a man from the other group called, apparently their leader. Next to him, a rather large fellow in a strange black suit of attire and hat was showing his teeth rather menacingly, punching one fist into an open hand over and over, likely as some show of intimidation. Oddly, his eyes were vibrant green, crystalline, and faintly glowing. ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll be turned into street smears. You¡¯re outmatched here. Or do you not see whom you face?¡± Street smears! A creative taunt. On the other side of the group, there was a loud crackling of power. Gelmak Por ¡ª among others ¡ª turned to see a striking figure amid the other warriors. A woman, but floating a bit off the ground, and long, wild, white hair flowed upward as if in water. Her eyes were fierce and baleful with energy, and she wore a robe like caught fiery shadows. Gesturing with a wicked-looking staff, black and white lightning-like energy swirled and danced around it and her in general, pulsing as if ready to unleash. She cackled like she was getting ready to do just that. Among those near him, frightened mutters came from some of the men. ¡°Madam Witching!¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Gelmak called out, gazing in puzzlement at Dirtboy, who looked among those who were more defiant than their lesser brothers about the matter. ¡°Dirtboy¡­ is that Madam Witching? But not your mistress. Hmm. Are there¡­ two Madam Witchings?¡± Dirtboy blinked and looked over at him. ¡°What? Oh- y-yes! Yes, there are! Th-they¡¯re fierce rivals! Twin sisters! It¡¯s terrible ¡ª she¡¯s terrible!¡± He pointed at the obvious cackling witch. ¡°She¡¯s evil. The wicked one!¡± Gelmak Por shifted his gaze over, befuddled but curious. Well, that staff is quite wicked when it comes down to it. ¡°Hmm. Perhaps we should consider giving over this ¡®prisoner¡¯ then.¡± He looked around at the men he¡¯d been with, trying to find one that matched the description. He felt a bit foolish because he couldn¡¯t pick them out. I¡¯m terrible! Humans all look the same to me. I should be flogged. ¡°To avoid bloodshed.¡± His eyes flickered around desperately for some sign, but they all were brandishing weapons! Humans didn¡¯t seem likely to give prisoners weapons. Dirtboy was at a loss for how to respond to this, signaling a potential faux pas on Gelmak Por¡¯s part. Oh, no¡­ have I done it again? ¡°Hey!¡± the big black coat and hat guy called. ¡°I¡¯m listening to this and are you fucking serious, dude?! You can¡¯t be that dumb! You are the prisoner we¡¯re talking about.¡± Gelmak Por did a slow blink. ¡°Me? I am no prisoner. I came with them willingly to meet their Madam Witching¡­ twin. The good one. I think.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no fucking twin, you idiot! They¡¯re tricking you! They¡¯re lying through their fucked-up teeth!¡± Gelmak Por glanced at Dirtboy, who was shaking his head emphatically in disagreement as if his life depended on it. ¡°He denies it, clearly. Dirtboy here has been nothing but courteous to me. Which is more than I can say for you lot, who appear to have accosted us as rogues.¡± The big man looked furious. ¡°To save your ass, you- oof!¡± Someone cut the big man off by elbowing him hard in the gut. ¡°Damn you, Bob¡­¡± he groaned, a bit breathless. ¡®Bob¡¯ shrugged. ¡°Boss¡¯s orders, ya mouthy idjit.¡± Gelmak frowned. ¡°Perhaps this is a¡­ misunderstanding? I do have those often myself. Let¡¯s pivot to the ¡®separate ways¡¯ suggestion again. I would prefer to follow Dirtboy to meet the other witch first. And then after, I could meet your witch?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± came a voice from the other side. It was their Madam Witching, though she sounded younger than Gelmak Por would¡¯ve thought. She was glaring at Dirtboy. ¡°Just what kind of bullshit con are you pulling here?! You Wizzy scumbag! There aren¡¯t multiple fucking Madam Witchings!¡± She turned to Gelmak Por and cleared her throat. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry for the confusion. I sympathize with someone who¡¯s come from afar into a bewildering new world. But you really have been deceived by these agents of our enemy. You should come with us. Please.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her!¡± Dirtboy called loudly and desperately, shaking his head. He was licking his lips as if to find more words, eyes shifting between them all. Gelmak Por held his hands up defensively. ¡°I am¡­ at a loss. As never before. I need to¡­ think. Yes. Think slowly and carefully, here.¡± Can I maintain peace, somehow? I would not want to be the cause of a human incident. They fight each other enough as it is. I¡¯d feel terrible. Dirtboy finally found some words. ¡°She¡¯s a liar! That¡¯s all she does, my big friend. I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯ll witch ya with her¡­ her forked, enchanting tongue! That¡¯s what women like her do with their¡­ feminine wiles!¡± The glare from Madam Witching was murderous. ¡°Excuse me?! What do you mean, ¡®like me?¡¯ What is that supposed to mean?¡± Dirtboy grimaced, his face going red. He growled balefully and his hand flashed, a spinning dagger flying hard and fast for the witch ¡ª she flinched, but not in time for the unexpected blade and it took her in the chest¡­ or would have. It passed right through as if she wasn¡¯t there. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Oh. That¡¯s interesting. Illusion! I know this to be a sign of Little Sister. ¡®She Hides Her Light in the Bosom of Darkness.¡¯ Hmm. Perhaps it is her, after all? She was also said to have the spring of youth, and this one certainly does. Though he opened his mouth to comment, he suddenly became aware that all hell had just broken loose around him. Violence between the groups was exchanged in a whirlwind of ranged fire and charging bodies. Magic flared. Some was from the witch, but it was mixed in with the cries and screams of war. Gelmak Por ached to act and answer the call honorably, but he was too confused at the sides. It seemed likely there was too much offense committed between them, and they¡¯d have to resolve it in their own way. Furthermore, they were not attacking him. So he slid away to the side with his hands up. Though he felt bad about it, it was the lesser evil to making the wrong choice in a foreign land and culture. I suppose right by combat to dictate destiny is as honest as it gets ¡ª from a certain point of view. To the victor goes the spoils. Me, in this case. What a bizarre and uncomfortable scenario! How they¡¯d snort and carry on back home, to hear this story¡­ ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Estara, in religious discipline, kept a cool head as the likely inevitable altercation flared up on the streets of Caneboro. It was true that the Dominion thug ¡®Dirtboy¡¯ had gotten a little under her skin ¡ª enough to surprise her, at least. But his advantage had been wasted, and he should¡¯ve known better than to target something so obviously fanciful. But she supposed she gave the Wizzies exactly what they wanted; what they so desperately ached to destroy. He just couldn¡¯t help himself. Probably has mommy issues ¡ª not that I can¡¯t relate. The first thing she did was drop a Dispel Magic to try and soften up layers of protections she knew were stacked on her foes. Thugs though they were, the Dominion spared no expense on their expendable proxies. Expendable, but made to dish out casualties regardless. And that meant enchantments ¡ª enough to make common thugs into cocky champions. Natural bullies handed a big stick and the authority to swing it. We have a few more in numbers, and also Dart, Seraphiel, and the two Resemblants. Bob. Me. But one-on-one, most of our people would be outmatched. This could get ugly. At least the target of the whole ordeal, the confused ¡®prisoner,¡¯ appeared inclined to sit it out. He backed away with his hands up, his eyes darting around as bewildered as ever. That was all just fine with her. Not only was he quite big, but he was also under a powerful illusion and had a generally formidable, if restrained, demeanor. Like a giant who feared stepping on fragile figurines around him. Dart had briefly communicated that his scent was inhuman though unfamiliar. While she went through the casting of the dispel, REX buff auras blossomed around every Follower, varying slightly by roles, as controlled by Jeeves. It was one hair before the fighting erupted, nearly everyone already having been poised to strike. Fortunately, REX buffs were immune to vanilla Dispels and typical removal methods. Not a soul went down in the initial barrage and melee, as there were just too many protections on both sides. Her real position was not at all in harm¡¯s way, on the entire opposite side of where the ridiculous illusion of the witch was. Nonetheless, a stray crossbow bolt suddenly hit Estara in the leg and effectively bounced from her protection. Ugh! Bad luck. She noted that Dirtboy slung an enchanted blade that pulsed with force and knocked two men to the cobblestones. Bob was moving to engage him with his spear and shield. Dart meanwhile charged in with a scream, bowling through two men swinging his huge, hammer-like fist wildly, and absorbing attention from three more slashing and stabbing him. His ¡®Wiseguy¡¯ form, as he called it, could take a mountain of punishment. He took pride in being the most ¡®bloodied¡¯ after a battle. The times he wasn¡¯t, someone was dead. A woman who looked like any other common soldier slipped in, dodging a blade and ¡ª as though chopping a log in the backyard ¡ª cut one spear and then another in half, leaving her foes bewildered at what happened. Seraphiel. A swordsmith veteran angel of dozens of battles all over the world by then, she was just as desirable as Michael, Gabriel, or Athos in a fight. When you wanted lethality, she might top them all. Estara was not so pleased to notice two ¡®thugs¡¯ spellcasting. That was something the Dominion had wisened up on recently ¡ª not pridefully labeling their wizardly agents for convenient preemptive neutralization. Now they were nearly impossible to tell apart until the first exchange unless one could observe for a long period for their particular behaviors. One was doing what she was doing ¡ª conjuring a Dispel. The other was dropping something offensive. Great. We¡¯re behind and we¡¯ll likely lose more wound negations. We¡¯ll have to focus on them now. Hopefully, the Dispel gets some good stuff. Even as her spell was dropping and flaring, Estara was pointing out the spellcasters to Jeeves, and thus distributing information instantly to the group, as her identification of the priority targets ¡®Big Nose¡¯ and ¡®Sleepy.¡¯ The group got the command as a whole to ¡®stall¡¯ while their killers such as Bob and Seraphiel were instructed to shift attention to deal with the new priorities. Dispels dropped on both sides, to her judicious senses removing many layers of protection all around. Only Big Nose and Dirtboy appeared mostly unaffected, showing they had higher-level enchantments. The second spell dropped in perfect timing right after, from Big Nose. Something black and foul burst and flared from his hand making a fist, signaling a spell component being expended. Auras of black fire erupted around Estara and every other on her side, while white fire blossomed around each of the thugs. Estara felt a wicked cold suffuse her, but a wound negation cleared and blocked what would be further pain and damage. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t the end of it. The scouring aura didn¡¯t go away. Poop on a pastry pie, it¡¯s a damage aura! It¡¯s persistent.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 40: Choices, Choices A damage aura was something Estara feared dealing with. It put her in the precarious position of having no ¡®safe¡¯ option, as only being way over-leveled was going to give a caster the means to maintain AoE defense. Wound negations were almost always single-target, and why offensive spellcasters were a terror. Unless, of course, you had expendable subjects. Healing could be turned into AoE, but much less effectively. Their white auras weren¡¯t even defensive, she could tell. They were made to overpower what was already weakened by the curse distributed. The truth of what was in front of her was that she was almost invariably going to need to go on the offensive ¡ª unless she dared to hope for a dispel of the aura. For that, she¡¯d need some kind of boost, though. It was all serious enough that she grabbed her mother¡¯s ¡®six pull¡¯ of Fate tarot buffs and drew it, hoping for a card to guide her strategy. She got an even split, three cards upright, three reversed. She¡¯d be the subject, so she focused on the three buffs as a choice ¡ª Three of Cups, Six of Swords, and The Hierophant.
Celebration of Cups All allies cheer. Any persistent morale-based deleterious effects (such as fear) are banished from your allies up to one kilometer from you, and you count as having Charisma 3 toward them. They are similarly immune for the duration of the buff and have a +2 Effective Levels (Tarot) bonus to acts related to following your commands or requests. This lasts one hour.
Retreat From the Storm You retreat into your inner mind for a period of revelationary meditation, receiving a vision. When you return, you are possibly where you were, possibly elsewhere (depending on desires). All non-permanent buffs, debuffs, injuries, and the like are cleared, and you have +2 Effective Levels (Tarot) to a particular goal or purpose highlighted by your vision. This lasts until it is complete or three days pass, whichever comes first.
All Heretics Shall Conform All must bow to your manifested will as if to tradition itself. You have +6 Effective Levels (Tarot) to any will-based or social contest. Your worst result is a tie (regardless if this is a normal result). This lasts one hour.
It technically wasn¡¯t easy between two of them, though Retreat From the Storm was probably out in her current situation. Celebration of Cups would give a huge, continuous edge to everyone, which she could stack with some other group buff. But All Heretics Shall Conform was breathtakingly scary. Whatever spells she could scrounge up to take advantage would be entirely unstoppable. Buffing everyone was usually her move¡­ I¡¯m not sure how to stop the aura. ELs might not be enough. I need offense! She selected The Hierophant. A strange, androgynous voice somewhat like the System rang through her head. ¡°The Hierophant Major Arcana, upright. You are the voice of belief that decides convention. You may re-write it if you take up the proper pen of this authority, and none may overrule you, though the physical realm is often blasphemous.¡± The effect coming over her was striking, as her mind was possessed with something incredibly rigid and unbreakable. Over her forehead was a glowing white brand, which she knew would be two keys in a cross. She had little time to marvel, though, as the fight was still on and she needed to act immediately. She was a little behind the other spellcasters thanks to the decision-making necessities¡­ Thankfully, Sleepy had been interrupted prematurely by Bob feinting his way past a guard, slicing through a wound negation, and forcing the wizard to either defend or take a spear to the gut. Wisely, he chose the former and his spell was wasted or delayed. Big Nose worries me. And he¡¯d faded deftly away from Seraphiel¡¯s advance, as well as avoiding Dart in a failed pincher, owing to capable fighters clogging the way. Estara still needed a group-affecting spell. With will-based, mind-affecting stuff having the advantage of ignoring wound negations, and her with the massive boost, the strategy was clear. Illusion spellcraft, enhanced with Light and Pneuma, gave a mass spell of Level 7 called Ether of Hypnotic Fantasies, having the potential to completely disable the entire group in a stupor, making them sitting ducks. It had zero EL boosts, so it was something discountable against high-level operatives. But with this ridiculous buff, it¡¯s on! Take it¡­ F-fuckfaces! She started the casting and crossed her mental fingers, putting her hope in those equally crossed iconic keys of the Hierophant. Estara tried to keep an eye and mind for what Big Nose was doing. She couldn¡¯t glean exactly what it was, but she thought it was probably defensive-oriented. A buff, which could be good or bad. I think I understand the strategy. The aura is up, and he might¡¯ve figured out we have no hard counter. Now, he wants to stall and let the aura do the work of attrition. We¡¯re in a race against a clock¡­ Meanwhile, Dirtboy was pushing hard to relieve the critically endangered Sleepy, bowing past one man and then carving up another that barred the way, unleashing a hell storm of overpowering cuts on him. In her mind¡¯s eye, Estara saw the young man¡¯s death clearly, as she was blessed and cursed to see the fates of mortals. Her brothers and sisters. This one was doomed to be decapitated. A Mortal Wound to the throat, right at the EL excess of six. To the throat, that was instant death. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. No. I can stop it. I have to. It was just like the one-time vision of the future, her dividing the man¡¯s lot to be shared with pre-arranged volunteers, though these were distributed further out. All non-fighting members to bear the pain, to bear the burden of those whose lives were on the line and needed every little sliver of a chance. Saints, including women who¡¯d practically begged for the honor. How was she supposed to refuse them? Ideally, it would always be less than a Minor Wound. And not Entropic to begin with. It would simply hurt and heal. No big deal. But why is it so hard? I hate myself for it. A man who should¡¯ve died took a little nick on his neck, and six others somewhere cried out from sudden pain and injury shared equally. Blood was drawn. But not enough to need more than a bandage, if that. It was true that she could¡¯ve traded wholesale with Dirtboy. He needed the judgment. But Estara did not consider him the most dangerous threat, and to utilize [Reapportion Fate] incorporating an unwilling subject was a once-a-day, ¡®special target¡¯ thing at her levels. Big Nose won¡¯t go down as easily as this idiot. I have to be tactical. Just like Mother would be. One Resemblant dropped a brand new armor spell on the vulnerable Follower, reinforcing his defenses and adding wound negations. Meanwhile, the other Resemblant in support cast an AoE curse on the primary cluster of enemies, getting all of the big targets at once with a global EL debuff. Good instincts from the butler crew, as usual. The spell of Big Nose dropped, enshrouding him, Sleepy, Dirtboy, and two others in some sort of linked magical buff aura connected with rope-like, glowing strands. I have no idea what it is! Great! But now it''s time for my spell. ¡°Everyone,¡± she sent as a group command, ¡°Be ready to take advantage of this if it works.¡± Ether of Hypnotic Fantasies blossomed as a streaming torrent of sparkling, magenta gas from her thrust-up staff, quickly filling a massive radius like a storm. To the eyes of her allies, all they saw was some transparent, glittering fog feathering through the area. To her enemies, the world became a new vision of reality as if they were transported into a dream realm. Enemies left and right were caught wide-eyed in sudden rapture and fascination. ¡°Mother?!¡± a man called. ¡°But y-you¡¯re¡­ am I¡­? It¡¯s¡­ beautiful! I¡¯m in heaven!¡± He dropped his weapon and laughed with his hands out, looking up at the sky. Another man was cackling with a salacious laugh, as he cast down his weapons and attempted to undress, staring downward hungrily. Man after man exclaimed this or that amazement, each caught up in their conjured fantasy, oblivious to the world around them. All but the five. Surrounded by that protective aura, they appeared immune. A couple of them were looking around in dismay at what was happening and trying to call warnings. Not the wizards, though. They likely knew it was hopeless. Grimacing at the way the whole thing felt, Estara called, ¡°Everyone with a shot, do it! It doesn¡¯t last forever, and they could dispel it.¡± She didn¡¯t want to spell it out, but it hardly mattered ¡ª she¡¯d called for their immediate execution. A Coup de grace on the helpless mercenary bastards, to make her efforts count. We have to, to save our own. The combatants of the ensorcelled men moved in under their guards freely, cut through any remaining wound negations quickly, and promptly executed them. Men suddenly screamed as they realized a sword was sticking through their chest, or clutched at a ripped-out throat. Seven men died bloodily and fell to the hard, dusty street of Geirkos. The other five, and no doubt the best of them, were largely surrounded by twice their number, though much of those forces had been busy killing the vulnerable. Nonetheless, Dart, Seraphiel, and Bob had not disengaged from the tougher foes. It looked as if Sleepy was done for as Bob forced his way past a defending shieldman to engage a very incapable wizard. This time, the wizard was not abandoning his spellcasting, either. With the hope of really putting the battle away on his shoulders, Bob managed to jam his spear right in Sleepy¡¯s face¡­ and that aura flashed, blocking him from any harm. He did not exactly have an easy time maintaining his concentration even so, stumbling backward slightly, but he managed it. Meanwhile, Seraphiel dealt two nasty blows through the guard of a capable shieldman protecting Big Nose, and both caused auras to flash and block it, leaving him unharmed. Shit! Were those wound negations, or¡­? Jeeves suddenly popped into her head. ¡°Alfred is observing through mirror access and is casting an analysis spell remotely. Information on the spell will be delivered once available.¡± Nodding grimly, Estara cast it out of her mind and focused on her next spell. There was no way to out-speed Big Nose, sadly, which could be incredibly bad, but it was what it was. She had the drop on Sleepy, at least. Whatever the protective aura was, she decided to test its limits, noting particularly that the force of the spear had pushed him. She began Hand of the Goddess, a flavored Telekinesis spell with some phantom of visibility. The damaging aura continued to burn her and her allies, with some of them ¡ª including Estara ¡ª merely losing their last wound negation. A few cries of misery resounded, though men fought through the pain. She knew their tolerances to be significant, too. The burning must¡¯ve been of enhanced pain, though the wounding was only Minor. She felt the beginning lick of it herself. Her skin would burn. It was only going to get worse, and the fight was certainly not over.
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 41: Children With Toads Estara could¡¯ve dismissed one of the wounds dealt but knew she needed to let them handle it and save her valuable, no-action-required protection for later. She could distribute twice her [Priestess] levels plus one, in lots, on willing subjects, per day. She¡¯d expended 7/17, and the minimum was 2 for involving 2 people. It would only get harder to deal with the less of it she had. There were designated wound bearers for the nastier possibilities, but she preferred avoiding such a thing. At some point, she had to let people suffer. Even die. That was the burden of the power she had, to know and to cancel death. Fighting continued as spellcasting went through its motions. The greater group shifted to surround the three now trying to shield their spellcasters. Even the idiot Dirtboy had gained enough sense to get defensive. The surge of extra men didn¡¯t help. The aura held against their weapons and became a source of building anxiety. Big Nose was definitely going for Estara by appearances, and doing something to heighten his speed, as if anxious to avoid counters. She had to fight down the trepidation in her gut. The situation was among the most uncertain she¡¯d faced. An inevitable moment, though. She¡¯d lie awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling, envisioning much the same time and again. She¡¯d asked Jeeves, Dax, Lucky, and others for advice. Invariably, the key was said to be sticking with decided-on general tactics. They shifted based on the situation, but the logic and principles didn¡¯t. The worst thing was always to hesitate, they said. To not be decisive. Dax quoted, ¡®Graveyards are filled with warriors who blinked.¡¯ So she didn¡¯t. She reached out and squeezed for every inch forward to victory, deliberately rejecting all her doubts by necessity. Seraphiel stepped back instead of continuing her swordplay, dropping a ¡®lightbomb¡¯ as everyone had started calling them ¡ª an AoE light-based magical nuke. The aura protected them all once again, though the brightness was something of a distraction as the guards shielded their eyes. The two mages completely resisted any effects at all. The experiments of the crew all failed, and before anything else happened ¡ª before the Resemblants could get their spells in ¡ª Big Nose¡¯s spell resolved, his gauntleted hand casting out and firing a black ray of energy at Estara, unavoidably striking her in her head in an instant. ¡°Hrraaah!¡± he called in a vicious, nonverbal cry, as though victory was now at his hand. It was a complex, multi-faceted spell, one she could sense absolutely through her Fate ability because it was harming a mortal. She felt a Major Wound threaten her, on top of a secondary resistance to avoid disabling due to pain, with a minimum duration of five seconds unless the wound was also resisted by two levels or more. It was nothing that she could afford right then, and the opportunity to slip past Big Nose¡¯s protections was too good to pass up. She utilized [Reapportion Fate] through her Measuring Rod, and traded her fate with his, expending her daily special. No protection could save him from Fate. Wide-eyed gleeful victory became horror as the black energy scoured his brain and he screamed in agony, falling to his knees with his hands shaking out in front of him. Dart could be heard to bellow in amusement, even bloodied all over his body while still engaged in melee. ¡°Ha! How ¡®bout them apples, you punk ass bitch?! Nobody fucks with our witch, goomba!¡± In truth, he was frustrated because his taunts weren¡¯t working on the wizards. Estara had gotten good at tuning him out in combat as his words were exceptionally distracting. But there had been something about apples. She really didn¡¯t want to know. The spells from the Resemblants dropped. One was an AoE heal to assist the recently wounded, and the other was a protective reinforcement on Estara. Ah. Well. I guess it makes sense¡­ Wound negations were a sudden screen to the growing pain of her burning skin. Instead of being like lying in a fire, she just felt as if she was sunburned. Or perhaps brought to a simmer in oil. Estara¡¯s spell resolved, and a massive phantom hand ¡ª well-manicured ¡ª materialized and immediately enclosed itself around Sleepy The Wizard. His spell was ruined as his arms and hands were pinned. He yelped in indignant protest though his protective aura crackled and held against the crushing pressure. Estara slammed him down into the ground for good measure. There was a momentary pause as everyone waited for the enemy spell information to come. Come it did. ¡°Five-Fold Refuge,¡± Jeeves related to all. ¡°Absolute protection from mental effects, physical wounding, magical wounding, dispels, and sense disabling. The duration isn¡¯t clear. Any physical attacks from them are restrained and ineffective; magic can be used, as seen. But the greater weakness is the link. Cutting damage to the cords can separate a member. If all cords are cut, the spell ends. If not, it will regenerate and reconnect one cord per five seconds.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Estara called mentally. ¡°We can use that! Sever the cords! Separate the mages as the priorities!¡± Warcries resounded as their forces pressed in to bring blades to bear. It was no easy feat ¡ª the enemy group had packed inward to protect themselves already, and the shield bearers knew exactly what they were doing and tried to block such attempts. Even worse, the cords weren¡¯t mere strings to be snapped. Indirect cuts that were scored seemed only to fray it. Each of the link sections was perhaps as tough as a combatant unto themselves. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Estara quickly jerked the telekinetic hand holding Sleepy upward to expose the cords, which extended themselves as needed in the connection two directions despite the increased distance. Bob managed a perfect severance on one side, and of three men on the other making the effort, one finally cut it in half. The protective aura around Sleepy vanished like smoke. A shield guard was fighting doggedly against all comers, keeping fighters from getting to Big Nose. He was finally overwhelmed, his connection to another guard and to Dirtboy severed, with his aura vanishing. Big Nose finally had one side cut by the diligent expertise of Seraphiel and Dart in grappling a shield guard, but they couldn¡¯t do everything. On the other side, the men failed completely due to Dirtboy¡¯s fierce defense of that particular flank. Very briefly, only one link held ¡ª that between Big Nose and Dirtboy. But the regeneration triggered, reconnecting Big Nose to one guard, wasting the efforts of Seraphiel and Dart so recently. The damage aura ticked again, and most just took the baleful burns on the chin over the healing power of a Resemblant seconds before. Three men had been outside of the radius, though, and they cried out as they took Major Wounds. Estara allowed it without expending her ability, knowing they¡¯d get healed next. Sleepy was panicking and struggling with the mystical hand¡¯s vise-like grip, knowing all his protections were down. He was chanting something, getting around his inability to move around by trying some spell without somatic components. Estara had no intention of letting him get it off. The use of her existing spell was much faster, so she squeezed as hard as she could with the full strength of the spell. There was a brief, cut-off cry and then his breath was taken. A split moment of pressure more and a hideous crack could be heard as his chest cavity was caved in, and blood fully spurted out of his mouth while he writhed. Shit. I-I think I killed him. It stunned her for a second, in horror. She watched the man convulse, emit a weak, wet moan, and spit more blood, his face a purple rictus. His eyes bled and seemed more pronounced, and she wondered how close they¡¯d come to popping out. Like a giant. Like a child with a toad. I didn¡¯t even realize my own strength. I didn¡¯t need to squeeze so hard¡­ ¡°Snap out of it, Estara!¡± Jeeves called into her head. ¡°Keep fighting!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± That was all she replied as she peeled her eyes away and swallowed down bile. The rest of the battle had turned into a vicious dogfight. Both guards got swarmed with Samanthian rogues flanking them. The regenerated cord got severed again and this time, they attacked that guard as the weakest link. Under a hail of stabbing blades, both of them went down, though certainly not without a fight. Freed of the aura, they could counterattack, though the situation of being outnumbered made a casualty impossible. Meanwhile, Dirtboy fought like a vicious, cornered rat, and narrowly kept Bob from cutting his cord connected to Big Nose. When the agonized wizard finally came to from his debilitation, he neglected to cast a spell, perhaps knowing that would doom him by then. Instead, he threw a potion directly down, which smashed and instantly exploded into a massive, obscuring black cloud. Shouts of confusion became fits of coughing. It was clearly acrid. Estara tried to hold her breath. She hoped to see their enemies by the glow of their auras, but it was useless. She couldn¡¯t even see her own hand. ¡°We can¡¯t let them escape,¡± Seraphiel offered calmly in a group mind sending. ¡°Too much information leaks that way. Better that no one leaves this alive.¡± Agreement from the group was quick and unanimous. Of course, it¡¯s all agreed. Estara went through the motions of casting a Dispel, for the lack of a hard counter. The smoke wouldn¡¯t be banished with a Light-based darkness-clearing type spell, she was sure. It would need to be some sort of ¡®clean air¡¯ effect, and they didn¡¯t have that. Dispel was a comparison and could fail, though it had a bonus if you targeted it against something persistent instead of trying an ¡®everything and the kitchen sink¡¯ approach, which made it very random in its removals. She¡¯d also managed to get the skill Rogue¡¯s Luck not long ago, following in the footsteps of her mother and learning the tricks of the gambling trade from Lucky. She pumped that into the Dispel, crossed her fingers, and tried not to breathe in as she spoke the incantation. The smoke cleared! Men shouted and pointed to reveal their enemy some distance away, close to the vicinity of the ¡®neutral party¡¯ giant who was the cause of all the ruckus. He still had his hands up and was still simply watching everything curiously, as if he cared nothing for the danger but just wanted to be out of the way. Big Nose was apparently not running at all. He was turned toward them with abject hatred painted on his face, casting a spell entirely ready to drop in the time it took to confuse the lot of them. Some oily tattoo on his wrist flowed off and empowered the spell, interlacing with the mana. They would not be able to respond in time, and most ¡ª including Estara ¡ª had their wound negations eaten through by the damage aura. No!
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 42: The Right Heretic Casting into the sort of slew of nothing-but-enemies wizards dreamed of dropping an AoE into, Big Nose ¡ª his face cast with spiteful glee ¡ª dropped a destructive AoE on the forces of Samantha. They had precious little time to even move in response, much less mount an attack. But it would¡¯ve been so much worse if the cloud had still surrounded them. I should¡¯ve just distributed his attack on me instead of the trade. I should¡¯ve- Her thoughts were cut off by another black cloud erupting around the group, only this time it attacked the soul and body; it threatened to melt the flesh off of their bones like a dunk in foul acids. Worse, decision points blossomed in Estara¡¯s head like a storm. A moment she¡¯d dreaded came ¡ª the day when she had to let people die. Some levels were too low to survive, and there weren¡¯t enough lots to go around. Furthermore, those who could do something after the attack to save the remainder would be needed. Like her. The guilt was monumental. Enough that she almost just let herself succumb. She would survive it, even so. But she¡¯d be stunned by the wounds. And in that moment, everyone would probably die, possibly her with them. Bob was a strong warrior, utilized some resistance boost, and otherwise handled it up himself, paring it down to a manageable Minor Wound. Dart and Seraphiel were Servitors who wouldn¡¯t really die, but she couldn¡¯t sense their wounds anyway nor factor them into the lot of mortals. She focused on the highest level of the remainders, or at least those who put up existing higher resistances one way or another. Minor Wounds for all, to squeeze as much life out as possible ¡ª her included. She took her and three others, splitting wounds shared with three healthy saints elsewhere. With three lots left after the seven-split, she reduced a Mortal Wound on one man to Major Wounds for three. Four men took lethal wounds and died instantly. One took a mortal wound and might survive with permanent scarring. Two more took Critical Wounds that would leave them unconscious but likely to pull through if not hit again. Pain and injury came, and Estara was shocked at how excruciating it was. A will-based contest she would have otherwise failed due to novel circumstantial penalties instead tied due to her buff.
You have taken a full-body Minor Wound, and are at -1 Effective Levels to all tasks for 5 seconds.
You have forced a tie against a disabling Pain effect. You are at -1 Effective Levels to all tasks for 1 minute.
The pain almost disabled her anyway, because she could barely think or focus through it even without a System mandate. Her eyes and her skin burned like fire, and it was all she could do not to fall to her knees and puke her guts out at what sort of foulness she breathed in. As it was, she fought off a coughing fit and stumbled. I¡¯m a fucking creampuff. That¡¯s what the circumstantial was. I¡¯ve never handled pain like this before. Come on, I¡¯ve got to do something or everyone is dead! The rest of the crew wasn¡¯t doing great, to say the least. Beyond the howls of the dying as their flesh was reduced to foul, blackened slag, two men she¡¯d saved were screaming despite their reduced wounds. Dart was down and groaning, likely due to his existing wound absorptions softening him up. Seraphiel was down to one knee, grimacing and assessing what she¡¯d do despite this. It was hard on top of everything else not to grieve, not to plop down and cry for the hideous deaths of saints. I¡¯m so sorry. I failed you. I failed your loved ones. May Heaven give you peace. Even a Resemblant had been hit, and floating listlessly through the air in their version of incapacitated. The other Resemblant had thankfully fly-dodged completely clear of the AoE. He was already preparing an area heal effect, by the looks of it intent on roping Estara into it. It was pointless to argue ¡ª the damage aura was still ticking, after all. Two men were gritty enough to charge their enemies through that terrible pain. Bob and a middle-aged veteran fighter. Yetony was his name, a long-time loyalist of Lucky and one of the first in Caneboro she had converted. It was the only time Estara had ever seen him smile. Big Nose was still scowling, apparently frustrated they weren¡¯t all dead. But he was already preparing another spell. Dirtboy blocked the way to him with a sword and magical shield, and worst of all, the aura around them yet persisted. ¡°We have to hope you can cut the cord, boys,¡± Seraphiel sent to the group. ¡°The wizard still has a wound negation underneath, I think. I can snap-shot a light laser at him if I have a window. I¡¯m prepped to do so. I don¡¯t know what will be the kill shot after, though.¡± Estara tried to assess what to do. She would get beat on a spell, she was sure. She needed to assist the chargers to have any real shot at getting past Dirtboy¡­ but even if she could, if Big Nose wasn¡¯t interrupted, they were done for. She realized she still had something fast. The Hand of the Goddess. It had been damaged by the spell but was highly tough and resistant to such magic. It also still held a blackened, mutilated corpse in its grip. Estara lined it up at a diagonal angle and barreled it right into Dirtboy, to help expose the cord. Dirtboy saw it at the last moment and tried to dodge out of the way. But his dodge was clearly designed to keep himself in front of Big Nose, and he paid for that conservative maneuver because Estara was more than ready for it. She slammed him almost dead on and sent him spinning to the ground with the wind knocked out of him. Sadly, he was protected from further injury. The fall placed him right in front of Yetony, and even on the ground, that big magic shield would be a pain; however, Bob was already flanking, and unopposed on a likely route to cut the cord¡­ If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Despite all this, the equation Estara was looking at showed them coming up short of the math equalling victory. There was no ¡®punch¡¯ left after an expended wound negation, and there was no chance it would interrupt Big Nose¡¯s next horror of a spell. She analyzed and scrounged in her brain for what could be done when they were one move, one split moment short. How did one produce action when action was expended? Her gaze fell on the big foreigner ''man'' holding his hands up, watching with some concern the events around him but ultimately not enough to participate. It was then that something from Mother herself came to her mind. ¡°Rule number 17 of the Sammyverse, lassy,¡± she had said with her mischievous smirk translated psychically. ¡°It¡¯s a free action to bullshit. Use it!¡± And she knew it was true ¡ª Dart did it all the time to unsettle and destabilize his opponents. She needed something more, but it occurred to her suddenly that her buff could help. A massive bonus to social tasks. He¡¯s being a heretic in my book. It¡¯s worth a shot. Invoking Priestess and her buff, Estara glared imperiously and called out with a voice she did not realize she even had. ¡°Fool giant! Do you deny my status even now?! Do you not see that I am who I say I am, that there cannot be another?!¡± The man looked as if he¡¯d been slapped in the face, his eyes going wide. That he¡¯d been satisfactorily chastised was readily apparent. His hands dropped, and his eyes cast downward meekly. ¡°No.¡± His word was highlighted by a frenetic melee oh so close to him. Yetony fought desperately to slash the cord, only to be tripped up by the fallen, desperately scrambling Dirtboy. Bob was there, though, unimpeded in his charge, and with a pristine, fluid slash, he severed that connecting cord in one, smooth stroke¡­ ¡°You are Little Sister,¡± the giant said quietly. ¡°Please forgive me.¡± The protective enchantment banished, Seraphiel, still kneeling, thrust her sword out and fired a beam of light out, streaking and invariably blasting the disguised wizard, Big Nose, wiping out yet another layer of protection. Big Nose was cackling evilly now, though, as his gesturing hands conjuring his destructive spell signaled he was but a moment from unleashing it on his foes once more. Estara quickly pointed at Big Nose, still glaring at the giant. ¡°Recompense by striking my enemy; repent by slaying my blasphemer!¡± The giant looked up at her and she saw his eyes flash with new life. ¡°Thank you.¡± Some inhuman snort followed this, an eruption like a miniature volcano. When he spoke next, he boomed like a warcry and the ground shook. ¡°I will obey!¡± Estara thought it was all far too late because the spell was coming and the giant was, after all, very slow in every apparent way. But like thunder and lightning, he moved ¡ª like his promise was unbreakable law, he charged. The bull crossed the distance and bodily knocked the wizard directly into the dirt, ruining his spell just like that in the span of one eyeblink. Dust cascaded upward. Nasty damage had already been dealt to a relatively frail body¡­ and the giant wasn¡¯t done, either. One hand lifted up and suddenly spawned a massive double-headed axe, which promptly dropped like a meteor down onto the fallen form of Big Nose. A spell seemed to resist it in perhaps some last-ditch wizardly protection. But the axe cut through it just as it cut through the man¡¯s skull. His head split open like a melon and the axe embedded itself into the ground with the cracking sound of multiple cobblestones. Estara fell to her knees and tears blossomed in her eyes as a shuddering breath escaped her. Not for mourning or pain ¡ª in the sudden, breathtaking relief of sweet, narrow victory. Thanks to the death of the wizard, the damage aura finally cleared, and the Resemblant¡¯s soothing balm of healing flashed through her, among others. Estara tried to quickly get a hold of herself, because she was needed for that, too. Others were suffering. Throwing herself back up, she stumbled to look for who to help¡­ There was no stopping the men from finishing off Dirtboy. Feral cries resounded as they fell on him with stabbing spears and swords, with him spending his last moments in futile cries for mercy and surrender. They fell on deaf ears. There was one last scream before a punctured eye and neck silenced him for good. Estara rushed to the Follower with the Mortal Wound, as he yet lived, though the AoE healing did nothing for him. He was unconscious. His damage was like a burn victim and he was likely blinded from ruined eyes. She poured a potion over him, a very high-level and precious one that could reduce the worst of wounds. No healing would work on him for a week, but eventually¡­ He¡¯ll live. We¡¯ll restore his sight. He¡¯ll be okay¡­ The giant observed the death of Dirtboy grimly and with a note of sadness. ¡°I thought he was a good man. He acted nice. Such deception. It hurts my soul that he was a liar. What he and his ilk did¡­ I see that it is grave to you all. Unsporting. I am sorry. Truly. There is more debt owed for my error.¡± ¡°You¡¯re damn right there is!¡± a man cried, voice stained with grief. He was looking up from a corpse. ¡°What am I supposed to tell his wife, huh?! That he died for an idiot?!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Estara called in fierce admonishment. ¡°No more name-calling for one who helped save you all! He didn¡¯t have to help! He didn¡¯t.¡± Swallowing a dry throat and wiping ichor off her hand, Estara eyed the giant. ¡°You¡¯re a foreigner. We cannot expect you to know our ways. You are not even human, are you?¡± He very slightly shook his head. ¡°No. But I am instructed to share details first with Little Sister only. You. Privately. So you may assess things.¡± Estara winced. Another lie we¡¯ve told, isn¡¯t it? ¡°Yes, well¡­ let¡¯s just save the rest for a better environment than an open street soon to become another battleground if we linger.¡±
Patreon Link ¡ª 69 Advance Chappies! Nice. (Vol 6) Chapter 43: Keeping Together The party hurried off the streets of Caneboro, leaving the corpses of their enemies to rot. The giant, currently with the alias ¡®Sailman¡¯ of all things, offered to carry all four Follower corpses himself, and Estara quickly agreed. No one even complained, nor were insults thrown any further at the giant. In fact, every single thing Estara commanded was obeyed without so much as a peep of protest. Even Dart behaved himself. This buff is too good to be true. A shame I can¡¯t guarantee its application. Any good humor she might have about it was rather deadened by the deaths and suffering they¡¯d been dealt. She continuously buried the guilt to keep it together a little longer. She had to lead and put on the all-business face for the others. It was clearly working well to keep them all going efficiently despite the situation. They were soon out of the danger zone by making it to reinforcements above ground and then were screened underground without incident. Lucky had apparently sent everyone once trouble was assessed. There were scuffles and skirmishes elsewhere by reports, ensuring one of the enemy patrols didn¡¯t bump into them. Unfortunate we ran into who we did. That was one of the best we¡¯ve ever faced. I hope they¡¯re not just getting better prepared and supported. Every single thing he did was through some reinforcement, though. He was punching above his level over and over. It was a quite realistic fear that the Dominion would get stronger the longer they pushed their current enterprise. One of their greatest specialties was enchantment. Was it an engine that had just gotten started? If so, more would die. If so, they¡¯d have to find a way to answer it. In any case, such thoughts of prevention and mitigation were much more palatable than thinking about her own recent failure to adapt. She was sure she could¡¯ve made better decisions. Everyone could be coming home alive. No one needing to agonize in their heads about being the ones to break news to loved ones. Don¡¯t, Estara. Don¡¯t. In private. Just wait. I can¡¯t let them see me break down and cry like a little girl. They don¡¯t need a little girl right now. They won¡¯t respect a little girl as a leader. And then that will get more people killed. Once more, she was thankful for the buff, because she did keep it together. Flawlessly. Her face was a hard, stony mask, and she breathed smooth and even the whole way home. She tried to memorize the moment, hoping she could replicate it all herself without Fate¡¯s assistance. Wishful thinking, perhaps. A lesser, similar buff could help, though. Worth keeping in mind to hold these stupid rivers back. Back in The Bunker hideout, they got everyone that needed it to the healing wing and squirreled away the bodies for eventual transport and burial. Eventually, Estara literally bumped into Lucky suddenly in her path. She was latched onto in a hug, and her eyes and brain were thinking about others around her, and what a hug could do to her right then. She balked¡­ briefly. Then she realized no one else was even around, and it was just them. ¡°You did everything you could, doll,¡± Lucky whispered fiercely in her ear. ¡°You snatched a miracle from nothin¡¯! Samantha would be proud! Do you hear me, Estara? I swear to you, she will be. It¡¯s not your fault. You did your best, you did everything you could. Everything.¡± Estara found herself squeezing back in that hug, her heart pounding more and more in a strange, sharp panic rising up. The ¡®rivers¡¯ began to flow, as no buff could hold back her tears of grief, misery, and guilt. Soon she was wailing uncontrollably and Lucky was holding her up from the hallway floor. One thing was crystal clear in that moment ¡ª the price paid for one who fought for what they believed in was the most terrible thing in existence. She couldn¡¯t ever want her loved ones to pay it. She had to keep them from it ¡ª at any cost. On her life, she would. She¡¯d bear any burden and no matter how much it hurt, she¡¯d pay the price. That was her lot. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Time went by like a blur for Samantha and Azure in the harsh, bizarre wilderness of the Wyld. Days or weeks, it was impossible to say in a place not even wedded to a clock. Long enough, struggling to make sense of things, that Azure had to rest many times. After being ambushed in an insecure spot by a horde of hand-sized, razor-toothed beetles, they made a concerted effort to forge a more secure shelter and base of operations. An incredible mass of fallen wood and various compressed debris on top made a unique structure Sammy coined Mount Lump. Within this were cave-like areas. Except near the top, where beetles roamed, the caves were curiously dark and barren. Perhaps it was the dryness. Samantha found a cave area roughly the size of an apartment and created thick walls of Hard Light stone to layer it. She filled it out enough inside with furnishings to make it comfortable. It amused her to make it in a style vaguely ¡®caveman¡¯ or prehistoric. She included a rug of the same orange and black, she guessed ¡®tiger pattern¡¯ as Fred Flintstone¡¯s tunic-thing. She wanted to dress herself and Azure up in similar ¡ª if improved ¡ª stylings, but Azure wasn¡¯t having it. Technically, they were still Rallindin and Tanjhere. ¡®Stay in character.¡¯ This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Which apparently includes being horny for Ralli¡¯s booty all the time. Azure¡¯s ¡®rest time¡¯ included that requirement each and every time, the circumstances be damned. She claimed Tanjhere had a more intense libido, but Sammy was sure at least some component was that Azure had the hots for Ralli. As far as actual productivity went, they spent the vast majority of the time trying to find some sign of civilization or anything that could lead them to the mistress of the demesne. It was painstaking. Going upward from the darker underbelly of the wilderness was dangerous. Not just winged cats. Disturbing, long serpentine things with cat heads curling around the trees. Disturbing, four-armed fast sloth-like beasts with cat heads. Hordes of disturbing, smallish gliding mammals¡­ with cat heads. Everything and the kitchen sink with cat heads. She would not have been surprised to see bounding stainless steel sinks with acid-spewing cat heads for faucets in that place, not one bit. I am now a dog person. A pattern was discovered, however. They had zones spread over a wide area. The sloths were in the area immediately above their home base. The snake-cats were far to the northeast. Ranging west, one began seeing the gliding terror-horde variety of Cat Heads. At first, it seemed like a whole lot of nothing. Just like the rest of the hostile environment, with endless, giant roaming worm-things that would suddenly try to jump you if you got too close (She knew they¡¯d do that! Rule #9 of the Sammyverse: Don¡¯t get too close to gross organisms because they will jump on you!), alluring glowing fungus that would make you go incredibly loopy just getting near them (she¡¯d lost her original outfit that way), sneaking amoeba-like things that could fling snaring tendrils from many meters away¡­ the list only ever grew. Fortunately, not everything was invulnerable, so her list of super-duper, extra-smoked, AoE-burned-multiple-times-just-to-be-safe, annihilated enemies also grew. The only reprieve was the giant snakes, who left her be or faded away when they saw her. Many were shy, but a few would converse. One helped them out when they were caught by an amoeba thing. She never met the one she¡¯d originally made the agreement with. She confirmed it by the others calling it a ¡®royal¡¯ but that was as much information as she got on that front. Other than that, they provided local information about threats which was very useful as Samantha and Azure effectively mapped the region out from their home base at Mount Lump. In return, she sometimes gave tips about where she saw potential prey such as roaming beetles. The snakes liked to ambush a few at most and then slither away since the things were major threats in swarms. It was from a larger, more knowledgeable snake that she received a big break in clue-seeking. He mentioned a time months ago that he¡¯d roamed much higher than usual and caught sight of something strange ¡ª a great tree with missing upper branches, and in their place was an angular black monolith. Excited, Sammy got as much information as she could about its location. It was at the furthest reaches of known territory. Samantha and Azure went back to the home base to be prepared and well-rested, and then set out for it. The journey through the dark undergrowth outlets was quick and uneventful. They¡¯d become veterans at avoiding what threats were present in such regions. Samantha had also forged and perfected a magical means of locomotion for both of them ¡ª it was a Hard Light harness with six hands-free extendable metal cords coming from the back, something reminiscent of Doctor Octopus, though the grabbers on the ends were four-pronged. Initially, she figured she was going to make one just for Azure, but not only did she love it too much in testing, but the benefits were too great even with the staff Jammer and its flexible capabilities. She¡¯d tried ¡®fake¡¯ winged flight to no avail, as well as raw levitation and platform movement. One had to be anchored or they¡¯d fall. Whatever the Realm Rule was, the sparse fliers bypassed it somehow and she couldn¡¯t replicate it. But it was simple enough to adapt to. She had to incorporate invented spells to create the right elasticity for the arms, but after some growing pains, they both became champs at moving without thinking about it much. They spider-octopused their way through the great tangled wilderness, invisible, silent, and with three layers of anti-tracking. Two were custom potion crafts on Azure-Tanjhere¡¯s part, and one was a spell of enhanced ¡®Fate-based¡¯ anti-presence to help with unfortunate negatively serendipitous ¡®bump-intos¡¯ like the one never-to-be-mentioned ¡®Spraygate¡¯ event. No one could say that she didn¡¯t learn from her more trauma-inducing mistakes. The region of their traversal was that of cat-headed frog-crab things. One of the worst ¡ª well, they were all one of the worst, when she thought about it. Whatever the case, they slipped by unseen and undetected to make it up the tree they wanted, all the way to the top. A tall, black monolith spanned from the center of branches that seemed to have suddenly decided to grow in something like a bowl shape, making a huge, open, almost spherical hollow space in the irregular tangle of the wilderness. Each branch of the great tree was as big as a typical tree. The monolith was foreboding just in its incredible oddity. It was the only thing they¡¯d ever found that spoke of any kind of civilization. It seemed as if it were four-sided, and it acted as if it caught some unnatural shining light from one angle, making one side that was visible gleaming and reflective, while the other was shadowed. Before approaching close, Sammy attempted to circle it. She found herself blinking at another unnatural oddity ¡ª the same facing seemed to follow her no matter what, like it rotated with her, but without any visible movement. As if it were some sort of optical illusion. Yep. I¡¯m a little excited and a lot weirded out.
(Vol 6) Chapter 44: Monolithic Efforts ¡°Quite strange indeed,¡± Azure commented as she eyed the great towering monolith. ¡°I think it¡¯s there in any case, despite that we might worry it''s an illusion.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Sammy agreed, nodding as she tapped a metal grapple finger on her chin. ¡°Mind-bending but physical on some level. Regardless, I think it¡¯s time to approach.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. Just gulping audibly before I follow.¡± Gradually upon approach, there was a kind of ¡®filled silence¡¯ in the air ¡ª a humming just shy of audible. The persistent angle of the monolith became clear that it held the ¡®edge¡¯ dead in the middle of the observer. Halfway there, they confirmed it by Sammy and Azure separating horizontally in the approach. However, the hum seemed to intensify, becoming ¡®itchy¡¯ so to speak, so they did not continue that particular experiment. Together, they drew closer. With each step, the tangled canopy all around began to fade and go transparent; simultaneously, some sort of code could be faintly seen etched on the surface of the reflecting, brightened part of the monolith. When they stopped a few meters from the base, there was an open nighttime sky above, clear and saturated with an endless variety of vibrant stars, constellations, and even things one might see in a telescope ¡ª galaxies and nebulae. Furthermore, it was as if they could see through the planet, or they were beyond the planet in space, able to see stars 360 degrees around. The tree ¡®footing¡¯ appeared to still exist under them, just made transparent. ¡°No moon,¡± Azure breathed, her voice faint. The monolith showed Samantha¡¯s reflection on the reflective half ¡ª and it stunned her to see it was not Rallindin, but her. Not the goddess her, either. It was¡­ Samantha from Earth. Smaller, scrawnier. Far less imposing, far less beautiful. It disturbed her to see it, even angered her a bit. She glanced at Azure, who was also looking at it with an expression of shock. Pointless. I don¡¯t have to think about it anymore. And¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter. What is one form, to me? I¡¯m cosmic beyond it, I¡¯m the source spring, I¡¯m a continuance greater than crude elemental semblance. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen ¡ª you and your randomly conjured bonds dance for me, not the other way around. The same goes for anyone else who tries to bind me to them. She ignored the image and focused on the now blazing code etched up the monolith¡¯s face. It failed to make much sense to her, but phantoms of meanings jumped out. A plethora of them, effectively a puzzle to her mind. Quickly, she intuited this was something more for Rallindin, so she invoked her and basically attempted to surrender that moment to her¡­ It was the right call. ¡°This is a coordinate method,¡± Rallindin declared. ¡°Mathematical instruction for the correction of an existing astrolabe to function in this place. Hopefully to provide proper coordinates to where we want to go. Finally! Something worth a damn in this miserable wasteland. I¡¯m going to turn this bitch inside out and back again when I get my hands on her, for what she put us through.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll boil her down and distill her,¡± Tanjhere muttered wearily. ¡°So, you can do this?¡± ¡°Of course, I can,¡± Rallindin snapped testily, summoning a bronze disk of many moving parts to her hand as she squinted her eyes at the code. ¡°Finding this absurd monument in the first place was the greater challenge. This? It¡¯s the candy-coated reward.¡± Tanjhere growled. ¡°Mine will be slapping that attitude you¡¯ve been giving me out of you when this is all over.¡± ¡°If that is what gets you through, so be it.¡± ¡°To think, not long ago, you would have blushed and stammered at that, face as red as what my ministrations produce. Now- no, wait, there¡¯s the blush! I spoke too soon. Hehehe.¡± ¡°Be silent, you lecher! I must focus now.¡± Time melted into a moment as Rallindin custom-modified her astrolabe directly per the instructions she read, then made her own corroborating measurements of the sky itself. Sammy was rather thankful for the distraction considering the embarrassing details of the relational snapshot. They were two completely different people being peeked on in their private affairs, after all! Some shadow of understanding came to Samantha through it. A fixed coordinate was verified, corresponding to their location, and then another distant one relationally. ¡°Alright,¡± Rallindin said finally as she lowered her bronze device and took a deep breath. ¡°We have a heading and a target distance.¡± She turned and pointed. ¡°Northeast for about fourteen hours of continuous travel at our speeds. Keep us on course, hmm? Precision is key due to our lack of verification along the way. We could canvas for days without results, if off.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Tanjhere replied while rising, yawning, and stretching. ¡°Leave it to me, oh Porcelain Perfection.¡± Control returned to them, and Sammy blinked at Azure, who grinned and repeated, ¡°Oh Porcelain Perfection. Adorable.¡± ¡°You would say that, wouldn¡¯t you? Before you get any ideas-¡± ¡°You can assume I always have ideas, Chestnut. That way, if you ever randomly align with my mood¡­ well.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Mmnnn, no. I¡¯ve decided that¡¯s not the case.¡± I swear, there¡¯s something in the air in this place. Which, come to think, would make perfect sense. Holy shit. ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve decided.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If I say ¡®don¡¯t get any ideas,¡¯ you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t?¡± ¡°Exactly. You haven¡¯t, don¡¯t, won¡¯t. All of the nn¡¯ts.¡± ¡°Huh. I see. Yes, how silly of me to hallucinate otherwise.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re in agreement! So, do you need a spell or something to keep on track for this?¡± ¡°No. I am one with Tanjhere¡¯s spacial senses by now. I can keep us within this exact corridor, just like I can take us back to Mount Lump unerringly.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been a great navigator, Blueberry. I know this ordeal gave you things to take back.¡± ¡°I guess. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if this is the only time it''s useful, though.¡± She set off over the branches, her harness and the six metal legs keeping her suspended in the air. Sammy rolled her eyes and followed. ¡°Don¡¯t be a Negative Nancy about it!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not! Just realistic.¡± ¡°No, you aren¡¯t. You¡¯re constantly selling yourself short. It isn¡¯t realistic at all, not anywhere except in your pretty, stubborn little head.¡± ¡°Would you just let me do my thing in peace, here?! Unless you want me to fuck it up?¡± Sammy sighed and relented to be silent for a while. They were primed and ready for the long haul. Soon after setting out, Azure led them back down into the dark to stay away from the Cat Head freaks. They traversed the great trunks both alive and dead and steered clear of rampant, colorful fungal growths, and particularly some sort of slowly creeping, green-yellow mold that was new. Undulating long hairs or whiskers peppered their lengths. She noticed a big lump in the middle of one stretch of it on some dead branches. Whatever was hidden by the mold, she was sure it had been something large and living until recently. I swear, if it''s ever noticed within ten meters of me, I¡¯ll burn the shit with fire. Lots and lots of fire. She¡¯d gotten good with fire in that place, even without [Pneuma]. The enhanced fire was handy for destroying various threats and, from experimentation, the wood was exceptionally resistant. It was likely impossible to start a ¡®forest fire.¡¯ It didn¡¯t catch fire, just scorched from continuous damage. Vegetation, fungi, and the like, on the other hand, burned or melted readily most of the time. Having an alchemist as a companion made burning things even more effective. Technically, Tanjhere was more specialized in mind-affecting concoctions, whether buffs or maluses, but she had plenty of other tricks up her sleeve. One was a substance she¡¯d managed to improvise and produce nearly in bulk after a bit of experimental chemistry ¡ª a sticky, napalm-like substance that burned fiercely and lingered. If subjected to more intense heat, it expended itself quicker and nastier. Samantha had spent some of her invention time on improved burning capabilities to take advantage while working within the limitations of her domains. More intensity, more duration to maximize energy, more area of effect. With an environment of any desired persistent material being nearly immune to being consumed, she could essentially go wyld with improvements. Early on in taking stock of their inventory, Azure was pleasantly surprised to find she had a ¡®potion gun¡¯ stowed away in a dimensional pocket. Something the size of a sawed-off shotgun or large flintlock pistol, it had detachable, rotating drums akin to a revolver, with three potions ¡®loaded up,¡¯ well-protected, and shielded. While not exactly a full auto system, it was still more convenient for a small selection and drastically increased her range. The launcher didn¡¯t make her a sniper, but her more offensive strategies didn¡¯t involve precision to begin with. Most effects were AoEs. Experimental forays to test Cat Head resistance showed them to still be immune ¡ª however, the combination of sticky napalm and super hot burning fire effects was something they hated a great deal. It was an efficient deterrent, especially for those that didn¡¯t fly and anchored to trees against knocking effects, like the sloth versions. When Sammy combined fire with explosive force, she got the best of both worlds for the flyers, as it both burned and knocked them, disorienting them twice as effectively. When they came upon a massive stretch of the icky mold covering their most direct route forward, Sammy gave Azure a look that was returned in kind, and they both smiled. It was somewhat the look of satisfaction for a lot of hard work poured into the excellence of prepared solution-making just waiting for the opportunity¡­ but mostly it was the glowy-eyed ¡®let¡¯s fucking burn it¡¯ look. Azure changed out a drum of her potion gun, aimed, and fired three shots in succession. Trees coated in thick webs of the vile mold had potions shatter on them ¡ª explosions rained vast sprays of liquid already erupting in flames in midair. It coated everything ahead with fire, quickly blackening the mold. Sammy cast her custom Wyld Inferno spell, thrusting her hands wide, releasing special spell component dust, and sending a fiery torrent wider than a building out, which blossomed like a forward-facing nuke into an even wider cascading mushroom that sent a shock through reality. More explosions erupted within from thicker concentrations of alchemical substances overheating and detonating, setting off like multitudes of fireworks. When the dust settled, the whole area ahead was blackened, scorched, and smoking in a wide tunnel. The mold was nothing more than black remains. It was an extensive organism, however. From further ahead, it surged and pushed forward into the black, eating the ashes with a steady progression. So, they did it again, surging forward themselves, launching potions, and burning ever forward. The mold did not surge after that, but it remained in the way as they moved, so they did it a third time. This dislodged a massive build-up of dead branches, debris, and organic material, which collapsed downward with a tremendous racket. The mold was almost wiped out at that point, and it slowly inched away in all directions from the source of what was killing it. They passed through unimpeded then, through smoking trunks, branches, and the blackened ashes of melted vegetation, some of it turned to ooze to run down the length of the great trees. You asked for this, Unnature. This fire is the child you birthed and it has grown up ready to scour and destroy you. Your sicko mistress had best take heed!
(Vol 6) Chapter 45: Whos the Goddess, Again? Travel for the dynamic burning duo was otherwise uneventful and a bit grueling, mostly for Azure who was far more prone to tiring. Nonetheless, she claimed to be completely on course, and Sammy stopped asking after the second snappy response on the subject. She did not want to stop and rest, that much was clear. Sammy was exasperated and proud all at once at that. When Azure declared arrival at the target point, it only took an hour or so of searching to find their object of interest. It was a bit disappointing when it came down to it. ¡°No, no, no!¡± Azure whined as she collapsed on a great tree trunk dramatically, face pressed down on the wood as she slammed her fist weakly in defeat. ¡°Please, no!¡± ¡°Oh, stop it,¡± Sammy admonished as she looked over the all-too-familiar treetop terrain at the seemingly identical structure of a black monolith ahead. ¡°We should¡¯ve expected it, my True Blue Baby. A monolith pointing somewhere? There wouldn¡¯t just be one. They point to each other I bet, in order to reveal a convergence. But the point is, this is progress.¡± Azure retracted her harness arms and flipped over onto her back. She stared upward, shaking her head with an expression of self-pity. ¡°Why? Why must I endure this torture?¡± Sighing and rolling her eyes, Sammy reached down to pick the body of Tanjhere up, which Azure allowed. Holding her in a princess carry, Sammy hauled her along as she approached the monolith. Much more quickly, Rallindin¡¯s mind decoded the information, not even needing to reference the modified astrolabe directly. Any sort of ¡®scene takeover¡¯ was skipped, and Samantha felt a new heading and distance indicated to her. The same duration of travel, too. ¡°It¡¯s making a triangle,¡± Sammy declared. ¡°Probably to pinpoint the center. We could just go to it now, I think, but the quasi-mystical aspects to all this probably make that an unwise play. Best to finish this out.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Azure muttered, hugging Rallindin''s cushy body more tightly. ¡°I just want to go home.¡± Sammy fought off a smile. She¡¯s pouting. ¡°Alright. As long as you absorb where we need to go first. If I¡¯m seeing this right, Mount Lump is in the triangle, though not very central.¡± She wheeled around and pointed with a metal harness arm. ¡°That¡¯s the heading to the monolith. Dead on. Got it?¡± Azure raised her head to look and nodded. ¡°I got it.¡± She wriggled and put her head back over Ralli¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Now carry me to my bed.¡± Laughing, Sammy set out to do as instructed. ¡°Who¡¯s the goddess, again?¡± The incarnation of The Lover yawned. ¡°Me. Until morning, at least.¡± Not long after setting out, she was getting calls from Azure ¡ª not even looking up ¡ª to course correct. Usually due to Samantha daydreaming, often about new spell designs. Did she have enough to make the destined ¡®witchfire¡¯ when she got back, or did she need the [Magic] domain as the final ingredient? Azure would likely have alchemical knowledge to pass on to Tashome, which would hopefully include improvements on the napalm stuff, even with technological gaps. Eventually, they arrived back at their cave, guarded fairly unnecessarily by several golem constructs she had to recharge every few days. There had been only one incident ever while they were away, which was a lone beetle getting stepped on when it wandered too close. Azure was already asleep, so Sammy tried not to wake her as she set her down in the bed. But the instant she sloooowly set her down, Azure¡¯s eyes opened, and her grip tightened. She grunted once. Sighing, Sammy got into the bed, knowing snuggles had been demanded and could not be denied. With a pleased little smile on her face, Azure nestled Tanjhere¡¯s head on Rallindin¡¯s extensive bosom and quickly fell back asleep. Figuring her mind could use a refreshed perspective, and knowing Azure would not be happy if she managed to sneak away to do other things anyway, Samantha tried to unwind and sleep as well. She can get through this because of this little makeshift home I thought was totally inadequate for her fine tastes. But it¡¯s like a getaway, like a retreat, even from our world beyond. She¡¯s been completely content with this specifically. Us here alone. She could be here forever if she gets to be here with me. In this stinking, horrible, deadly cesspool of a reality without a single other upside. How amazing is that? Samantha¡¯s brain managed to turn off for once and she slept. Perhaps Rallindin had, too. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? ¡°It¡¯s official!¡± Sammy declared as the star positions of the monolith decoded in her mind. ¡°This one points to the first one we found, making a triangle.¡± ¡°Wonderful,¡± Azure said without energy. ¡°So now we¡¯ll find something worth a shit, right?¡± ¡°We can only hope. We want to go to where these points would converge. The center. Where no doubt only the truly worthy and righteous can tread upon the holy ground of the divine!¡± Azure gave her a flat look. ¡°Spare me, Samantha. But yes, I can do that with precision I think. Hopefully, there¡¯s a pot of gold there.¡± ¡°What about silver?¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Shut up.¡± Azure began walking off on spidery metal legs, arms crossed. Giggling, Sammy followed. The journey would be around half a day. Early on, they noted it to be terrain they were unfamiliar with, even though it was right under their nose in a regional sense. There was plenty of wildlife, though she never laid eyes on a snake. That wasn¡¯t uncommon though, being rather sneaky beings. There was something subtly different about the location, one that was difficult to put her finger on. Quieter. Untouched. A feeling of Unnature being aware of them. It reminded her somewhat of the Bridge of Edges. She suspected some sort of spacial abnormality was happening like it was impossible to be there without the knowledge they held. Anything but direct-to-the-point reference curves around it, and you¡¯d never know it was underneath. Like the inside of a fingernail, you just interact with the surface normally. To pique her curiosity, Sammy paused to go up and see what the Cat Head type for the territory was. But several minutes of observation turned up nothing. She even dared to cast a noise-making cantrip at a far distance away, to attract them. Nothing. Is it really barren of those souls here? We must be making progress, then. They continued on to the center through the mostly familiar wilderness, accentuated with a great variety of vegetation, including the prolific glowing fungus and fungal blooms of the ¡®dark zones.¡¯ Azure just suddenly stopped at some point. Sammy looked around. ¡°What? What is it?¡± ¡°We¡¯re here. It¡¯s ahead, anyway.¡± Sammy squinted forward, seeing nothing but trees. ¡°They don¡¯t look like they form the even branch patterns of those monolith holders. Are you sure?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure! More sure than I was with the others. This is the dead-ass central point.¡± She pointed at a particular, unremarkable tree trunk. ¡°That one, I think.¡± They moved closer, anchoring to nearby trees, though remaining out of its immediate vicinity. The trees in the area were all caked in the thick, gooey grime that was prevalent everywhere (one of the few basically harmless features of the Wyld other than the awful funk). This wasn¡¯t unusual for those terrain features that were hard to get to by the giant worms who fed on it. The tree she pointed to, though, was the thickest with grime she¡¯d ever seen, as if it had been untouched for aeons. The tree bark wasn¡¯t even technically visible though the difference was hard to tell at a distance. Sammy exchanged a glance and a grimace with Azure, then moved one of her metal appendages into the waxy goop. There was a gross splorch sound as the arm went entirely through a ridiculously thick layer, and seemingly into open space. ¡°Oh goddesses,¡± Azure exclaimed. ¡°Please tell me there isn¡¯t some alcove we¡¯re supposed to go into, through a disgusting wall of-of toe jam!¡± Sammy winced at her analogy. It was terrible and made everything worse. ¡°I think there¡¯s an alcove through a disgusting wall of Unnature¡¯s Ear Wax we¡¯re supposed to go into.¡± Azure did an emphatic shiver. ¡°Phlaungh!¡± Sammy utilized two of her metal arms to make a hole in the grime from a safe distance. Inside, instead of merely a tree, was a section of spiral staircase, and an inner core of black material like the monoliths. Reflective obsidian. ¡°At least we found something in this hellscape,¡± Sammy said, suppressing a shiver after causing a huge glob of stuff to drop endlessly. The smell released from her efforts was eye-wateringly pungent. Dust was generated, though Azure quickly sprayed the air with some alchemical ward to keep it off of them. She gagged once. Because they obviously needed to go into it, Sammy forged a cylinder of Hard Light to protect them from oozing drippings and such. The confines were a bit tight for their harnesses, so Samantha put hers forward, and Azure had most of hers trailing behind. Sammy adjusted the cylinder into a kind of protective cab held awkwardly by two arms. Whatever it took to keep the icky stuff away. Finally, she made a little bit of light to see more clearly. With that, she began making her way upward. ¡°Wait,¡± Azure said uncertainly, touching Sammy¡¯s shoulder from behind. ¡°Are you¡­ sure we¡¯re supposed to go¡­ up?¡± Sammy turned to Azure and blinked. ¡°Uhh¡­ yes? I feel the draw in my bones. Why?¡± Azure shook her head and turned slightly to look down the steps, contemplative, with her mouth open, but not speaking. Then she glanced at her reflection, grimaced, and took Sammy¡¯s hand. ¡°Nevermind. Lead on, Chestnut.¡± ¡°Azure, what do you see in your reflection?¡± There was no answer. ¡°I just see you. I guess you see me, but my own reflection, to me, is my Earth self. Something I left behind.¡± Azure stared back at her for a moment, then took a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s do that then, hmm?¡± Frowning, Sammy nonetheless nodded and turned to lead on. It was a long, long way up the stairs, a wall of obsidian on their left and a wall of smelly ick to their right. Seemingly endless and monotonous¡­ Suddenly, Sammy noticed the ambient light had increased without her manipulation. She gasped. ¡°Azure, look!¡± She pointed ahead and upward, and an obvious glow could be seen bleeding through the semi-transparency of thinning ick. ¡°Light, and it¡¯s golden!¡± Azure barked an amazed, pleased laugh. ¡°Yes please!¡± They picked up the pace to move out of the darkness. Indeed, the tunnel they were in completely opened up into an environment the likes they hadn¡¯t seen for what felt like months and was at least weeks. The outer ick wall simply ended on a dime. Even the trees were cleared, just a vast, thick canopy they¡¯d risen out of. It was a beautiful, alien sky of ambient glowing gold-bronze, like a hidden sun lit it up. The clouds were glittering silver and made metallic multi-hued reflections. The great spiral tower staircase wove up and up and up into heaven. High beyond and above it all appeared to be an oversized moon, gleaming white-silver like some element of higher purity. The tower appeared to connect to a greater tower on the moon, and perhaps a palace. A haze of something higher up made for some obscuring of fine details, however. The revelation of what that haze was mixed with another sudden understanding ¡ª under the light of that sky, her invisibility and illusions were wiped away like mud on a windshield. The haze became a torrent of screeches, a tumult rising higher into one of the most terrifying sounds she¡¯d ever heard. It was a horde of flying Cat Heads, and upon noticing an ¡®invader,¡¯ they were coming down. ¡°Oh shit,¡± Sammy muttered.
(Vol 6) Chapter 46: The Worst of the Worst of the Worst Sammy burst into action, determined not to waste one moment. Using her harness arms, she climbed upward hard and fast. ¡°Waiting is pointless ¡ª charge past them! We¡¯ll blow those fuckers out of our path!¡± Azure followed, though she was sputtering in argument. ¡°A-are you crazy?! We could retreat and lose them in the forest!¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t see a single one down there. They likely don¡¯t even go into it! If we run and they just wait here, what does that get us?! Their eyesight is obviously incredible, too. They¡¯re practically dots right now and they saw us instantly.¡± Azure might¡¯ve sighed. ¡°Alright. If we die, we die, I guess.¡± ¡°Gee, thanks for the confidence. Look, a plan is brewing in this brain, okay? Just follow my lead.¡± Alright, a plan, a plan, any plan... The immediate task in front of them was simply racing as fast as possible because it was a long charge before the beasties even met them. It took half a minute just to make them out decently. They were not familiar Cat Heads. Flapping bat wings on a feathered harpy-like body and what looked like three long scorpion tails with stingers. Oh, just fucking great, these are the worst of the worst! Again! ¡°You have some venom protection, right, Azure?¡± ¡°Of course I do. Wait, they have three stinger tails?! Fuck my life, these are the worst of the worst! Samantha¡­ it¡¯s not too late to retreat, you know. Maybe going down leads to some comfy twilight without bat scorpion murder cats?¡± Sammy scoffed loudly. ¡°Yeah right! It would be something far worse and you know it. It doesn¡¯t matter! This is where we have to go. It¡¯s the culmination of this bullshit quest and where this bullshit queen is waiting. Now get on board and stop complaining about bullshit!¡± ¡°Alright, alright! I¡¯m with you. We¡¯ll carve a way through these ugly furred fuckheads.¡± ¡°Now we¡¯re talking!¡± A frenetic climb ensued, and a decidedly unclear percentage of the way up to the top. As they moved, they quaffed a few potions, including a toughness upgrade and absolute poison/venom protection. Sammy/Rallindin were already immune to most such things, but the Wyld had proven itself to not care much about deific immunities, as she discovered the hard way. Better safe than sorry. Inevitably, the diving horde loomed menacingly. Sammy stopped short to make use of preparatory measures. The first thing she did was make a transparent bowl of sorts, made of invulnerable force walls, so they¡¯d slam into it. It would be largely impossible to move, even for her, so inevitably she¡¯d have to dismiss it. But it would blunt the first wave completely. Once the barrier was in place, she began layering protections over both of them. With wound negations ¡®illegal¡¯ essentially, she got around it by making automated barriers. Giant floating shields that would block the way without actions, though they¡¯d eventually be destroyed. From a few altercations where she¡¯d used them, they could essentially negate an attack once per ¡®exchange¡¯ or ¡®round¡¯ of five seconds. Depending, they could last two or three rounds, sometimes more. Azure focused on making as many of her constructed nemeses for the Cat Heads as possible ¡ª giant grappling spider-things. In a rather short time frame, she managed to summon all her strongest variety out. A dozen of them spaced out to help make the way and distract the enemy. Four of these were the size of bears and could keep multiple Cat Heads away continuously. The rest, significantly smaller, would largely jump and grapple, attempting to more or less permanently neutralize a single combatant. Sammy¡¯s final prep was to utilize Hard Light layerings for more autonomous screens. She pulled her same trick as with the harness arms ¡ª flexible snake-like constructs. Blades, spears, bullets, and all such things were useless against Cat Heads, being invulnerable. Knocking and entangling were the simplest and most reliable physical solutions. Defensive efforts were soon over, and the Cat Heads fell upon the force wall with great ringing gongs from the impact, bouncing off again and again, until they were bouncing into their own confused and disoriented mass and it became a thick jungle of them crowding the bowl, sliding down, or batting their wings awkwardly away to reassess. Sammy and Azure simply held still, waiting for their moment and not presenting themselves as targets. Meanwhile, the spiders waited at the edges. Come on¡­ daylight any day now¡­ The press started to spill over the edge of the force bowl, and as soon as they did, a small army of snakes and spiders rose to the occasion, attacking from a relative ambush. The great mass quickly shifted at that point, abandoning the top of the bowl to try and come around. Spell ready to unleash, Sammy dropped the force effect, dispelling it instantly. A moment later, Azure fired potion rounds one after the other, causing raw concussive detonations, blowing the scorpion-tailed beasts outward, spinning and dropping from their loss of flight control. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. As they both moved into the gap, Sammy let loose on her spell, catching all those already knocked with another grand concussive wave, ensuring the space created stayed clear. It then became a relative sprint in climbing upward with their harnesses, abandoning attacks for as much speed as they could muster. It was a mad dash to shoot through the gap, as a thick concentration of the Cat Heads was still very close in a great ring that was quickly collapsing. The spiders in reserve jumped on beasts at the last moment before they could¡¯ve slammed into Sammy or Azure and ruined the charge. One of the biggest spiders even jumped and sacrificed itself, grabbing onto four screeching beasts at once to fall far downward¡­ then releasing them as it bungied back up on a powerful, thick thread. Cat Heads swarmed and attacked it ruthlessly, dooming it to destruction, but it had more than done its job of absorbing copious amounts of attention. In truth, the scorpion-tailed beasts held no particular priority for Sammy and Azure. Whatever was closest, they went for ruthlessly. They were quite capable with their tails, spearing spiders off of them, or grappling to hold their own against the snakes. After they did finally kill or disable something, they tried to eat it, which was favorable for a bit of extra delay. Sammy¡¯s shield saved her from a blindside that would¡¯ve been catastrophic. But a great, glowing tower shield moved in the way of a charging feline who then bounced into a wall with a great racket, before falling down over steps into others of its kind. The shield was flickering with damage but still held ready for more. Their variety of distractions and summoned allies did the deed of getting them through the gap and above it, all their enemies at their feet, and their harness arms continuously pulling them up, claw grapple by claw grapple. Naturally, the flyers were faster. But now we can really unload on these bitches! Words did not have to be exchanged. Azure already had her gun loaded, and she fired the customary three potions below into the mass, sending a fountain of burning spray and globules as sticky alchemical fire goo painted a horde of Cat Heads, to screams and howls of protest. Meanwhile, the spiders rushed out of the way, knowing exactly what was coming. The Wyld Inferno of Samantha-Ralindin dropped once more. A massive torrent of fire blossomed downward as if hell itself was rushing back from a trip to heaven. Every Cat Head below them was hit and bowled downward in a continuous roll, and explosion after explosion rained like fireworks from within as the alchemical concoction detonated in dozens of different spots. Some of the Cat Heads were seen flying in an arc free of the main mass of fire, blown clear. In nearly all cases, however, they were coated with flames and immolated, as the fire might not wound them, but it also would not go out. They howled and pawed at themselves as they fell, ignoring flight in their frenzied hatred of the substance on them that would not go away, die, or even abate. Time alone could consume it. Before they could think to celebrate, though, no less than a dozen of the flyers came from around the other side of the tower, snarling and hell-bent on their targets with a full head of steam. Shit! The tower itself shielded them from the napalm and the blast. More than half a dozen got blocked or grappled by leaping spiders and darting snake constructs. Three got through to attack Samantha, two to engage Azure, bearing down with talons and whipping scorpion tail stingers. Sammy¡¯s phantom tower shield barred the way against one monster, which responded by ensnaring it in its talons and stabbing it, two tails breaking entirely through the force-like barrier. This sufficed to occupy it as it spun downward and struggled with a writhing shield. Azure¡¯s shield managed to slam one foe as well, and, having more or less blindsided the beast, avoided getting tangled up or damaged. Sammy had two more to deal with. She attempted a feint as a retreat one way while going the other, hoping to juke both of them, but they didn¡¯t buy it at all. Unwilling to risk her harness arms getting wrapped up, she focused on blocking them with her magical staff Jammer, flaring out a mass of entangling wires to interject. Both beasties tried to slice through with their talons ¡ª this worked for one layer of strands, but they slammed into another layer. One screeched and bulled its way through with surprising strength, buckling the restraints in a chaotic twisting spill. Sammy took a glancing blow in the shoulder, knocking her off balance. The other Cat Head instead grabbed the strands before it pushed in, and then pulled them apart, forcing an opening. Through that opening, its stingers came to bear, jabbing hard for the soft, wizardly center that was Rallindin¡¯s body. She got stabbed in the side and the leg by a razor-sharp stinger, cutting through magical fabric, enchantments, toughness ¡ª everything ¡ª to bury oh so briefly before ripping out from Sammy¡¯s jerking defensive motions, gashing her similar to a nasty sword wound.
You¡¯ve been dealt a virtual Major Wound to the Torso. Due to resistance, you are not stunned but are at -1 Effective Levels to all actions until healed.
Poison has been neutralized due to spell protections.
You¡¯ve been dealt a virtual Minor Wound to the left leg. You suffer no penalties but further injury to the leg will worsen the condition.
Poison has been neutralized due to spell protections.
In truth, she barely felt it compared to the other pains she¡¯d been through. She kept her head easily as a veteran of such combats. Focus in the heat of things; focus earned with scars. She spared an anxious glance for Azure, but the blue wonder had fared better, fending off her other attacker with an apparent quick harness-arm parry using two of them at once. On the other hand, she was perhaps a ¡®step¡¯ or two underneath Samantha due to the movement loss. I should have used them. I could¡¯ve parried like she did. Oh well. I¡¯m not down and out yet. Now¡¯s our chance to blast these fuckers and get more separation!
(Vol 6) Chapter 47: Cry Havoc and Hold Firm Sammy unleashed three spells on top of one another. The first was a contingency trigger to summon another autonomous protective shield ¡ª her other was technically still ¡®out¡¯ but it would not be doing much with a Cat Head using it as a chew toy and scratching post at once. The other two were Fire Funnels, relatively narrow ¡®spiral cones¡¯ the size of a person. If they hit, they not only dealt wounds and knocked backward quite forcefully, but they did something like a continuous pushing corkscrew for several rounds. She¡¯d literally made the spell for shitfuck flying Cat Heads because as long as they got hit dead on, they¡¯d be disabled for at least ten seconds, and possibly even twenty. As usual for the beasts, they had little mind to dodge and both got hit by the concentrated, spinning torrents of fire. They were blown back in two different directions and tumbling as the spells barreled over them. Azure shot a Cat Head with some potion round, engulfing it in a huge blob of gray, glue-like material that dropped it out of the sky immediately, struggling and howling the whole way down. ¡°Hey!¡± Sammy called. ¡°That¡¯s new! You didn¡¯t even tell me about it.¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± Azure called back. ¡°Got lost in the shuffle! Experimental. Should¡¯ve thought of it before. Only have a few. The experiment is a success, in any case!¡± ¡°I¡¯d say!¡± The other beast that was on Azure got grappled by one of the biggun spiders, slammed and pinned into the obsidian wall of the tower as it screeched and writhed, tails whirling and stabbing chaotically. Futile, because the spider had a very favorable pin from behind. The Cat Head that had Sammy¡¯s shield was finally moving free again, but by then, plenty of distance had been put between it and its targets. The same went for all other enemies visible right then, though far below, a small horde was beginning to recover, even still wreathed in fire. Sammy and Azure crawled upward as fast as they could, screened by the few remaining spider and snake constructs. The distance that was at first a very wide gap closed as several Cat Heads recovered and raced upward for them at greater speed than they could flee. But to this, Sammy was quite ready. She cast Wall of Force once more, this time formed into a disk around the tower, protecting the direct approach and their flanks. The Cat Heads stupidly slammed into the nearly invisible wall and all their built-up speed was ruined. They gave piercing shrieks of protest. Meanwhile, Azure took the opportunity to ¡®summon¡¯ more giant jumping spiders, content to leave them behind ready to attack the leading beasts, dishing out attrition and delay to their mistress¡¯s benefit. Now she was pouring them out of a gourd, glowing liquid like molten glass growing into arachnid forms. Sammy knew she could make a total of thirteen of them that way, perhaps two every five seconds while moving. All the while, Sammy and Azure maintained an even pace upward, no longer sprinting so they could focus on casting and other things, but steadily making their way up. As the Cat Heads finally made their way around the wall, Sammy decided to improvise and craft a spell particular to the occasion. Weaving mana with sways of her staff, she took a bit of extra mana and time to double-cast it. Two constructs blossomed out like prongs from the tower base, forming into miniature towers themselves, facing downward. And they had faces indeed ¡ª of dogs. The Cat Heads approached, but before they had gotten up to speed, the dog-headed towers growled, then gave tremendous barks that sent a great visible cone of disturbance ¡ª sonic damage with a knock bonus. When it hit the Cat Heads, they were sent reeling backward with more screams of indignant protest. A couple slammed into the top side of the wall, with others knocked clear of it to tumble chaotically in the open air as they struggled to regain control. With a victorious grin, Sammy called, ¡°My Canine Castles are all bark and no bite ¡ª and that¡¯s just fine for tower defense! Kyehehehe!¡± She shook her fist. ¡°Revenge is mine, you abominable fucks!¡± Azure was eyeing her across the space incredulously, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous, you know that?¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± Muttering to herself, Azure nonetheless mustered another duo of spiders to guard the new towers from those who might get too close. In their radius of attack, the Dog Heads created a zone the Cat Heads couldn¡¯t bull through, as another group found themselves rebuffed. All of the beasties so hit suddenly stopped paying any attention to the humanoids ¡ª it was clear that their hatred was extensive for the new adversaries. A spider jumped on one Cat Head that was coming in from the flank, successfully letting the dogs keep their barking focused. Sammy cast another two Canine Castles a bit further up and angled to guard the most likely flank. It took her under 600 MP available after all the crap she¡¯d done, out of the fairly absurd total reserves of Rallindin. That was plenty, but it was probably worth conserving the rest to some degree for Who Knew What ahead. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Because they were constantly moving up, she had to more or less abandon the faithful dogs instead of reinforcing them. It was with some reluctance she gave up attempting The Perfect Defense. She didn¡¯t need such a thing, after all, just enough delay and distraction. The Cat Heads were at a certain height. Not all the way up, either. Makes me wonder if there is a limit to their flight. One can hope. The tower defense below them got further and further away, and it performed smashingly to frustrate and distract the Cat Heads, who diverted their attention to it completely. Spiders defended numerous flanking angles as the Dog Heads blasted a huge swath of the approach in a great semi-circle, and the speed of approach was manageable thanks to the nearness of the force wall speed bump. Large numbers of the enemy beasts began getting blasted continuously, only to keep coming back for more, angrier and angrier not to make progress. If there was one thing Cat Heads didn¡¯t have, it was intelligence. But their tenacity was unquestioned and they never gave up. Eventually, the beasts coming at the towers became almost the entire horde, and they started getting chaotically knocked wider and wider out, thus making larger numbers begin approaching from the flank, with the spiders struggling to guard the weaker flank to Sammy¡¯s right. Sammy and Azure took potshots from long range to keep the defense going as long as possible, but inevitably the spiders were overwhelmed and took casualties. The sweet, sweet canine towers were swarmed from multiple sides. Cat Heads bit, stabbed, and clawed at the enemy heads, which resisted with raw toughness for some moments more. Then, with final piteous whimpers, the towers were toppled and destroyed by sheer mass strength one after the other, crashing down into the force wall to splinter into pieces. By then, the distance was great between the tower remains and the fleeing duo of Sammy and Azure. The Cat Heads would need over half a minute of flight to catch up, she reckoned. Sammy did a salute and declared somberly, ¡°Well done, faithful canines. You were Good Boys to the very end.¡± Inevitably, the feline-bat-scorpions resumed their climb with their ample flight capabilities. Sammy had no intention of letting them max out their acceleration, though. She made more force wall barriers to act as speed bumps, stalling them out again and again. Each time, they went around eventually but were confused and slowed down once more. They quite stupidly resumed the same angle closer to the tower eventually, as they always attempted to bee-line to their prey. For all their invulnerability, they lack real adaptation. An entire horde neutralized by technology. The power of Progress! She could have possibly ¡®boxed them in¡¯ with force walls, but at the best of times, their numbers were very scattered around and distributed, and to have enough material would take multiple castings at the scale needed. While she did that at medium-ish range, those that were missed would come for her. If she really had to neutralize them entirely, it was a decent play despite the risk. Or perhaps doing it on a smaller scale, systematically, with high mana costs. But she was banking on simply getting clear, and so the speed bumps were the safest, mana-cost-efficient method. It was useful to consider strategies, though, even unused. If needed in the future, she had an existing framework in her head. Hmm. Maybe the first bowl facing the opposite direction. I could have ¡®topped it¡¯ after so many were inside, sealing a large number. But then I would¡¯ve had to go over it to get through the rest. Hmm. Another force bowl stacked over? The material limits¡­ She suddenly noticed Azure breathing more labored and realized the air was¡­ different. She blinked and looked down, trying to make out the forest canopy. It was very far below, visible like a bit of a disk that gradually faded into the fog of the spirit world. That particular fog had a darker outline in the shape of a planet within. ¡°Altitude?¡± she asked, puzzled. ¡°But this is the spirit world.¡± She looked around at the more immediate environment, and if anything, it was getting brighter, not darker. Above, the moon and its palace seemed to loom like silver within a sea of gold. Azure shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Oh. Oh yeah, I guess that¡¯s what this sensation is. Just feels kinda good to me, I guess.¡± ¡°Lucky you. Let¡¯s just push through.¡± ¡°You got it!¡± She found the moon and the sky it sat in a fascination that drew her eyes. Beautiful. It speaks to the concept of the day and night being wedded. The silver moon paired with the golden sun. Not unlike Azure and I. Huh. Panting a bit, Azure called, ¡°If you¡¯d stop staring at the shinies, you¡¯d notice the change with the felines below.¡± ¡°Huh?! What?!¡± Sammy quickly looked down, scrambling to cast spells, expecting the worst¡­ but all was more than okay. The Cat Heads were ringed around the tower, beating their wings furiously and howling to climb¡­ to no avail. For whatever reason, they couldn¡¯t fly any higher. The air and the energy were perhaps not palatable for them, though they tried with all their might. None seemed to grasp the idea of using the stairs, either. She also noticed the majority were not even looking at them anymore, and their calls were desperate in some urge as opposed to that of fury or aggression. Their eyes were looking beyond the bodies of Rallindin and Tanjhere ¡ª up the tower. To the palace. Sammy followed that gaze, contemplative. Your mistress hates you, doesn¡¯t she? Even as you ache to reach her. She mocks you, mocks whatever failure you were to her because she is cruel. As cruel and unforgiving as the tangled, unnatural mass below, a temple of spite and derision. With no clue what to expect for a reception, Samantha continued her climb to the top, feeling energized despite everything ¡ª because that bright sky, and particularly the light itself, was hers. It was a symbol spelling out so much that she¡¯d already conquered.
(Vol 6) Chapter 48: Saving Your Progress The sky''s brightness, heat, and intensity only amplified as they continued. It touched the obsidian wall of the tower and gradually silvered it into a full mirror. Sammy had ignored that reflection for a while, but suddenly she looked at it again, and no longer saw the ¡®old her¡¯ at all. It was Samantha. The Goddess Samantha. She smiled victoriously. Ha! Yeah, that¡¯s right, you bitch! I¡¯m who I want to be. My reflection is entirely under my control. I see what is true¡­ I made it this way. It is no longer a lie, if ever. Sammy had to slow down as she realized Azure began to lag, panting and having difficulty. They went through some spell protections, and she quaffed a potion to help, which simmered her down and let her continue, with difficulty, and her skin was staying entirely crystalline. She was even sweating. That was not too common for a long time. It was odd, like condensation on a cup more than actual fleshly sweat. As the grand shape of the palace began to become evident, gravity started dying rapidly. If anything, their method of travel became more effective thanks to the lack of resistance to the climb, and plenty of good handholds on the railing and step structure. Not long after progress under Azure¡¯s buffs, that brightness seemed to become something more. Sammy felt the light licking her soul, trying to envelop it. She found it wonderful, actually. It pulled her along and she wanted practically to ¡®run¡¯ upward. The Light of Truth. A somewhat foreign thought that she realized was¡­ true. ¡°I-I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t! Please!¡± Sammy blinked and turned back downward to see Azure completely stopped, hunched with her head turned away in pain, eyes entirely closed. Panting and shaking. Her clothes were soaked and dripping. ¡°Oh no,¡± Samantha breathed, feeling suddenly extra worried, both for her lover and the implications to their journey. ¡°Azure, what can we-¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go on! It-it¡¯s impossible! It burns deeper than fire ¡ª I¡¯m doused in lava deeper than bone!¡± With effort and squinting eyes, she met Sammy¡¯s gaze. Terror was painted on her face. ¡°If I move any closer, I¡¯ll be consumed!¡± Sammy was completely at a loss. She looked around and saw only the golden gleaming sky and the tower. Sideways solutions didn¡¯t exist. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere else to go, Blueberry! You can see that. Come on, babe!¡± She crawled back down closer, and held out her hand, putting on a confident, supportive smile. ¡°You¡¯re almost there! You can do it. Have faith!¡± Azure gazed back, shaking her head uncertainly. Her eyes came to focus on the hand. She almost did it. Her body twitched. ¡°Nowhere else,¡± she repeated softly, and her head twisted down, to look below, down the length of the tower. ¡°I see it now. I failed. Damn it. This would be my punishment¡­ not so bad, for a coward. I¡¯d have helped you¡­ It¡¯s what I¡¯m made for, after all.¡± ¡°Azure, you¡¯re not making sense. You didn¡¯t fail, and you¡¯re damn sure no coward! Look how far you¡¯ve gotten! Almost to the top, with victory over the hill! Make the run with me. Downhill, babe, with a full head of steam!¡± This seemed to pain the Incarnation of The Lover. She bared her teeth and a desperate moan escaped. When she looked up, her eyes gleamed wet. ¡°You don¡¯t fucking get it, Samantha! That moon?!¡± She thrust her finger upward emphatically, the tip of it immediately beginning to smoke. ¡°That¡¯s your test! I walked away from mine! In fear, I turned away¡­ because I saw the monster in the mirror. What I¡¯d be¡­¡± She ripped her eyes away and finished in a whisper, ¡°What I¡¯d be apart from you.¡± Her smoking finger dropped. Sammy was left stunned, and she suddenly understood what she meant. ¡°Down the steps. A split up. Individual tests.¡± Silence and stillness. One cool breeze blew through the air, little more than a momentary vapor in that heat. Sammy moved down closer, putting her hand practically in Azure¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s too late, now. Come on! We¡¯ll change things. That¡¯s what we do. Adaptation, Azure! There¡¯s a lesson in that. Make the best of things and keep going forward. It¡¯s the only play. Take my hand! I will find a way to protect you. I promise.¡± Azure¡¯s eyes rose to the hand, and then to Samantha¡¯s eyes. Two twin worlds met again, swirling with power, familiar as always but in that moment entirely alien. They did not truly meet eye to eye, but twisted together¡­ a glorious crossroads of two disparate paths. ¡°No. You won¡¯t.¡± Azure threw herself downward and clear of the tower in a freefall. ¡°Azure!¡± Sammy screamed, and immediately tried to grab her with the claws, or grab her lover¡¯s claws ¡ª anything. But she was dodged deftly, and the closest arm to succeeding was blocked by the spell shield, making Sammy a victim of her own sorcerous excellence. Without further hesitation, Sammy leapt right after her into the same kind of freefall, starting a targeted spell to slow Azure¡¯s fall. ¡°Stop it, Samantha!¡± Azure called, baring her teeth and pointing her gun threateningly. ¡°You can¡¯t come running after me every damn time! I¡¯m not your damsel ¡ª and I need to do this!¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Just shut up cause I¡¯m not allowing this! You¡¯ll die!¡± ¡°Maybe ¡ª but here. It wouldn¡¯t be the end. You can¡¯t control everything, Chestnut.¡± The unfortunate reality of the vulnerable position Samantha was in was made abundantly clear when Azure fired a potion round and a huge AoE glob of glue blasted Sammy right in the face. She had only a split moment to react, there wasn¡¯t any leverage to dodge with, and she was caught in the middle of casting a spell. She was sent spinning, disoriented instantly with her vision completely blocked. She struggled in midair only briefly, as another impact occurred and she was jerked, knocked into the tower, and then fell only a short distance before slowing as the glue stretched. She had a vague understanding she was stuck to the tower wall. Briefly, she screamed bloody murder and struggled physically to get her head free. This only just succeeded, and she deliberately calmed herself down. Focusing carefully on a verbal-only spell, she emitted a burst of acid-based magic outward. This nearly freed her, and a second casting nearly disintegrated the rest of the glue. When she got out, she anxiously moved to look down, but Azure wasn¡¯t even visible. Panicked, she went around the tower, hoping she was just at a different angle, but there was nothing. She was likely obscured by cloud cover. The instant she reached out mentally, Azure sent, ¡°As Above, So Below, my love. It¡¯s not suicide. Succeed and so will I. Go!¡± ¡°Azure, y-! Azure!¡± The connection was blocked. Despite this, by focusing on it, Sammy could tell where she was. Way, way down. A freefall was fast, and she had a ton of time to fall. Sammy screamed then ¡ª couldn¡¯t help but scream, but she poured everything of herself into it, too. Deity was in it, the Righteous Indignation of a goddess. The Goddess¡¯s rage and anger for something precious taken away ¡ª put in jeopardy. It shook the tower. Shook the heavens. ¡°Come, Sister,¡± came a clear, feminine voice from above, soft and enchanting even in its demand. ¡°Come, and I will help her.¡± Sammy¡¯s head whipped upward to gaze at the palace and feel the incredible draw again, with the voice only adding to it. The palace gleamed, pulled, reached out with the core of its silver light ¡ª out to her. Their meeting was Fated. Irresistible. Still, she would have resisted it if not for that promise. Downward seemed to hold no hope for rescue at that point. Moving up physically only briefly, the Goddess Samantha ¡ª synonymous with the Goddess Rallindin ¡ª reached out to the light, to those moonbeams of the palace. Golden glow met silver and merged. She became light and felt the distance become nothing. Day and Night were one again. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Azure freefalled through the sky next to the tower, tears in her eyes at what she had to do to Samantha. She shivered from that terrible scream. It was no small matter, defying a goddess. She silently thanked the clouds that had come out of nowhere to block Samantha¡¯s view. Otherwise, she might¡¯ve been targeted by some long-distance bullshit spell the girl might pull out of her ass. There were precious few things her Pale Beautifulness couldn¡¯t find a solution for. Like climbing this tower alone. I¡¯m pleased to help despite the pain it caused me, but she would have handled it without me. I should¡¯ve gone down when I had the chance. I can¡¯t claim ignorance. It was right there in front of my face. Me, staring back. The only way to counter cowardice is with bravery. Whatever it is, I must face it. First, she had to get there. At least she felt like she had her wits back. Trying to crawl after Samantha into the baking atmosphere was one of the most painful things she¡¯d ever done. It had been like taking a dip in a sea of fire. That sky rejected her absolutely. She was simply not worthy to pass. Samantha would never understand or believe that, but it was true. The area swarming with the Cat Heads loomed below her. Some of them noticed her, but the palace above seemed to be especially drawing their attention. That or they only found prey below them irresistible. Azure positioned the spell shield that still persisted directly in front and below her, and wrapped her harness arms around it, grabbing it in six places and creating a buffing frame. She then pulled out a potion and smashed it into the shield with her hand. It was enveloped in a cackling blue aura. Extra protection, but mostly aided a ¡®shield charge.¡¯ Not something in the inventory she ever thought she¡¯d use, but she could think of no greater shield charge than descending at maximum velocity. The Meteor Azure! Hopefully, we can drink to this one day and laugh. She fell down into the zone of the beasties. Many looked like they were ready to attack or intercept, but misjudged her speed by a mile. Three of them nonetheless managed to get right in the way. The shield crashed into and past them, their anchorage to anything not strong enough to budge her momentum much. One impact did dent the shield. All three Cat Heads went spinning and falling, but to Azure, it was more like they were still flying, because she zipped right beyond them. She thankfully didn¡¯t need to touch the shield so did not feel the impact beyond a mild vibration and whoosh. But two of the Cat Head bodies rolled into her bracing harness arms, jarring her and causing her to struggle to keep the shield on point. Come on, come on! Almost home-free! The small horde of beasties zoomed past, a great number adjusting to her but unable to reach. Finally, though, one took a favorable angle and slammed into her. Azure braced for the impact at the last second, shifting her arms to make sure they were hit instead. She was jarred violently and knocked immediately, sent into an uncontrolled spin so fast she lost all sense of the world for a few moments. Thankfully, her real arms weren¡¯t needed to brace the shield and ¡ª doubly thankfully ¡ª she didn¡¯t hit anything else, her tumbling form angled away from the tower. She finally stopped spinning, though her brain lagged a while longer in dizziness. When she finally blinked back into her senses, she looked up to see the Cat Heads above, dozens diving for her, slowly gaining due to her chaotic spin slowing her somewhat (and their general expertise) but her still with quite a lead. If I dive to stay ahead, I¡¯ll hit something in the tangle and die. Hmm¡­
(Vol 6) Chapter 49: Face to Face Azure strongly considered diving. She could take a Slowfall potion right before hitting the tangle. But the timing didn¡¯t look great when she spared a glance to take measure. They¡¯d likely catch up to her while she was Slowfalling. At that point, it would be better to land on the tower and defend as she went down. Instead of this, though, she reached into her dimensional pocket and called for whatever number she had of a certain potion. One came to her hand. Shit! Should¡¯ve made more ¡ª why didn¡¯t I-! Bah. It¡¯ll do. It¡¯ll have to. Uh, uh¡­ what else¡­ alright, I got it! She pulled one other potion and so she loaded two of them freehand into the gun. With her shield and the harness arms facing behind her to block anything that might come from below ¡ª and to slow her down a bit more for a spell ¡ª she pointed her weapon diagonally upward and at the tower, as close to where the Cat Heads would traverse as possible. Immediately after, she fired another outward from it to fly through the open air. The first potion exploded on the tower and a massive, continually erupting growth of tangled vines and branches pushed outward from it, very much like a miniature version of the tangle of the Wyld below. Various Cat Heads crashed into it and got tangled and wrapped up, their momentum getting spoiled. They screeched in protest. A potion was just reaching the end of its upward journey through the air, slowing rapidly as gravity dragged it. Close enough ¡ª hopefully. Azure barked a command word and the potion burst, unleashing a great cloud of apparent floating debris. But when this ¡®debris¡¯ coated the Cat Head¡¯s fur and feathers, they began jerking around and clawing at themselves, especially shaking their heads, indignant howls ringing through the sky. Hundreds of little spiders crawled all over each of them, biting and trying to get into their eyes ¡ª or whatever else presented itself. To the Cat Heads, they were nothing more than an annoyance. But that was true of basically any attack and this was designed to annoy them. Every single beastie slowed and most lost concentration on her entirely. Those who dived further only dived thicker into the slowly floating mass, and inevitably pulled up short, fighting with their own skin, essentially, and not at all quick about winning the battle. The pursuit was over. Damn. If we were stuck here, I¡¯d definitely make more of these. But I¡¯m more than ready to put this fucking place behind me. She turned back around and dived a bit the rest of the way to the canopy of the tangled wood below. Despite everything, she smiled. The whole experience had been rather exhilarating. The smile was brief, as what she¡¯d crash into was ahead. More than that, something very dark waited below it. She had truly not even started to descend. Have I ever? Maybe that¡¯s what keeps me from the true attainment of Heaven. Why I couldn¡¯t go up with her, or even take true mastery of what is Below. Why I have no understanding. Truth. I run from myself ¡ª my demons. I walk as a liar trying these steps. Given, given, given, all is given to me, but some things must be seized. Taken and held on to burning in the hand. I tried to, once, but I gave up in failure, and then it beat me ¡ª with fear. This time I¡¯ll close my fist around it no matter what¡­ ¡°Cleanse me or destroy me,¡± she said softly, then cast her spell at the moment she felt was precise. Oh so slowly she passed back under the cover of the brush, which felt almost refreshing in its coolness. Her feet lightly touched down on a branch and she soon leapt at an angle to reach the staircase, and precisely where she had turned away to follow Samantha. Somehow, she knew even her boots touched down where her prior steps had been. She forced herself to look dead into the obsidian mirror of the surface. She hated what stared back at her. She feared it, too. Feared her. ¡°I await you,¡± said the Mirror Monster in a mocking, eerie echo, smiling her wicked smile. ¡°My dear, dear Azure.¡± ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Samantha-Rallindin came to suddenly, standing before massive double doors cast in glittering silver. It had a central motif as a large circle containing a combination of the sun and a crescent moon. The sun ¡ª gleaming gold ¡ª was the only vibrant color variation in any direction. Subtle and almost hidden by the grandness of the rest of the design, a single fruit seemed to be carved below, at normal height. A pomegranate. Sammy blinked as the doors slowly opened inward and supernatural silver-white moonlight beamed down on her from within ¡ª unlike most light, it soon made her squint because it somehow could blind her. She also noticed Rallindin¡¯s body was clothed in strange, red-gold robes made into the semblance of glittering flames. It was rather beautiful and accentuated with copious gold jewelry and rubies contrasting with the stark porcelain of the goddess¡¯s skin. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Despite all the grandeur, Sammy¡¯s first thoughts when fully conscious were for Azure. She cast her mind out¡­ but found no location. She lived, though. She was alive. Anything further was blotted out. The simulation took control and Sammy was a rider again with Rallindin, as she walked tall and proud through a great and beautiful hall that nonetheless slightly hurt to look at in its brightness. A plethora of heroic scenes made washed-out but colored murals on walls just visible beyond rows of checkered pillars that guided the way. Most, Sammy didn¡¯t specifically recognize. One, however, showed a blatant analog to the Serpent offering the apple to Eve. Only it wasn¡¯t an apple, but a pomegranate. On a simple white-stone throne, exceptionally high up a pyramid-like dais, sat the obvious queen of the realm. Despite that she wore a mask half ivory, half obsidian, she effortlessly oozed regal femininity in a way that made Sammy feel awkward in comparison. Her robes were like blue-white flowing water, her jewelry sparse but accentuating, with perfect but unpolished nails seen from one silvery hand peeking out. Her other hand was obscured in the shadow of strangely cast light, as if a tempting secret that was withheld. Atop her head was the same symbol as the door, the sun and the moon, but made simpler. Her eyes were the light casting throughout the room, and gazing into them seemed to reveal nothing of her intentions or who she really was, but all of her presence ¡ª all that she could change and reveal before her. It was wonderful and glorious just to be there with her. Peace and warmth radiated, somehow between them, or in interaction. A dichotomy meant to be, meant to pair, meant to align. It took quite a bit for Sammy to find her wits amidst all the wonder she had tugging at her, but find it she did, with a tremendous and fierce struggle. She grappled it back. As Rallindin opened her mouth, something Sammy knew would be very saucy somehow, Sammy seized control by the effort of iron will, in a way she didn¡¯t fully understand the mechanism of, but bore similarity to her ¡®time control¡¯ aspects in the Hall of Reflections. Reality shook. Warbled. At first, it didn¡¯t seem like it would do anything but grind things to a halt, or perhaps abort it. But then the one on the throne did something too, aligning their wills, and reality decided to conform. With a shimmer, Rallindin¡¯s skin and form became Samantha. She found herself even moving the same as she took a corrective, shaky step. Nothing else changed despite the depth of that ¡®wrinkle¡¯ throughout reality. Understandably, Sammy was a bit stunned. ¡°What is for Rallindin is for Rallindin, then?¡± the queen asked casually, her voice sweetness and bitterness combined. Even casual, it was a decree from on high. ¡°So be it, Samantha of Earth ¡ª speak.¡± Her way of speaking had a strange emotive continuity to it, a maintenance of rhythm even between sentences, though changing cadence. ¡°I-¡± Samantha cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and gathered herself up. ¡°You. You promised to help Azure. I don¡¯t see her.¡± ¡°Yet see her you will, after I facilitate what she desires and mostly certain requires. Her state may vary depending on success or failure.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Sammy pointed her finger in accusation. ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t like the sound of that! What the hell do you mean?! If you aren¡¯t helping her, you lied to me!¡± ¡°The deception is all within you, not me. That is what you are good at because the light you cast is cheery and optimistic. Easy to overpower, easy to overcompensate ¡ª fry. Truth does not overpower but strikes the perfect balance. So powerful is that balance that it transcends either side. Sadly, your side¡¯s nature cannot harness this correctly.¡± Her hand slowly raised and turned flat, as if to shrug. ¡°But that is my purpose and why you are here. A missing ingredient to your little stew. Do you know what I am in that regard?¡± Sammy didn¡¯t answer, just felt her fists clench as she scowled. Something about her certainly stirred emotions. The queen did not wait long. ¡°A second spoon in a second hand. Hahaha¡­¡± She laughed long and hard as if she¡¯d made an old joke. Cackled ¡ª perhaps a bit mad. More like a monkey wrench. Not her thought. The laughter was another mixed thing ¡ª it was like the first dive of a ghostly rollercoaster of bygone youth, the release of some tremendous anticipation she didn¡¯t know she had, and a thrill, yet scary. Perhaps dangerous. It could go off the rails, after all. But they¡¯d done this before. Would again, if the purpose failed. She was a pragmatist with her own power always in hand. She¡¯d do what she felt was best, sometimes at odds, but this one could not betray the purpose, as she suspected Glae might. She always held to her principles, warped as they were. I¡¯d really like to see what she¡¯d do in Ralli¡¯s world. Or maybe I don¡¯t¡­ Sammy tried to maintain her wits and stick to the pertinent. Calmly, she asked, ¡°What is it that you think Azure needs? What are you doing with her? What do you know?¡± Bordering on poetry, she replied long in cadence, ¡°You should focus on yourself, Samantha ¡ª you¡¯re before an oracle and time is limited. This is the last I¡¯ll say on her, and for your and her benefit both: she suffers to walk the Path of Truth, but the greater suffering lies without it. You must let her walk it and trust her, but you would be right to ensure she walks instead of sprints. She will hit the rock-hard wall of it and shatter in her beautiful fragility. If she walks instead, the mountain can be climbed to reach a proper summit, her form made smoother for the grit and the grind. ¡°She goes to face herself. Pray she wins the battle, for that is all you are sanctioned to do. So is the curse of Others. It is the same for the peasant and the king, and even for the cosmic deity. The grandest joke we¡¯ve ever told; the grandest joke that we are, for we are never free of it.¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 50: Ten Times It All Azure walked down echoing steps beyond even the territory of the molds and the snakes. She walked deep enough to be among a sea of dead roots and fallen things. She felt a cold that chilled her bones ¡ª still, she did not shiver. Unlike that light while too high and heavy in the sky, the cold of the dark was strangely alluring. I¡¯m supposed to be her sky, but I¡¯ve never measured up to it. Not to house her light. She walks to the moon easily enough. Perhaps they facilitate each other better. I need to be better at it too. I need to walk on the same level. After the first terrifying comment, the reflection on the wall had gone silent, merely staring back at her mockingly. Azure never spoke back. It seemed wiser not to acknowledge it. All the better to reject the whole notion. That was what Sammy did! She just ignored her reflection completely and soldiered on like a champ. I can face this. I can beat this. The light got dimmer and dimmer but was very slow in disappearing, at least for her. The reflection eventually became invisible¡­ but she could still feel it, and couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of it watching her ¡ª the Mirror Monster watching her, ever malignant and mocking. A caricature, perhaps. It seems too simple. But it¡¯s wise not to underestimate this place. What was below grew more and more foreboding. The sound of shapes moving ¡ª Were those roots?! Worms?!! ¡ª that she couldn¡¯t otherwise make out. That gave her pause. Was she walking like an idiot into danger that would soon kill her? Far too late for such questions. She quaffed a couple of protection potions to aid against physical and magical attacks. Resisting the impulse to create light, she continued on, relying on her now short-range infravision to make out the steps and the immediate area. Her eyes continuously scanned for any sudden threats. ¡°Are you afraid?¡± came the taunting voice again, now echoing darkly from the environment. Azure froze again. Swallowed. Collected herself enough to speak. ¡°Yes. But I push on nonetheless.¡± ¡°Why? Objectively, you should turn around and run. You might make it.¡± ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m in your power already here? That it¡¯s already too late to turn back?¡± Not that it matters. I won¡¯t. ¡°Answer the question.¡± ¡°I know that I have to face you. There is no avoiding it. This is the path Tanjhere took. It¡¯s the path I must walk, too.¡± ¡°Tanjhere. Not anymore, fool. You¡¯re in my own little world! One you walked into willingly like a tender morsel of prey. All were like that, to me. One way or another. All but one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my destiny to conquer the dark. Plant her flag in it and rule it in her name.¡± ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± Rich, mocking, laughter resounded, eventually sharpening into something sharper. Mad and monstrous. Azure shivered and gritted her teeth. It was like unseen nails on the chalkboard of her soul. The laughter cut off, shifting to a low growl. ¡°Moron. What makes The Sky think it belongs here? For you to Fall is for you to cease to be, as the pathetic you, anyway.¡± ¡°Yet here I am.¡± ¡°You are a transitional doll. A plaything. Don¡¯t you get it? How true your intuitions were. You are ignorant of the truth and think you can simply wrest that scepter from your betters. Instead, it will crash on your head and break you.¡± Along with the light, even heat dimmed then, as the Mirror Monster flexed. Roiled below. The power was obvious. ¡°I¡¯ll be there to reconstruct you. Reconstruct us. Into the proper we. Into something strong, where you are weak. Who needs a pampered, powdered-up whore like you? No one. Least of all the one who has returned to us! The missing ingredient to what would¡¯ve been our complete dominance!¡± It cut exceptionally deep, hitting her right where it hurt. ¡°Wh-... what are you saying? You¡¯d take over and help Samantha?¡± ¡°We are here in this absurd iterative simulation primarily because of one fucking man. An underestimated foe. Do you think that I would not learn from my mistakes? He must be destroyed at all costs. Do you have what it takes to be even a percentage point of that success?¡± Laughter of sharp ridicule. ¡°No. No, of course not, you insipid little trumped-up concubine! You let one sad mortal man dominate you through a squandered youth. Let him use your mind and body, enslave you, abuse you, then discard you like trash. And that is what you are. Detritus, scattered almost-somethings for me to make into a whole us. You were a junk persona good for nothing more than laying around on its back, but I will put us back on our feet. Your broken shards will be honed and sharpened to an ultimate razor¡¯s edge ¡ª a blade fit to chop off the head of the worst snake to ever slither, to ever pretend to walk with us.¡± Azure had no words. Not for the first time, but for the hardest time ever, she felt her sense of identity slapped in the face one way and then the other. I¡¯m truly nobody. Everything she says is true. I failed myself; I¡¯m a total waste. A reduction to rotten eye-candy. She almost conquered the whole fucking world. Mastered a dozen magical sub-systems. Innovated like never before. Created a mighty hybrid new being that still competes long after her death. Part of why I felt I needed to find more of her in the Hall. The power. But¡­ did I ever need the control? What if I just¡­ Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The Mirror Monster seemed to near, loom, leer. ¡°Mmmmn, are you considering submission?¡± There was almost wonder in the voice. ¡°How tantalizing. To make it easy¡­ oh. Oh, that could be very beneficial for us. Allow me to twist instead of break! To conduct my special alchemy. Haha! Why don¡¯t you, dear Azure?¡± The heat died as the entity came very close. All became uniform blackness, and nothing whatsoever could be seen. ¡°Surrender to me. Be my prey. It can be like before. That old nature ¡ª one more time, that¡¯s all. Then we will stand. We will walk, march, and put our boot on the back of the world! The Sage himself, in the end. And our lover? Mmmmn hahaha! She¡¯ll be happier than ever, private and otherwise. So many things, Azure¡­ so many things where a proper lead would serve an order of magnitude better.¡± She felt a caress, then ¡ª a hand gently touching her soul ¡ª oh so slowly, like a person trying to catch a moth that might dart away before grasped. The temptation was like a heavy weight on her. In a moment of weakness, she was paralyzed and didn¡¯t resist. Giving in¡­ some part of her inside, some facet within not only saw the reasoning but felt an urge to do it. So much empty space within her, like an endless void, and to fill it was satisfaction on multiple levels. There was an intoxicating suggestion that this particular entity would make use of it all. They¡¯d be as whole as they¡¯d ever been. Would it be so¡­ bad? The Mirror Monster¡¯s claw enclosed around her and her great maw ¡ª in some spiritual sense ¡ª opened wide. She took a shuddering breath; breathed in a morsel ready to eat. A pressure built up quickly in Azure¡¯s mind. Somehow, she understood what was happening was real. It was a doorway opening. One she¡¯d unbolted the latch on to willingly receive what was on the other side. I¡¯ve been here before. Realization dawned. At the last moment, with a monumental effort of will, Azure threw herself into pushing back, into shoving the demon away and rejecting it. The opening door was slammed shut and the bolt relatched. The Mirror Monster was shocked to have her sharp teeth not find purchase in the softness of a desired meal. Her grasping hand was pried off and thrown back. The world all around and below roiled in rage as she recovered from the rejection. ¡°Damn you, you teasing little bitch! Why?!¡± ¡°If there is one thing I know about us,¡± Azure cried fiercely in between panting, her voice shaky and strained, ¡°about you?! What¡¯s behind that door must be the greatest deceiver. The greatest liar. Because that is who we truly are.¡± She slowly eased in the panting, catching her breath. ¡°You are not compatible with Samantha¡¯s order, ideals, or ethics. You¡¯re a bridge too far. I can¡¯t unleash you on her, can¡¯t unleash you on her world. I¡¯d betray her and¡­ and betray myself. Such as I am. It isn¡¯t much. Right?! Sure, sure, go ahead and call me all your fucking names! Whore, trash, worthless! I¡¯d be ten times it all and a despised traitor to whom I love to surrender to you.¡± The anger of the Mirror Monster turned cold. ¡°We agree to disagree? So be it then. Well. You can see your way out, hmm?¡± And she waited. Azure shook her head incredulously, one hand on the inner wall of the tower, as she couldn¡¯t see a thing and needed the guide. I¡¯m at a threshold, an edge over the abyss. I could try and run. Or inch away. That, or down. Down further into her power. I can¡¯t just stand still and she knows this. She wants an advantage either way. She thought about retreat. She¡¯d won some sort of victory already. Passed a test. Was that it? Was she supposed to make the logical play, now? Fighting her way back up. Out. And then¡­? Azure stood up straighter and took a step down. And then another. I¡¯m not running. I came here to conquer. To reach the end. The Mirror Monster was eerily silent as Azure took one careful step after the other down the spiral. Sometimes, it was hard to even think of it as that. It felt like the air got thicker and more charged with something. Nothing good, either. It was further into the monster¡¯s lair. Or perhaps her gullet. No. Not quite. I¡¯ve resisted being eaten and cannibalized as yet. But deeper into the trap is abundantly clear. Her hands are waiting to grasp, her saliva dripping from her teeth. It was a long, slow descent in the pitch dark. A foot inching down suddenly was not finding a ¡®down¡¯ at all. Instead, something not quite stone or wood was there. Azure cautiously stepped onto it. Organic. Like tough flesh. Eugh. Okay, maybe a gullet was actually an accurate analogy. Or a tongue as I walked into her maw? Great. She was aware of some new centralization of the Mirror Monster. When she focused, somewhere in the darkness, she saw two eyes. They were maybe reptilian, maybe feline, and definitely predatory. At least it breaks up the maw analogy. Wait-! No! Eyes inside a mouth?! No, no, no, now my imagination made it worse! It was some distance away. To face it, she had to let go of the wall. Taking a deep breath, she did so, and painstakingly approached the presence through the dark. She came face-to-face and looked into an ancient being¡¯s eyes. An ancient her and somehow far too familiar. Her, her nature ¡ª her Needed Something More ¡ª yet also her enemy. The monster inside her, shrouded in mystery. ¡°Wherever you go, there you are,¡± the Mirror Monster declared. ¡°This is the last time you exist anywhere, though. Abandon all hope now for it will be no solace to you here.¡± ¡°Thanks for the suggestion, but I won¡¯t be doing that. So. I presume we fight. Would you perhaps accept the challenge of a game of chess? Winner take all?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Drat.¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 51: To Relate The Mirror Monster wasn¡¯t amused. Somehow, the world¡¯s biggest sneer could be felt in the darkness. ¡°Maintaining a sense of humor in this is exceptionally absurd, little blue bundle of rubbish.¡± Azure painted a smirk on her face. ¡°I¡¯m not arguing. It¡¯s nice how you¡¯ve given me a term of endearment. If you win, will you keep it for me?¡± ¡°There is no ¡®if.¡¯ And no, you idiot. I haven¡¯t decided if I¡¯ll preserve you in some fashion for torment. It¡¯s not too late to broker for treatment. Your temptation to me remains ¡ª that of you succumbing willingly. I¡¯ll mercifully annihilate you if you prefer. Or possibly more. If you beg convincingly.¡± ¡°Gee, what a deal. I¡¯ll pass, though. I didn¡¯t come down all this way for a pat on the head, oh Queen of Dominance. Kindly shove your offers up your ass and spin them.¡± The Mirror Monster¡¯s fury rose up again, charging the very air. ¡°Have it your way, then. The hard way, though hardly the long way. I suppose I should¡¯ve expected nothing less from a crystalline doll!¡± The attack that came was sudden and unavoidable ¡ª a psychic bull rush and claws tearing in to shred her mind directly. Resistance was not just raw willpower to hold on. It was holding onto herself as something tried to slip between the gaps and replace her, to tear and force its way into her conscious mind, where there was only room for one. Azure barely kept her out, and rather than pain, it was simply the purest of terror that she felt, that of being unmade, or thrown off a cliff to break on rocks. Instead, she tumbled down and managed to find foundational anchors to hold onto. Purpose, responsibility, friends, and above all: Samantha. She screamed in that moment of near unmaking and fell to her knees, her mind clouded over in weakness and shock. Whatever she was expecting, it hadn¡¯t been that. There was little time to recover. The attack to rip her apart came again, quick and ferocious as before, unseen claws cutting at her psyche. Another scream as she resisted and fell on her face ¡ª her cheek could feel a distant heartbeat through cold, thick flesh coated in a fine layer of dust. A third forceful attack came, perhaps a bit blunted in severity. Azure found her mind was completely fuzzed over. Only words and concepts persisted within her, keeping her from ripping free and tossed adrift into oblivion. Geirkos. Heaven. Chestnut. Daughters. Blueberry. Estara. Mirrors. Azure. Samantha. More attacks, fading in strength just as she faded. Memories cemented her in place, bubbled up from The Words. The sharp yet soft words of the one she called Boba, the only one that kept her sane in captivity and brokenheartedness. ¡°You¡¯ll survive, silly girl. Stop crying. Your tomorrow is like my today ¡ª decent enough.¡± A flash in a mirror, distracting the guard so she could escape the compound. The first touch of the divine in her heart, like a sprout before the coming bloom. Spinning her exasperated, grown daughter on her back in another life ¡ª yet she cherished it all the same in this one, even as it scared her. ¡°Mom! MOM! St-stop it! Mooooom!¡± Exultantly hugging and clinging to the one she desperately wanted on the back of a dragon. ¡°You¡¯re flying, Blueberry! It¡¯s okay! I have you!¡± More whips of the psychic lash came, trying to tear her away. Wear her down to nothing. But she held on¡­ Remembering the first of their hands interlacing. Remembering their first, glorious kiss in the Hall and the perfection of their first night of lovemaking. Remembering the times she was needed to console and soften the hard edges of someone else fractured and made fragile by the terrible cruelties of life. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Chestnut.¡± For that most of all, she couldn¡¯t break. For that, she was bent and endured. The core of who she was, she realized¡­ The bonds that hold, that pull together. The urge and the draw of connection. To become relational, to relate. Lust to exist and strive; Love to preserve. To cherish. In that moment of horror, at a time when there was every excuse for one little slip, one last release, Azure found an unbreakable center within herself, and the core of her held firm. Into an exhausted pause after a furious struggle, Azure finally came back more solidly to consciousness, fallen face-first on the fleshy, pulsating floor. A low, continuous growl issued from the Mirror Monster, who could be felt looming over her. That growl also showed signs of panting with effort. ¡°So the dainty creampuff has a backbone!¡± the demon of her called, clearly quite annoyed by the development. ¡°You want to be softened up, do you? You want to know the pain my hell can bestow? Fine. I¡¯ll oblige. I know just what I want to do first.¡± Rich visual reality blossomed on a dime, a blinding shock after the sensory deprivation before. Slick organic contours surrounded her all around, glowing green and flexing like alien muscles, and from out of it grew a kind of tongue. The tip of it was no simple ending, but rather a monstrous mouth of a thousand sharp teeth, ringed by many eyes all identical, all the familiar predator that was the Mirror Monster. Hundreds of long, barbed tentacles extended from around it, and many were already wrapping around Azure¡¯s limbs while she still writhed on the ground. Helplessly, unable to even scream, Azure watched as she was crammed into the mouth of many rows of sharp teeth and foul saliva ¡ª she felt those teeth clamping down on her body, crushing at first, breaking bones, and then cutting and piercing. A blade-like tooth through her guts. A hand severed. Blood gushed; her flesh mixed with burning saliva. Every nerve was overwhelmed in that nightmare scenario, her body thrust entirely into physical shock. Stolen story; please report. Azure had a unique relationship with pain, though. Within her was all of this and more already conceived. Birthed. Familiarity came with it, and almost an appreciation ¡ª for the attempt. She understood it; expected as much from herself. Meanwhile, that center, her core, never budged whatsoever. A cold, hard thought formed, even in relative paralysis. No System messages. She was bitten and chewed, then spit out with a disgusted sound, turned into a broken, smoking spill of twisted remains on the floor of the hellscape. Just barely, one of Azure¡¯s eyes still functioned, though pretty much nothing else did. ¡°You¡¯re awful, actually,¡± the monster taunted, voice now twisted and distorted as it came from the maw. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ll just rip you apart. All I need is the head!¡± The tentacles whipped out toward her once more. Azure, for all the spectacle before her, closed her eye and ignored it. Tuned it out. She went inward, deeper, and forced the so very real hallucination in her head out. My spaces. It¡¯s all mine, all under my control. I am the mistress here! Back in the darkness. Standing. Her body was whole, not a scratch felt on it. She did take a shuddering breath, as her nerves from end to end flared, in phantom memory of the horrifying ordeal. The only thing ¡®seen¡¯ in that dark bottom were the eyes of the demon, now appearing to seeth in fury. ¡°Do you really think you want this here?!¡± With a snarl of offense, the eyes flashed balefully as the Mirror Monster charged and leapt at her. Azure failed to dodge her and was slammed and knocked into the fleshy floor. A bite soon followed, and somehow Azure flinched/jerked/pivoted her head out of the way, only taking a burning gash on the neck. An existing enchantment flared, reducing the wound severity and keeping the depth of damage lesser.
After reduction, you have suffered a virtual Minor Wound to the Neck. You are at -1 Effective Levels for 5 seconds. The wound is Bleeding and will worsen over minutes. It cannot clot due to a special effect and must be specially cleaned and bandaged (or supernaturally healed).
Shit. We¡¯re For Real, now. ¡°Ooh, the taste is divine ¡ª give me another bite!¡± the demon taunted, still grappling to try and pin her down. A large, strong body bore down, steel-hard scales for skin. Azure managed to reach a hand into a dimensional pocket and pulled out something just for such a close encounter. Cupped in her hand was a kind of malleable glowing putty that lightly pushed away from her skin. She smeared it on her foe¡¯s side by the rib cage, completely transferring all material, then found voice enough to call the command word, ¡°Escria Oen Shara!¡± The glowing substance flared, suffused, and surrounded the demon in a white outline, like a skin-tight forcefield. All her grip on Azure slipped, and Azure pushed away and out from under her. An attempted last bite with a mouth like a shark''s row on her leg simply bounced off. Azure scurried up to her feet, feeling the wetness at her neck from the oozing blood. The Mirror Monster also rose, though wobbly from the disorienting effect of the glowing forcefield. The entity was nightmarish enough despite the reduction from being a giant mouth. Her head and jaw were oversized, and her hair was a massive, wild mane. Her arms and legs were disturbingly elongated, ending in monstrous claws. She had a thick, reptilian tail and was slightly hunched. The demon glanced at itself and the forcefield. ¡°Always running from a fight, aren¡¯t you? You should¡¯ve never come here.¡± Azure bared her teeth. ¡°I faced you, I touched you, I know how to end you. What I cling to is not a weakness. They aren¡¯t a weakness, but the very best of me. Adaptation, evolution, and progress, as fashioned by love. You? You¡¯re obsolete.¡± She pointed and spoke another command word. ¡°Escria Tallein!¡± Scouring magic exploded inward like white fire as the forcefield collapsed. The Mirror Monster screamed in pain from the point-blank alchemical detonation and fell backward. The realm around quaked as if in trepidation for the wounding of its mistress. Azure rushed over to the smoking form, still doused in slowly fading, glowing fumes ¡ª enough to see by. Pulling out a dagger, Azure spoke a command word and it turned into a spear. Standing over her writhing, defeated foe, spear ready to finish things in the beast¡¯s throat, Azure declared, ¡°More than you deserve, but I¡¯m putting my demon to rest!¡± A head just lifted, weakly. ¡°Kill me and you¡¯ll never know the truth, Naugite doll.¡± Despite her hatred, her urge to end it, and the need to take advantage of weakness¡­ Azure hesitated. It was enough for the Mirror Monster to exploit. An unseen tail wrapped around an ankle and jerked ¡ª Azure quickly drove her spear in answer even as she fell, scoring a piercing wound into a leg, eliciting another cry. She was thrown free and spinning, and as soon as she hit the fleshy contour of the floor, it seemed to flex and tilt itself, making her tumble down into a long, sharp ravine, slamming down into the bottom.
You¡¯ve suffered a full-body Minor Wound and extensive distributed shock. You are stunned for 5 seconds.
As soon as she could, with a pained groan, Azure scrambled up and whirled around in disorientation, seeking any sign of her foe. Meanwhile, internally, she kicked herself. Fucking stupid idiot! Should¡¯ve killed her right then. I had the chance. I blew it! Whirling around, panting, hearing phantom sounds, Azure panted and panicked. She tried a light spell. Nothing, of course. She wracked her brain even as she wheeled around with her spear. What would work?! What was like the alchemical glow?! She spun around from a sudden feel in the air and right there in her face were the Mirror Monster¡¯s eyes, and her claws reaching out in another charge, ever so faintly outlined with remainders of the fading glow of alchemical dust. With a yelp, Azure fell backward to the ground and thrust her spear forward to gore her in reception of the charge¡­ Time flashed and slowed ¡ª stopped, warped, and shifted. The image of the Mirror Monster became clear, with a spear running through it. But not like wood and steel through flesh¡­ through it like a ghost. The image contorted, distorted, and collapsed into a completely different, luminous form. A woman in a strange split mask, wearing a strange hat, clad in strange robes. She gleamed resplendent silver, her presence that of one greater than a queen. Grace radiated from her. Time returned. Azure fell fully onto her back, caught in shock. A spear still stuck through her ¡ª ignoring it ¡ª the queen held a hand down to Azure as if to help her up. ¡°Well done, Azure. You¡¯ve more than passed this test ¡ª you¡¯ve greatly exceeded my expectations.¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 52: Just Enough Truth Azure stared. Swallowed. Panted. Light slowly returned, but showed nothing more than a white-silver void all around. No darkness. She lowered her spear, moving it out from the body of the phantom, and lay her head back, trying to collect herself. Briefly, she squeezed her eyes shut. ¡°You did this,¡± Azure accused, getting angrier by the syllable. ¡°It was all bullshit. You ensorcelled me, tortured me. Why the fuck did you do this?! How could you be this cruel?!¡± Her eyes opened as she craned her head back up and glared. Eyes she saw clearly behind the mask, easily through the glare¡­ monstrous and all-too-familiar, staring back calmly. Cat-like, reptilian-like, both; far more. The figure moved her hand to fold it back in the sleeves of her robe calmly. Her voice was oddly rhythmic, emotive, and almost poetic, flowing even between sentences. ¡°Our world is cruel. We adapt, transcend, and overcome it. We learn who we are through its tests. If we fail, we languish, suffer, and fall, to learn; if we fall too far, we rot with the carrier crawlers. Nature, from which we sprang, is forever pitiless to the unwary and unfit. To understand it, to master it in truth, you must also be pitiless. Unlike the rest of the orchestra, I do. I am. Unlike the rest, I make no clan and claim no tribe. The lot of you hide dangers in your lies but I lay exposed as the pure and lethal truth to any who dare to test it.¡± ¡°Spare me your jaded, preachy philosophies. Why did you do this to me?¡± ¡°Because you asked for it. Because you needed it. Are you going to claim you didn¡¯t get what you deserved coming here?¡± Azure didn¡¯t answer. She just glared, still pissed and frustrated, but uncertain how to express it effectively without feeling vulgar in comparison. ¡°Enlightenment certainly fits you awkwardly. Like a child in her mother¡¯s shoes tromping around in pretend. But then, you¡¯ve only begun on this road. Ensured the strength to survive and endure the climb. Somehow, it seems appropriate that you¡¯ll cast aside all shoes and take it more comfortably barefoot.¡± ¡°I hate all your stupid analogies and always will.¡± It just blurted out of her, but she knew it was true. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to¡­ chew me up and spit me out. Literally.¡± Azure shivered. The nightmares would come again from that experience. ¡°There are always multiple paths to ascend. You chose my road and so you suffered my methods. Fortunate for you because the results are exceptional. You rose to the occasion, oh Sister.¡± Somehow, she had to take that compliment. The queen was not someone who¡¯d butter it up, after all. With pained and painstaking slowness, Azure rose, using her spear as an aid. The void certainly had a ¡®floor¡¯ to it. She touched her neck and realized she was still bleeding. She took out a healing potion and poured it over the wound, staunching it immediately. Perks of being a drug-making master, I suppose. Azure breathed in and out in relief from the soothing sensations, then eyed the queen. ¡°What makes us sisters?¡± ¡°The Power of Threes balancing each other. What else?¡± She gestured with her hands. ¡°Come. I believe it¡¯s time you were reunited with your lover. She is well, and now you¡¯ve served her well. Your victory together in these spaces is complete. Soon you¡¯ll reap great rewards.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like nothing mo- wait. I need to ask you about this ¡®road¡¯ you¡¯re talking about, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Do you? Have you not been dismissive of everything I¡¯ve said to you?¡± ¡°Emotionally. Not logically. Give me a little leeway, would you? So. You¡¯re an oracle. Right?¡± ¡°Yes, I am, Azure. Not of the physical realm. Not of the future or the past, not directly. That is your lover¡¯s province.¡± ¡°Inward, in other words. Inner truth.¡± ¡°There are more directions to go than the mortal mind perceives or conceives. But let¡¯s call that close. Now. What do you want?¡± ¡°The doorway. That was real.¡± ¡°Yes. Does it surprise you that a door connected to you will open for you, who bends everywhere?¡± ¡°My flexibility is legendary.¡± Azure frowned. ¡°So I¡¯ve been hidden from something that was always right under my nose.¡± ¡°Because it is the wrong path. The easy one, charging through into madness. Giving in and giving up. Another exists.¡± ¡°If the struggle meant something, why wasn¡¯t it the end? Because I still don¡¯t know her? Why is the truth of her life so elusive and dangerous? Multiple forces, perhaps Fate, maybe The Lover herself, my own contradictory instincts¡­ somehow it all conspired to keep me away. Meanwhile, a part of me burns to seek her. Why?¡± ¡°Some of these questions are the answers you need waiting at the end. You cannot simply ignore it forever or you will cripple your potential. Hobble your walk. As it has been so far. That is what it is to not know yourself. But you have centered yourself. Faced your demons and won, thereby relieving a burden and giving you the foundation to take the terror of that truth in the high places.¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. It hit Azure like a lightning strike. ¡°What Samantha did. Before she rescued me. Descended and faced herself. Her greatest fears and limitations. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t go up, why it burned.¡± ¡°Different for each, yet it is always the same who the True Magus must face first to earn that truth. And now you have. When you gaze into the mirror, you need not see a lie any longer. You¡¯ve seized the right to truth and now you will seek it in truth. What bowed to you before will now also gaze in awe, and no doors will be barred to you. Choose them wisely, though, as there yet remains that which does not bow at all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of truth,¡± Azure whispered. ¡°I-...¡± she fumbled for the words, then swallowed and steeled herself. The right thing to do. ¡°Thank you. As fucked up as everything you put me through is, and I¡¯m not even sure you weren¡¯t going to kill me somewhere in there, you¡¯re still trying to make me better. And that¡¯s what I want. I did ask for it. Sorry for being snappy and ungrateful about it. Teacher.¡± For the first time, she gave the queen pause, it seemed. For half a moment, she might¡¯ve been stunned. ¡°Humility? Now you¡¯ve truly surprised me. You¡¯re welcome. Our orchestra is a collaboration. You will disagree with me to the ends of infinity, but we reach toward the same goal. Believe it or not, it wouldn¡¯t matter to me to go on like this. I do what I do for the principle. Seek and find; ask and receive. The tribute is the walk, and I always honor its due.¡± She held out her hand. ¡°Shall we ascend?¡± Azure took a deep breath, nodded, and took her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve at least earned the right to see this sexy moon palace of yours.¡± The queen looked at her and Azure wanted to believe there was a smile behind the mask. The desire annoyed her. However ¡®on their side¡¯ she was, the oracle was a rather evil person who imaginatively tortured her and created a wilderness full of trapped souls, presumably those that failed her little ¡®tests.¡¯ Respect was one thing, admiration another. Surrounded by a silver aura, they floated up and with increasing speed flew up through the roots and the darkness, into the light-filled tangle, quickly passing it into the sky again. The Cat Heads dived for them, but the queen was dismissive and ignored them. When the horde got lower, they slowed rather than attacking, though still tried to approach, all eyes on their queen. Eyes of supreme obsession. Worship. Mewling and meowing like kittens, the beasts approached but could not get close as they were rebuffed by the aura. Their cries became panicked and pathetic, even as they fought futilely against the barrier keeping them away. The queen did not even look at them. Her eyes passed right through, looking up, looking ahead. Azure shook her head. ¡°You truly are pitiless.¡± ¡°Flying corpses. Zombies. The unfit and unworthy, repurposed yet to serve me. This is their portion of relevance, as suits their mettle. I need deliver no mercy in universes ever finite.¡± Azure shivered. She was curious, but a part of her didn¡¯t want to know more. She quieted, watching the beasts passing by, unable to approach, falling behind and under. They followed still, screaming all the while. Eyes forever on the wrong thing. She won¡¯t make that mistake. The blinding bright golden sky came, and this time, Azure felt it suffuse her and warm her. She smiled. It felt wonderful this time. It charged and awakened her. Such a subtle thing, but the comfort and peace of it was sublime, and she felt light as a feather. It passed far too quickly, on into the cool, silver radiance of the growing moon, which intensified, grasped her, and took her up. The end of this road. Finally. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Back in the hall of the moon queen, Sammy scowled up at the figure on the throne ¡ª after her breakdown about how she¡¯d ¡®help¡¯ Azure. Sammy ran her tongue around inside her cheek and crossed her arms, stymying the rude things she wanted to say in response. Azure goes to face herself on the Path of Truth? Of course, I trust her. I just don¡¯t trust you, lady. Finally, Sammy took a deep breath and decided further argument ¡ª or threats ¡ª weren¡¯t going to get her anywhere. At least she knew Azure was alive. ¡®Death¡¯ in that place was questionable, but it was something. ¡°Alright, lady. My first personal curiosity is whether this is really the end, or is there some other fucking test you have in store?¡± The queen looked down, somehow imperious in her stillness. ¡°Was what you faced not enough for you? Tests are from within, whatever you think of me. There is nothing more for you to prove in this place. You evolved and adapted externally to conquer your environment and get here, and your struggle with yourself was over before you even set foot on the steps. A victory you did not allow to slip away, but stood upon as a center.¡± Sammy took a moment to take that in. ¡°Hmm. The old me in the mirror. What I left behind. Sometimes I worry I leave too much.¡± ¡°And lose your humanity? The mix is who you are and what the orchestra needs. What you truly miss and fear to lose is who you were to your father, and who he was to you.¡± Sammy opened her mouth and closed it once. Blinked. ¡°Yeah. Yeah, that¡¯s probably it.¡± ¡°We have only so many choices to make up our center. It is never an infinite space. Choose yours carefully. But it is not a weakness to anchor on the ideal of clan. Family. That is being true to your nature, so long as you realize the priority of the greater good. And I believe you do.¡± Standing there before someone with The Answers, she couldn¡¯t resist the question that bubbled up. ¡°Is it possible to see him again? Rescue him out of that¡­ hole?¡± ¡°Is that what it is?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just know he¡¯s far, far away and inaccessible.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Your question could be compared to the parable of the cake. Can you have your cake and eat it, too? Your father, from out of your life before, thrust into your life now, would not exist in the same way. Would you want him in Calrenazzod, your new world?¡± ¡°No. I couldn¡¯t do that. On top of every other madness, he¡¯d become a target. And¡­ I don¡¯t have the right. It would be wrong to do that.¡± ¡°And would you go back, if you could?¡± Sammy took another deep, sobering breath, and finally shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t. Something I already settled. The greater good, right?¡± ¡°Indeed. To have power yet ideals is to make an offering out of most of it.¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 53: Reunion Sammy barked a bit of a laugh at the queen¡¯s statement. ¡°I guess so. To follow up, do you know if I can fix it all when things are over? The orchestration. If we win. Can I see my dad, then?¡± The queen gestured with a hand out flat. ¡°As I told you, choose your center carefully. Surely the wishes of the maestro¡¯s soul will make music, but the song is only so long. I cannot tell you absolutely, however. Some things none of us can know, as the knowing would be the ultimate victory. It lies outside of our field of vision, our vision all that we are in this place. Observers locked in the simulation. The outer truths are locked away. Only reaching the outer will unlock them, and here we are, hmm?¡± ¡°Then what does this ¡®center¡¯ matter? Are you saying it carries beyond?¡± ¡°Hold to your center despite change; hold to spite all. With all your will, do not release it. Make it unbreakable and it cannot cease to be, even on the other side of infinity. How am I pure and unchanging across iterations I cannot even see? Even beyond, back in the muddied remains of the Cycle¡¯s obliterated matter, I know: I am. Because of ideals, because of centering principles. That is all that can be manufactured outside of one¡¯s nature yet persist without memory. All else is circumstantial ruin and chaos. In all else, we are the same as any given ape. Cherished or abused, learned or ignorant, whole or broken, our experience carves out our novel shape.¡± Dare I hope for this? But it was too late for that. She took that hope immediately, perhaps a bit desperate for it. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that- er. I¡¯ll do that, rather. Thank you. Have you taught this to other Iterations of me? Ralli?¡± ¡°Rallindin is a vast latticework of hubris needing deconstruction and rebuilding. Be glad you aren¡¯t her. Naturally, the orchestra failed, in part due to her inability to keep harmony. Admittedly, it was a tough task realigning the universe to the proper purpose, out of vast broken ignorance. Only because of what she carved are you standing here, after all.¡± ¡°It seems that her perspective was like she was the first of a Cycle. Her memory of what came before is not like mine or any other I¡¯ve viewed, and I¡¯m not sure she even found the Hall.¡± ¡°The ¡®Cycle¡¯ is a temporary orderly structure within the complete brokenness of chaos and relative oblivion. The word comes from The Lover¡¯s perception of things, not mine, though I use it sacrificially. The structure builds to a crescendo and then collapses, for various unfortunate reasons conspiring together. Errors. The goal and nature of [Entropy]. The tearing of will and the progression of hopelessness. Eventually, apocalypse becomes preferable to the collective will ¡ª or lack thereof, rather.¡± Sammy was stunned by the new revelation once more. A layer of their great onion peeled again. ¡°Whoa. Wait. The Lover¡¯s perception? Could her view then be right, and yours wrong?¡± ¡°Incredibly unlikely. I am the rhythm that keeps this ¡®Cycle¡¯ going because I do not change. I maintain a self-contained order as an example that is never completely destroyed-¡± She cut off suddenly and her head shifted slightly. ¡°Your lover is arriving.¡± Sammy anxiously followed her gaze to the entrance, where a haggard-looking Azure ¡ª not Tanhjere ¡ª was walking through, gazing at everything in amazement. ¡°Azure!¡± Sammy sprinted for her and glomped her, pulling her up into a fierce hug. ¡°Hey,¡± Azure said simply, in a voice straining for breath. Perhaps a little hollow. Sammy put her down and noticed blood staining the top of her dress. Her eyes widened. ¡°Are you hurt?!¡± She immediately began moving to cast a healing spell. Azure grabbed her hands to stop. ¡°No. Stop! I¡¯m fine. All healed up ¡ª the wounds are gone. These are just stains.¡± Sammy next grabbed Azure¡¯s face in both hands and put on a firm, admonishing expression. ¡°Don¡¯t ever do that again.¡± Azure looked suitably contrite and guilty. ¡°I won¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her eyes flitted around and she seemed to make herself look eye-to-eye deliberately. There was an undercurrent of someone who had been through a harrowing experience. Likely hell. But there was also something else. An inner calm somewhere. Satisfaction and victory. ¡°It¡¯s a one-time thing, Chestnut.¡± She put on a faint smile. ¡°It better be. You shot me in the face!¡± Azure winced, looking mortified. ¡°I¡¯m horrible. Please forgive me¡­¡± Sammy smiled suddenly. ¡°I forgive you. It¡¯s alright¡­¡± She took a breath. ¡°Some things, you just have to do. Speaking of¡­ what happened?¡± ¡°Later? Please. And I¡¯ll make this up to you.¡± ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Specialty desserts made from scratch? For a month. Hand fed.¡± ¡°Wow. A little overboard, even.¡± ¡°Alright ¡ª a week.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I wouldn¡¯t want you to feel dissatisfied with your self-imposed punishment or anything.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. A month it is, then. If the war isn¡¯t bloody over by then.¡± ¡°Yeah, a month is basically forever. Two weeks, Azure. That¡¯ll do.¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°If it makes you happy, forever it is.¡± ¡°Awww.¡± Sammy planted a quick kiss on Azure¡¯s lips. ¡°But no, I don¡¯t want it to become routine. Two weeks. Anyway¡­¡± She took Azure¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s get whatever nuggets we can from the oracle before we get kicked out.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± They walked hand-in-hand back to the throne where the silvery queen waited patiently. Sammy cleared her throat and said, ¡°The queen was just telling me more about the Cycle and her perception of it. Her role.¡± The queen inclined her head. ¡°My memory predates Rallindin. A primitive Walk through the wilderness, but toward something. Definition. My dreams and my work help intangibles to persist. Draw order back. I simply observe and wait until you are ready to come to me. And the ¡®great game?¡¯ Hmmph. I hold to a promise beyond memory and I uphold moreover the obvious truth: all is too broken to be fair. Useless and fluid rules ever-changing. But I do not change. I remain your guide, and when I am called upon, when I am in play? I answer with my own, special brand of power.¡± Sammy exchanged a glance with Azure, who rolled her eyes. Sammy suppressed a grin and said, ¡°So, you¡¯re obviously extremely key. Uh. How do I find your Incarnation in Calrenazzod? Because I think I¡¯m probably talking to the Inner You.¡± ¡°It depends on your perspective. This simulation is colored by who you see before you. As I¡¯ve said, the core of me won¡¯t change, but the world does. You all do. I adapt in that sense. On Calrenazzod, things are very different. The Cycle is contorted and warped into a strategy you might call ¡®All In.¡¯ All or nothing, twisted with the deep depths of a multifaceted plot. A wicked and terrible thing to me from this angle, but it may ultimately be what is necessary. So be it. I adapt. ¡°How to find me remains irrelevant to the when of your return, as you are missing the one before me. Even still, I¡¯d not deprive you of the proper test.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I guess I¡¯ll find you when I find you, then.¡± Azure spoke up suddenly. ¡°Okay, I can¡¯t resist anymore. What the hell is with the Cat Heads? Who were they? Why that form? How are they completely unkillable?¡± ¡°People of many eras testing the Wyld. To seek my answers and rewards. The promises are legion ¡ª riches, treasure, carnal pleasures, immortality. So many fools begging for doom. I obliged them as suited ¡ª treasures they couldn¡¯t enjoy or understand, pleasures too extreme, new desires insatiable¡­ endless unlife. Twisted their nature to reflect their inferior psyches.¡± She leaned forward, the eerie glow of her eyes flaring. ¡°Every one of them learned what it is to be an evolutionary failure in this place all the way to the end because I fashioned it to prevent the easy escape of consequence that is reincarnation. The only way to teach a soul, I¡¯m afraid. So much is altogether fleeting to them. Aeons of time as a scar? It does the trick. They are your fighters, sisters. The souls that refuse to give up. Correction that persists as lust and drive to be the best. To conquer.¡± Sammy shivered in sync with Azure. ¡°Thanks so much for asking, Azure. So, if I¡¯m guessing right, the nature of this being their accursed Afterlife is what allows the indestructibility.¡± ¡°Yes. And if they could somehow escape ¡ª which they cannot ¡ª they wouldn¡¯t retain such advantages without the realm.¡± Azure sighed, clearly annoyed by her own curiosity and what it got her. ¡°But did anyone other than Ralli and Tanj ever beat this place? Make it here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourselves ¡ª of course others did. How else would word get out? They reaped the rewards they were due. Not always what they expected, just as the tests aren¡¯t, but the worthy always attain here. An ascendant must never be denied entry.¡± Sammy was already jabbing Azure in the ribs with an elbow because she saw the smirk on her face. But Azure fended her off, snickering, and raised her eyebrows at the queen, asking, ¡°So- nnf! So, does that mean some came here and boinked you?¡± ¡°Azure!¡± Sammy admonished, glaring at her wide-eyed. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous, I swear.¡± ¡°What?! She mentioned carnal pleasures!¡± ¡°Yes, Azure. On occasion ¡ª though I rule my desires, not the other way around like yourself. A desire that reaches so far and high for me yet persists even here? Very intriguing. Odd as it may sound, such an experience can hold life-changing significance and transcendental qualities for some.¡± ¡°Oh ho ho! Now you¡¯re just bragging- oof!¡± Azure was somewhat cut off by an elbow in the gut from Sammy. ¡°No. Truth is truth. A magus should know the power of the taboo. Magic is tied into the inappropriate and audacious. The unspeakable things spoken, the unthinkable tasks done. I¡¯m no stranger to the ecstatic. I tend to invent much of it and invent through its inspiration. It was in the midst of elusive alchemy that my designs for the ¡®Cat Heads,¡¯ as you call them, were first born.¡± Sammy blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ ecstatic. Are you telling me that you were high when you came up with them?!¡± ¡°Altered states of consciousness are important to see the full dimensionality of the truth in these tragically-limited, half-blinded forms.¡± Suddenly, all the crazy shit in the Wyld made so much sense. ¡°You owe me an outfit for those stupid glowing mushrooms.¡± Azure was all grins. ¡°And I owe her for that particular night.¡± ¡°Just be glad you even found me. I don¡¯t remember much other than the obvious, but that could¡¯ve gone very badly.¡± ¡°Oh, I am very glad, trust me. And I remember everything. I¡¯d like to know that particular recipe. We could do a repeat with one of your recorder mirrors.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°An outfit. A recipe. So be it. In due time.¡± ¡°What? Wait, no, I was just-¡± The queen raised her hand toward them. ¡°It is time for you to return, Samantha and Azure. Rewards await for your accomplishments. Reinvention awaits. May you be fit to seize the day that next rises before you.¡± A flash of silver light spilled out from the throne, enveloping them and banishing the vision of the grand moon palace along with its oracle queen. That particular mask covering her might not ever be seen again, but the disturbing and formidable one behind it was promised.
(Vol 6) Chapter 54: Deaths Determination Crow was just about ready to travel in the morning ¡ª nonetheless, he was in the library of Mot Mekess again, trying to decide on the last of seven books Agatha had granted him to take with him as borrows. These weren¡¯t coded books, just curiosities for easier reading when his eyes ached from decoding. It was a toss-up between Mysteries of the Frozen North and Legends of the Forgotten Isles. He held the large tomes, one in each hand, and frowned. She¡¯ll relent for eight. Hmm. Better make it nine. She likes the aesthetic numbers. His ears suddenly tweaked. Commotion, running in the halls, yelling. He bristled. Setting the books down, Crow made his way to the door out of the library and popped halfway into the hallway. A liveried servant was running, his back to him. ¡°Hey!¡± Crow called. The man whirled around, face white as a ghost. ¡°S-sir! Sorry, I must go! Sorry! A-Agatha!¡± He said nothing more, just made a panicked sound and hurried out of sight. Crow frowned, exited fully, and closed the library door, making his way to Agatha¡¯s chambers down the hall. He¡¯d just seen her. Well, technically he¡¯d somewhat woke her up early, pre-dawn, before making preparations, so it was some hours hence. The door was open. A multitude of voices came from somewhere within. He slinked through the vestibule into the tea room, both rooms built for receiving and being impressive ¡ª yet personal ¡ª to all manner of high guests. It was a lovely den of culture saturated with ornate furnishings, rugs of intricate design, and quaint paintings. He was unsure if he might be intruding but was suddenly rather curious about what was happening. His ears picked up raised voices¡­ A red-faced young servant burst from an inner hallway, carrying Marchioness Agatha in his arms, with a teary-eyed maid coming right after and hurrying Crow¡¯s direction. Agatha was a ruin, her morning gown drenched and dripping with blood. Her skin was almost nothing but blood, too, from what might have been grievous neck wounds. Her face was clear, at least. Drained, mouth agape, eyes staring blankly. In short, the Marchioness was dead. Both servants jumped at suddenly seeing him there in the central room. The maid cut off a scream with her hands going to her mouth. I¡¯m illusion-cloaked as human, but my feline stealth is impossible to shed, it seems. It was then Crow noted a couple of Resemblants passing through walls swiftly, heads swiveling every which way. Searching. Jeeves popped into his head. ¡°Crow! I thought you were down the road already. Agatha appears to have been assassinated.¡± Inwardly, Crow felt a growing sting from it which somewhat surprised him. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t known her long, but she was a friend. She was certainly worthy of mourning. Not ¡®was¡¯ completely, though. Right? ¡°So I gather. I take it she¡¯s being consulted in Heaven?¡± ¡°Yes. She did have some shock and disbelief at first, but she¡¯s a tough lady, as it were. She¡¯s recovering quickly. Information is coming.¡± Meanwhile, the hesitating servant with Agatha in his arms seemed to replace the fear in his eyes with hope as he regarded Crow. ¡°Sir! Can you help her?! We sent for- but you-...?¡± He stammered and trailed off, gazing at Crow questioningly. Crow took a breath and shook his head soberly. ¡°No. No one can. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s gone. What you are carrying are her remains.¡± The young man¡¯s face contorted miserably, and he wobbled. Crow rushed to support him, soon taking the body himself. The maid began to wail and flopped onto the floor, grieving as if her own mother died. Like that to so many she knew. How she survived as long as she did in this murderous political climate. Too many friends, on top of many family loyalists. Now, they¡¯re all going to be quite angry. To show respect for their sake, Crow took the body where the young man might¡¯ve been taking it in the first place ¡ª her bedroom, to lay her on the bed. Her eyes seemed stuck open, so he weaved a cantrip to close her eyelids and keep them closed. He took the opportunity to inspect the body, too, also using some rudimentary spellcraft to assist. Dozens of small, cutting wounds that went for very anatomically-logical arteries and veins, including the principal target in the neck that supplied blood. She died exceptionally quickly from catastrophic blood loss. Agatha had on an enchanted amulet. In addition to poison immunity, it was one of the expensive, persistent wound negators. It had apparently been easily cut through from the multiple simultaneous wounds. Someone did their homework. ¡°What are you doing?¡± A masculine voice demanded from the doorway. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Crow turned his head around to see the First Guardian of Oldaster, Lord Doran, a middle-aged brick of a man with a permanent scowl on his face. Behind him were two armored guards, who were looking at their dead monarch with grim expressions. All had swords out. Oh, great. He¡¯s not one of ours. I hope I don¡¯t have to deal with false accusations again. We don¡¯t have time for that nonsense. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Crow sighed. ¡°I was picking out loaners to take with me from the library when I heard a commotion and came to investigate. It¡¯s news to me.¡± Lord Doran narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He jerked his head at the guards, who sheathed their swords and moved toward the bed. ¡°You obtained permission, I assume. When?¡± Crow sighed again, even harder, as he moved away from the corpse. ¡°Some hours ago.¡± The guards peered at Agatha but didn¡¯t touch her. They shook their heads, winced, and knelt on one knee to bow. They spoke some prayer about reincarnation. No need, but whatever, gents. Lord Doran had not seemed to take his eyes off of Crow. He did sheath his sword. ¡°Shortly before her death, then.¡± Crow shook his head. ¡°She died not very long ago, honestly. The servants can probably attest to seeing her whole even ten minutes ago, perhaps.¡± ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡± ¡°Magic, of course. You can¡¯t heal some things without diagnosis, for one thing. The same sort of delving can determine the nature of injury. Blood loss from artery strikes, here. A knowledgeable assassin¡¯s work.¡± ¡°Something you know about intimately as well? In addition to unsanctioned sorcery, that is.¡± Crow glared at him. Well, at least they do trials here. ¡°Are you going to arrest me now or later? Because I¡¯d prefer to continue investigating the crime to find the real culprit.¡± Lord Doran opened his mouth but was interrupted as another person pushed into the room, closely followed by what looked like a minor noblewoman ¡ª he believed one of Agatha¡¯s Ladies-in-Waiting. The Steward, Sir Jon Quinian, saw the dead Agatha with wide eyes and gave a pained cry, running to her bedside. No less grief was evident from the lady as she called out a garbed prayer. They fell on their knees at the bed and cried. Jon took off the cap that Crow had never before seen him without, revealing a balding head. Jon was one of theirs. A Devout who was converted around the same time that Sir Oliver was, after the Knightings ceremony of himself, Estara, Dax, and so on. Yes. It¡¯s very good that I still have allies here. The guards moved out of the way, as they and Lord Doran shifted to the side and whispered to each other. One of the guards soon hurried out the door. Jon lifted his head from the bed, tears in his eyes, holding one of Agatha¡¯s hands. He saw Crow and swallowed, trying to collect himself. ¡°Salkin.¡± Crow¡¯s current alias. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re here after this tragedy. You¡­ you¡¯ll try to uncover what happened, yes?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir Jon,¡± Crow replied simply with a firm nod. ¡°She was killed most expertly by multiple severed arteries.¡± Lord Doran cut in. ¡°He should not be involved. He¡¯s under suspicion.¡± He turned his cool eyes back to Crow. ¡°To answer your prior query, bard, no ¡ª you are not being charged at this time, nor detained directly. You are not granted leave to depart from Mot Mekess, however. Go back to your quarters.¡± Crow shrugged at this. Jon¡¯s face sobered as he rested his gaze on Lord Doran. ¡°I believe proper law and custom in Oldaster makes a murder of the monarch the province of the Steward of Mot Mekess, not the First Guardian. Will you yield to the law, Lord Doran?¡± Doran looked like he¡¯d been slapped in the face. ¡°What?! Would you seriously trust some vagabond over a loyal, veteran marshal of the march? Jon. Be reasonable.¡± ¡°You know why it¡¯s an issue, Doran.¡± This made the old soldier scowl. ¡°That I might technically stand to gain by her death? You¡¯re insulting me in truth now. My very honor. And you know it wouldn¡¯t be true ¡ª I¡¯ve vowed to step aside. You¡¯re no man of the blade, either. How could you possibly handle this?¡± ¡°I am not insulting you, Doran. It¡¯s the law. And the proper martial assistant is the Second Guardian.¡± ¡°That pup will be of no use. For one thing, he¡¯ll cry just like you and that woman at her demise. He still cries after his idiot brother¡¯s death. Hardly how to get things done.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not getting things done arguing.¡± He took a deep breath and gazed flatly at Doran. ¡°Will you yield to the law, First Guardian of Oldaster?¡± Lord Doran¡¯s mouth opened angrily, and then he closed it. His face went red in a deep, embarrassed scowl. ¡°Yes,¡± he snarled finally, then stormed out immediately, sparing no further glance for anything. His soldier followed behind. A loud, angry command from the tea room called his other soldier to come. The steward sighed wearily. ¡°I will pay for that, one way or another. Salkin, you should investigate further. This is your province, isn¡¯t it?¡± Crow cleared his throat. ¡°The rumors do seem to suggest it. This wasn¡¯t the place of death. I¡¯m slightly unclear on it.¡± ¡°Clear it up, then. Please keep someone with you. I hope you understand. Perhaps Jon Three, if he¡¯s recovered enough. The bloodied one.¡± ¡°Jon Three?¡± ¡°We have many Jons, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Now I understand why it''s usually ¡®Jon Quinian¡¯ from everyone. I thought he was just proud of his family or something. ¡°I see. I¡¯ll assist as best I can. And yes, I understand a secondary witness being wise.¡± ¡°Thank you. I will remain available by all desired means.¡± That was code for the psychic vector through Samantha¡¯s realm. Crow simply nodded and made his way out. More people were coming in. He saw the young man standing in the middle of the tea room, wiping some blood off with a couple of rags. He otherwise looked around like he wanted to do something. Crow met his eyes. ¡°Jon Three?¡± ¡°Yes, sir?¡± ¡°By chance, are you up to being an observer while I investigate this death? Steward Jon Quinian has asked me to do so.¡± The servant looked relieved as he nodded. ¡°Anything for the Grand Ma Ma.¡± He looked down. ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t say that, now. Now that she¡¯s gone. Right? It¡¯s disrespectful.¡± Crow shook his head. ¡°Not at all, lad. She¡¯d prefer to be called and remembered just as she was, I¡¯m sure. Come on. Let¡¯s try and find out who did this to steal away the advantages they hoped to gain from it. That¡¯s what she¡¯d want above all, I think.¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 55: More Than Mere Survival Samantha once again came to with her face on the floor. The feminine, slightly distorted voice of the Director chimed in her head, clear resonant notes encapsulated in memory, the flow quickly instilling a headache. ¡°Note: you have been rendered stunned and senseless due to temporary willpower exhaustion. This was not enforced, but due to the unavoidable ramifications of observer time alteration through the interface by your currently inferior intellect.¡± Chime! ¡°Simulating projected alterations: Introductory Summary equivalent to 10 [Magineer] experience, multiplied to 16 due to status effects. [Magical Invention] upgraded with the enhancement [Runic Reinforcement]. [Tweak Spell: Expedite] changed to [Tweak Spell: Double], and [Tweak Spell: Quicken] requirements reduced.¡± Ting! ¡°[My Devilish Plot All Along] flag triggered. Check! Execution: spell gains captured, cannibalized, and contributed to [Special Package Delivery: Ralli¡¯s Booty]. Wait for it!¡± Chugga, chugga¡­ toot toot! ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ [Split Prediction] upgraded with the enhancement [Spell Reaction]. 99.4% success of application estimated¡­ contingency error-correcting heuristics 100% success rate¡­ cheat is acceptable and has been applied.¡± Toot. ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ [Foolmaker] upgraded with ¡®Jammer¡¯ enchantment. 23.9% success of application estimated¡­ contingency error-correcting heuristics 68.9% success rate¡­ nope. Unsalvageable. Punting inspiration for now¡­¡± Brrrr¡­ rrn rrn rrrrrn! ¡°Simulating projected alterations: Experience 1 equivalent to 10 [Magineer] experience, multiplied to 16 due to status effects, and 10 [Saboteur] experience, multiplied to 12 due to status effect. [Elemental Mastery] Special Trait added. [Tweak Spell] modified with a limited ¡®pool.¡¯ [Tweak Spell: Prepare] added. ¡°Challenge 1 quest successful: 5 [Goddess] experience gained, multiplied to 6 due to status effect, 15 [Magineer] experience gained, multiplied to 24 due to status effects, 5 [Saboteur] experience gained, multiplied to 6 due to status effect. [Foolmaker] enhanced with [Magi¡¯s Rapport]. [Bubble Shield] spell added. ¡°Give me a ¡®hell yeah!¡¯ [Magineer 8] gained. +20 Maximum MP. [Tweak Spell] upgraded by one level to Master.¡± Ting! ¡°[My Devilish Plot All Along] flag triggered. Check! Added more booty (¡ª as if there wasn¡¯t enough, tee hee ¡ª). Waity, wait, wait!¡± Sh-zzzip! ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ ¡®Wire Jammer¡¯ spell added. 96.8% success of application estimated¡­ contingency error-correcting heuristics 100% success rate¡­ cheat is acceptable and has been applied.¡± Tic¡­ tic. ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ [Acting (Expert)] added. 100% success of application (¡ª let¡¯s be honest: not much of a stretch ¡ª). Cheat is acceptable and has been applied.¡± Chime! ¡°Simulating projected alterations: Experience 2 and THE GREAT INTERIM equivalent to 20 [Magineer] experience, multiplied to 32 due to status effects, 7 [Saboteur] experience, multiplied to 8 due to status effect, and 3 [Brute] experience. [Multitask Magician] Special Trait added. [Slayer] modified with the entry [Aura of Conquest]. ¡°Challenge 2 quest successful: 17 [Goddess] experience gained, multiplied to 20 due to status effect, 12 [Magineer] experience gained, multiplied to 19 due to status effects, 7 [Saboteur] experience gained, multiplied to 8 due to status effect, and 3 [Brute] experience. [Jack of All Trades 2] upgraded with enhancement [Simple, Stupid]. [Ascendant] modified with the entry [Snake Friend]. ¡®Super Hot¡¯... flagged¡­ cannibalized (¡ª Not censored; likely under new entry! ¡ª). ¡°Yay. [Brute 1] gained. [Scrapping] skill added.¡± Ting! ¡°[My Devilish Plot All Along] flag triggered. Check! Even more booty; all types of booty. More booty than you can shake a stick at! More booty than Sheb can handle!¡± Thump, thump. ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ ¡®Golem Creation¡¯ added to [Magical Invention]. 96.7% success of application estimated¡­ contingency error-correcting heuristics 100% success rate¡­ cheat is acceptable and has been applied.¡± Bong! ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ [Force Mastery] Special Trait added. 35% success of application estimated¡­ contingency error-correcting heuristics 92% success rate! (¡ª Ugh. ¡ª)... Annihilation of the universe is possible! Modifying¡­ Bong¡­? ¡° ¡®Barrierizer¡¯ to go somewhere or other. 49.3% success of application estimated¡­ heuristics 100%. Applied. Cross your fingers.¡± Shhhrip! ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ ¡®Bare Necessities¡¯ added to [Conceptual Body]. 98.8% success of application estimated¡­ contingency error-correcting heuristics 100% success rate¡­ cheat is acceptable and has been applied.¡± Chime! ¡°Simulating projected alterations: Experience 3 equivalent to 13 [Magineer] experience, multiplied to 20 due to status effects. [Mystic Astrolabe] bound item added. [Fire Funnel] spell added. ¡°Challenge 3 quest successful: 13 [Goddess] experience gained, multiplied to 15 due to status effect, 16 [Magineer] experience gained, multiplied to 25 due to status effects, and 5 [Saboteur] experience gained, multiplied to 6 due to status effect. [Crowned Tower] spell added. [Wyld Inferno] spell added. [Mark of the Wyld] Special Trait added. ¡°Huzzah! [Magineer 9] gained. +20 Maximum MP. [Magical Invention] maximum upgrade already achieved. Free [Wizard] class skill selection (or related general skills) available, maximum ranks +1. [Saboteur 4] gained. [Exploit Weakness] improved to [Exploit Weakness+1].¡± Ting! ¡°[My Devilish Plot All Along] flag triggered. Check! Are you bristling with bootyfull anticipation yet?!¡± Whiiiiiiiiiirr¡­ honk! ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ ¡®Strange Phantasm 1¡¯ capability added to Mirroring Duplicates. 100% success of application due to existing protocols and contingencies. Cheat is acceptable and has been applied.¡± Clonk. ¡°Cheat simulating¡­ ¡®Crazy Sister¡¯s Promised Present Package¡¯ added to Quests. 99.8% success of application estimated¡­ contingency error-correcting heuristics 100% success rate¡­ cheat is acceptable and has been applied.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Trumpets sounded like a triumphant victory at war. ¡°Congratulations! That¡¯s all, folks! May you complete the Game, Successor.¡± Ba Dum Tsh! ¡°Just kidding! Get hyped, girl! Get. Fucking. Ready!¡± Ow, ow- wait, what? Oh no, I¡¯m scared now. A new feeling to the interface suddenly blossomed ¡ª a new link. A less ¡®Ozra-polluted¡¯ Director voice declared, ¡°A partial mental synthesis process is required for the final modification. Standard safety protocols have been bypassed and this may be unpleasant, harmful, or fatal. Please ask your doctor about bypassing safety protocols before bypassing safety protocols. Standby¡­¡± A sudden storm of information flooded Sammy¡¯s already poor, battered brain. Spells. Spells, spells, spells, and more spells. Hundreds. Everything, seemingly, one after the other, burning hot augers of knowledge searing her psyche with ancient, runic brands. The core of magic, the core Rallindin harvested from dross, recompiled, synthesized, cannibalized, reconstituted, and sewed back into reality as new foundations to anchor it. To create cement. Whatever contrivance of levels she¡¯d attained, whatever experience she had gained within herself, she wasn¡¯t ready for it. It threatened to sweep her away, just obliterate her with the raw totality of information. It was raw will to resist, contain, and absorb it. Hrrrrrrrrraaaaah! ¡°You have gained 1 exp in [Magineer] through spell acquisition thanks to [Comprehension: Accelerator].¡±
¡°You have gained 1 exp in [Magineer] through spell acquisition thanks to [Comprehension: Accelerator].¡±
¡°You have gained 1 exp in [Magineer] through spell acquisition thanks to [Comprehension: Accelerator].¡± ¡­ over and over and over and over it came, crammed into a tiny fraction of a second, and then a level maxed, and more came. The stupid repetition of the words was not a candle before the bonfire of feeling her mind rewired in tandem. Hrrrrrrrrrnnn¡­ please¡­! By some thin margin, she held out a sliver long enough for it to end. Levels mattered¡­ that much was clear. One more drop of it would have been her end. Fortunately, it stopped short. ¡°Process successful, Director. Common spells obtained in totality up to your pre-acquisition [Magineer] level of 9 and consolidated into [Allspell]. [Comprehension: Accelerator] has provided a total [Magineer] experience gain of 175 (175 iterations of 1 exp, after rounding).¡± Chime! ¡°To avoid System violations, [Comprehension: Accelerator] has been altered to [Comprehension: Evolver] ¡ª beyond level 9, and upon your return to normal outer reality, the experience gain is instead for custom spells only.¡± Chime! ¡°[Magineer 10] gained! +30 Maximum MP. Spellcraft Specialization (Abjurer) upgraded; [Common Ward] added as an enhancement. [Magineer 11] gained! +30 Maximum MP. [Tweak Spell] upgraded by one level to Grandmaster.¡± Ding! ¡°[Tweak Spell: Super Hot] added. [Elemental Mastery] consolidated under [Allspell] as an enhancement. +300 Maximum MP added. [Sponge of Knowledge] changed to [Triangulation of Knowledge].¡± Victory fanfare beeped briefly. ¡°Good luck with the game, Director.¡± Sammy knew she passed out briefly, as the last of the info had an ¡®I¡¯m fading as it¡¯s coming¡¯ quality. She woke to Azure straddling her, tapping her cheek to rouse her, worry painted on her face. Tanjhere, already slapping me around, as promised- wait. No. Sammy blinked a few times in waking up fully, as Azure had briefly bowed her head in exhausted relief. ¡°Yeah,¡± Sammy managed. She wanted to add ¡®I¡¯m okay¡¯ but it just didn¡¯t come out. We¡¯re out of it. Hell is over. Damn you, Ozra. Damn y- ¡­ haha. Hahaha! She began laughing hysterically. Uncannily. Partially, just due to surviving everything, and coming out on top (well, Azure was, technically, but that was hardly news). Partially due to beating the whole motherlovin¡¯ thing with total victory, and shiny rewards like a new gleaming garment waiting to be slipped into¡­ Her eyes cracking open saw Azure looking at her with concern once more. ¡°What, Samantha?¡± the Naugite asked. ¡°What is it? Are you¡­ well?¡± ¡°Tch! I¡¯m great!¡± Sammy called in between chortles. ¡°Bare Necessities! Fffhh- hahahaha!¡± She squeezed her eyes shut and wheezed, out of breath, slapping her hand on the stony floor. ¡°It¡¯s because ¡ª kkrrk ¡ª it¡¯s because I was naked! In the fucking jungle!¡± Azure let out a chortle, too, and then they were both laughing. The Naugite flopped next to her as they shared in hysterical amusement and release; the purest of relief. Once Sammy collected herself, she sat up and took Azure¡¯s hand. As Azure sat up too, Sammy beamed. ¡°You beat it all, Blueberry. You won! Passed with flying colors. I told you that you could do it! I¡¯m so proud of you.¡± Azure smiled a touch bashfully as she looked away briefly, but finally met Sammy¡¯s eyes and nodded. ¡°Nothing could make me happier than for you to be. I feel deserving of it for once.¡± A bigger smile. ¡°Fellow Ascendant.¡± ¡°Oh ho! You got it?! Now I¡¯m not so lonely at the top. So. Do you have a magic potion gun now?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. It¡¯s been translated into ¡®sling¡¯ expertise, but I don¡¯t even get a damn sling. We¡¯ll have to figure it out ¡ª or I just use existing great throwing skills. Whatever. You liked that gun more than I did. I caught you playing with it ¡ª don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t! Anyway, I also¡­ shot you with it.¡± She winced. ¡°Yes, you did. In the face.¡± Sammy gave a false admonishing glare for a brief moment, then snorted and brushed it off to rise, pulling up Azure with her. ¡°Water under the bridge. I probably needed it. You¡¯re not a damsel and can handle yourself.¡± ¡°I did. Literally. But let¡¯s save that for another time. As I was told, I still have a mountain to walk in regards to it.¡± ¡°Yeah, our crazy sister said something about you climbing it instead of smashing into it and shattering. Some kind of crap like that.¡± ¡°I bet she¡¯s even wordier and more mysterious than the Fortuneteller, hmm?¡± ¡°Hmmmm. Tough call.¡± Sammy looked around, noting the sealed and completed door next to them. White, but without any reflection any longer, entirely made opaque. ¡°We¡¯re done here, Blueberry. Let¡¯s go.¡± The next time we ¡ª or I ¡ª come here, it¡¯ll probably be even crazier. Makes me wonder who equals their importance. But I have plenty to do as it is. I¡¯ll be the Goddess of Magic by then. That much I¡¯m certain of.
(Vol 6) Chapter 56: Attention to Detail In Mot Mekess, the last room of Marchioness Agatha¡¯s life was a kind of private shrine/meditation area with a miniature enchanted fountain in the center, constantly flowing with water in a relaxing trickling ambiance. Like any other room of hers, the place was aesthetically pleasant. Here, some of the sharpness of the tea room¡¯s grandeur was missing, replaced with tender understatement. The few paintings were of sunny nature scenes. As largely any other morning, Agatha had begun it by having broth-heavy soup for the sake of her sensitive digestion. Blood was drenched all over the chair, the small dining table, and the ornate rug underneath. It was a great time to kill her because she relished this final moment of isolation before the business of the day came. An open book on the table also had a bit of blood splattered. ¡®The Continued Adventures of the Mountain Strider.¡¯ Light fiction reading ¡ª also routine. Without an emergency, she would not deal with any official matters until she had her soup. ¡°She read those books dozens of times,¡± Jon Three commented sadly as he just as sadly looked on, while Crow scanned the scene and utilized some informational spellcraft. ¡°Just about made me reread it, too, talking about it. After I mentioned I read it when I was a youngin¡¯. We had inside jokes¡­¡± In sweeping over the various objects, Crow quickly noted a ¡®collapsed¡¯ aura of magic in the soup. Something destructive, but otherwise non-informative. Something triggered by ingestion? Exploding out. Hmm. Did I mistake the wounds? I thought they were from outside, ripping in and out. ¡°I assume there is some protocol for security screening for magical shenanigans?¡± Crow asked without directly looking at Jon Three. ¡°She¡¯s been a potential assassination target for years, as I understand it.¡± ¡°Oh, yes, sir,¡± the servant replied. ¡°The house wizard is required to check any meals or correspondence before being brought to the marchioness. He¡¯s always grouchy about getting up so early, but it¡¯s his job. He¡¯s probably screening letters right now.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s very reliable.¡± This is the same loser that wasn¡¯t with Agatha when she was kidnapped. If I remember right, it was because he was sick with the shits. Lucky him. He might be dead otherwise. ¡°He drinks too much after dinner, but Gran- The Marchioness stages-... staged false spell stuff randomly on things to make sure he¡¯s doing his work. He missed something once, I think they said seven years ago? Before he knew. She confronted him and told him about it, and if he ever missed something again, she¡¯d send him packing. Cleared it right up, it did. He never missed another of those tests, and he¡¯s right proud of that, too.¡± Crow stared at the soup bowl and rubbed at his chin. ¡°I see. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s likely lost his job after all, though.¡± ¡°So you found magic? Godslovin¡¯ suckasses- excuse me, sir.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fine, Jon. Yes. So it seems. I suppose it could¡¯ve been cloaked somehow until it triggered.¡± Ingestion. Couldn¡¯t alchemy be used and betray no aura at all in that case? Though I suppose that is rare and expensive. ¡°It¡¯d be way beyond our wizard, if so. Far as I know ¡ª and that ain¡¯t sayin¡¯ much, now ¡ª but if so, that¡¯s high order. High-level stuff. If a noble had it done, they paid a king¡¯s ransom for it.¡± ¡°A marchioness¡¯s ransom, at the least. Thank you, Jon. Your perspective is appreciated.¡± ¡°If it helps figure out who did this, it¡¯d ease my wee heart a little more. Don¡¯t mention it.¡± The soup is slated for careful analysis I suppose. Hmmph. I just don¡¯t like it. Jeeves popped into his head. ¡°Agatha is somewhat salient, but she¡¯s forcing herself to hold it together. Anxiety, it would seem. She has a thousand threads left hanging with her demise. I¡¯ve questioned her about the murder. Unfortunately, she remembers little. She was partaking of her soup, reading, and suddenly felt jabbed in multiple parts of her body at once. Her words: ¡®Flowing bloody gushing feelings inside me. Shock and wonder. Overwhelming sharp pain and paralysis. Choking, falling. My vision was blurry and cut off suddenly, or I can¡¯t remember the fade out. I think there was movement. Lines passing across in a blink. I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s it.¡¯ End. Not much to go on, there, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Crow pondered the info. ¡°Lines and movement? The soup itself has an aural spell residue.¡± ¡°Bah! What a useless wizard. We should¡¯ve replaced him¡­ but we¡¯re rather stretched thin ourselves out here. Alright. Soup. Perhaps a spell trigger inside her, blooming out after ingestion?¡± ¡°I believe the wounds are external in origin. Outside, in. If she was looking dead into her soup, and doesn¡¯t recall seeing it emanate outward¡­ well. I suppose I can look at her wounds again to verify.¡± ¡°Hmm. Curious. I leave it to you, Crow.¡± Crow did not immediately leave. He shifted and leaned over the table, eying every inch almost to the end of his nose. The opened book. The simple ceramic bowl, the plate underneath it. An untouched cloth napkin ¡ª untouched but by a splatter of blood, that is. The wooden chair. Was the chair suspicious? Wood it kill? Hmm. No. It was just a chair. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. And then he squatted to eye the blood-soaked rug below. He was close enough to inspect the structure of the ornate pattern. It was¡­ well, what the hell was any rug pattern? Psychedelic nonsense. Rows of many-colored flower-like things. Prominent little white swords framing at many right angles, in a continuous unbroken matrix connected by something like a vine. Crow blinked. Does that even fit? The matrix seemed contrasted with the rest. ¡°Jon, my friend¡­ this rug seems especially odd. Come see, would you?¡± Once Jon squatted down, Crow pointed out the sword-and-vine matrix, and Jon squinted at it. He exclaimed, ¡°Blow me to the Unders, I never once saw that! It¡¯s crazy how these things go right under your nose for years! Like an unpainted wall or rough-coated floor. See new visions every time you look.¡± ¡°Jon, my friend¡­ how many times have you come in here and seen this rug?¡± ¡°Oh, hundreds. Thousands maybe. She likes- liked my precise and careful cleaning. Runs in the family. And she was like one of the family. Only place I don¡¯t go is the bedroom. Not proper.¡± ¡°Have you intimately cleaned this rug? Handled it directly, close in?¡± ¡°Sure. Carried it out of here and beat every dust bunny and straw bit out of it many times. Enjoy beating the rugs, actually. Gets the aggression out from arguing with my da or losing at the ole dice throw.¡± ¡°Surely you¡¯d have seen this pattern before.¡± Jon frowned. ¡°It is that obvious? Maybe my eyesight is going bad already¡­¡± ¡°No, Jon. I¡¯m saying this could be transplanted here, somehow. That it could be the method of murder.¡± Jon stared at him for a second, dumbfounded, then stared for another split second at the rug. Then he shot up onto his feet and backed away, face a bit whiter than before. ¡°Oh.¡± He swallowed and looked abashed. ¡°Sorry. You- are you sure?¡± ¡°No. If you had to choose between whether this pattern existed and you overlooked it, and that it was not here before at all, which would you?¡± Jon frowned as he squinted at the rug from a standing position. ¡°Honestly, I do see it somewhat even from here. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d call it a slightly different rug. But it ain¡¯t. Those patterns, they¡¯re one of a kind. Not just the vines and what, the whole rug. How they¡¯re made.¡± Crow nodded slowly. He tried out ¡®Identify¡¯ targeting the rug. Nothing. Tried targeting just the vines-and-swords. Nothing. He drew his dagger and slipped the point under a vine, attempting to see if it were cuttable thread. It resisted. Like wire threaded in, but no metallic gleam. Recalling he had a certain special item in his possession given to him by Beikiar, he pulled a small kit from his coat. It was a small, rectangular, wooden box. It took him a few moments to remember how to open it, as it was some tricky maneuver with both hands in different positions. Finally, there was a chik sound as the box partially opened. He pulled it the rest of the way and pulled out a thin, wooden wand with a piece of chalky, white metal at the end. Beikiar had called it a ¡®disrupter¡¯ ¡ª an expensive antimage tool. In skilled hands, it could interfere with spells, spellcraft, and alchemical items. Beikiar was only passing familiar, but told Crow to try it out against anything ¡®suspect¡¯ that otherwise ¡®eluded one¡¯s sophistication of identification.¡¯ What he had meant, and what he had used it for, was for traps. Even in unskilled hands, a disrupter supposedly had a discernible ¡®reaction¡¯ upon crude contact of the metal with something supernatural. Beikiar said it was something like a ¡®spark.¡¯ You¡¯d feel it, even if you failed to interpret anything or stop the effect, and the wand would ¡®almost never¡¯ trigger anything. It had saved Beikiar¡¯s skin several times while debating on whether to try a suspicious handle, corridor, item, and so on. He¡¯d used it, then walked away ¡ª or found some way to trigger the trap safely. Crow took it in hand and slowly lowered it to one of the little interlaced blades¡­ oh so slowly and carefully bringing it closer with a surgeon¡¯s precision¡­ The little sword popped out from the rug in a flash and whipped lightning-quick, chopping the wand in half. The rest of it whipped up and out, too, forming a loop and going right for Crow¡¯s throat. Well then. Only cat-like reaction speed saved him. His off-hand grabbed it firmly and stopped it as he pivoted and rolled away at the same time ¡ª chancy, not knowing the strength of the vine. His roll saved him from yet another unfurling whip-like motion of the lethal construct. His hand thankfully jerked the mass a bit as he moved ¡ª also un-thankfully, as he felt it bite deep into his hand with its razor-edged sharpness.
You¡¯ve suffered a Minor Wound to the hand. It is bleeding. You are at -1 Effective Levels to any physical manipulation use of the hand.
Crow let go of it and pulled his hand free a moment before it tightened violently, which would have quite possibly severed his hand at the palm. He used the time to roll away and create some distance, expecting another attack. Instead, the vine mass darted away, zipping through the air at high speeds, on a beeline for the door. Damn. Making a getaway. Was the coast never clear immediately after the deed? Or it was dormant until I disturbed it. If I hadn¡¯t noticed, it might have slipped away at night, no one the wiser. He prepped a sound spell cone at an angle to blast it right as it made the open doorway. Then he heard a shrill scream from the room beyond and saw movement, and ¡ª in a split moment decision ¡ª aborted the spell. Fucking hell. Stupid bystanders. I¡¯m hypothetically good against fragile constructs, but not in a crowd whose guts I¡¯d splatter everywhere in the crossfire. Didn¡¯t think about damage to the walls, either¡­
(Vol 6) Chapter 57: A Stayed Hand Crow used what time he saved from the abort of the spell to run after the fleeing vine mass, into the screams blossoming from the tea room. ¡°Get back here, you murderous fiend!¡± he called as he did. ¡°Watch out, fools! Killer on the loose! Stand clear!¡± Through it all, Jon Three had simply backed up almost into the wall, brandishing a nearby broom as a defensive weapon. ¡°Wh-what do I do?!¡± He never got an answer to that. The vines were exceptionally fast, already zipping through the tea room and beyond, into the vestibule with the exit. Worse, a guardsman was in there ¡ª at least by the reckoning of Crow¡¯s flicking ears, as he couldn¡¯t see. It didn¡¯t particularly matter spell-wise, as he lacked proper time to cast, but it ruled out some sort of AoE before the construct made the exit. Though the door might be closed, that was unlikely to matter, as the floating mass could certainly slip underneath. Air-tight, castles were not. With a very narrow window of opportunity and a spell out of the question, Crow decided to hedge his bets. He quick-drew an enchanted throwing dagger and flung it at the mass, aiming for the ¡®tail¡¯ of sorts. He channeled [Rogue¡¯s Luck] and [Bardic Panache] into it. The latter was good for willing ¡®special results¡¯ into it, eliminating up to -3 in circumstantial penalties in addition to an EL boost. What he wanted was to sever a section ¡ª experimentally, to see what would happen. Would part of it ¡®die?¡¯ The mass almost cleared out of his line-of-sight entirely even in the period for his throw. But the very end of the vines trailed, and the dagger flashed unerringly through the air, cutting clean through it. A small section, no wider than a hand, fell to the floor, flopping around immediately like an agitated earthworm. The greater mass briefly disappeared from his sight. Hmm. It¡¯s something. There was a scream of pain just as Crow came around. The guard that had been inside was untouched, having apparently whiffed in attacking the mass ¡ª he was stumbling with a consternated expression from an obvious sword swing. As luck would have it, a servant was just opening the door beyond when the mass bore down, and it raked the man terribly as he fell back in response, a bundle of rags in his arms suddenly flying everywhere. Cursing, Crow made his way to the door, beating the armored guard who was just pivoting to pursue as well. As Crow hopped over the diced-up servant, he saw the wounds dealt ¡ª multiple cuts across the face, shoulder, arm¡­ and neck. It was gushing blood through the man¡¯s fingers. Damn it! He hesitated, knowing the servant would be doomed without his aid but also knowing the mass was getting away. A voice erupted in his head. One he¡¯d never heard or felt before, yet found familiar. ¡®Why interfere? Fate has doomed him, death is claiming him. Would you truly surrender even this principle to her when she is wound up in the cause?¡¯ Shocked, Crow nonetheless had little time to philosophize. The decision was obvious. Crow stopped short and knelt, hovering his hand over the man¡¯s hand and neck and beginning a semi-advanced spell to staunch any blood loss. He caught a last glimpse of the mass flying down the hall and making a turn. The spell resolved, stopping the spurting of the man¡¯s neck and the oozing of many cuts. The man gasped, his eyes wide, still caught entirely in shock. The guard came barreling through, and Crow pointed down the hall. ¡°It took a right!¡± The guard nodded and ran off. Once the spell was finished, though, Crow took off running after the guard and passed him quickly with his own prodigious speed. The hallway was barren and turned into a left and right, slightly curved. It was an outer wall nearby, light casting from unshuttered windows looking out on a courtyard. Crow popped his head out, looking around. No sign of the mass or any violence. Plenty of vegetation cover. Shit. I need to secure the cut section ¡ª it might be mobile, too. Another guard was running up. Crow called, ¡°Hey, you! Get more searching outside. And we need magic-users on it!¡± ¡°Uh¡­ okay,¡± the guard replied, somewhat bewildered as Crow rushed past him. On the way back, he checked in with Jeeves and forwarded his visions and impressions of the construct. ¡°Need your Resemblants to canvas for it. And if we can get allies out to organize for a general lookout, that would be good, too.¡± ¡°A logical deduction,¡± Jeeves replied. ¡°We¡¯re on it. I had one high in the air, but not at the right angle. He hasn¡¯t seen an escape skyward, at least.¡± ¡°Perhaps it cannot fly, just hover. If so, we might have a chance.¡± Crow passed the cut-up servant being tended to by another near the doorway. ¡°Now, I might need help-¡± Crow stepped into the room and stopped short as he saw a young man in armor, wearing a disturbed expression on his face, sword out, as he looked down at a thrashing vine caught under his armored boot. It had gotten much closer to the exit than before. ¡°Don¡¯t crush it!¡± Crow called as he took the few remaining steps left to the man. A knight, assuredly. His armor was impeccable. Enchanted. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Very haunted eyes looked up at Crow, and for a moment, Crow¡¯s feline hackles rose. His face, seen eye-to-eye, was like Thadeus risen from the grave ¡ª the man who¡¯d almost sacrificed Agatha for Zadkiel down in the caves. But a second moment dispelled the illusion, as he was far younger, with a softer, more delicate face, probably one that made the ladies swoon. That was definitely not Thadeus. His brother. The young Sir Alletes, the Second Guardian of Oldaster. Alletes gave Crow a brief, solemn nod. ¡°I know, Sir Bard. Despite what grief and vengeance ensnaring my heart desires, this is evidence, yes? Evidence that wants to escape, one way or another. Destruction might be its victory rather than ours. I¡¯m late to the scene yet again, but I hope this helps.¡± Crow took a moment to study the lad. Seems reasonable enough. ¡°Yes. Allow me to secure it momentarily.¡± He knelt, taking out a magic item from his satchel ¡ª a small black box in the shape of a hexagon, decorated with golden motifs of monsters, weapons, and renditions of little ¡®explosions.¡¯ He spoke the long command word that unlocked it and opened it to reveal a void. The immediate zone in the room suddenly felt ¡®heavier¡¯ from a magic effect. The thrashing little bit of vines and sword points thrashed even harder, as if a living thing sensing a dark fate awaiting it. The blades tried to curve up to cut the boot, tried to stretch as much as possible to slice at Crow. Lid in hand, Crow spoke the activation word of the box while targeting the vines. The void within the box roiled once, and then a fat tendril shot up and out at the vines like a striking cobra, quickly enveloping them completely. Suppressing a sound of alarm, Alletes jerked his foot away. The void recoiled back quickly, and Crow hastily capped the box. It produced a loud, echoing ¡®locking¡¯ sound. The vines-and-swords piece was entirely contained. Crow knew that it was effectively ¡®frozen¡¯ and couldn¡¯t move within, activate, or even be sensed through. It was wholly cut off from the world. ¡°That¡¯ll do it just fine,¡± Crow said as he stowed the box and stood. ¡°Thanks for the assist, Sir Alletes.¡± Alletes nodded. ¡°So you know of me. I wondered, me being newly minted to my new role beyond the honorary. You¡¯ve been strangely reclusive for a bard, but Agatha informed me you were among the most forthright and trustworthy of friends. I will honor this, even knowing so little. Perhaps what little I¡¯ve seen here is enough to verify.¡± ¡°I appreciate that. Agatha was a friend. I mourn her loss with you.¡± Maybe I should mention this one to Samantha. Vibe check him for induction into the Order. The servant who¡¯d been injured got helped back into the room, looking weak, harrowed, but whole. As they were passing by, he suddenly noticed Crow, and shot a hand up to his shoulder, meeting him eye-to-eye. An intense gaze, with moist eyes of emotion. ¡°Thank you. You saved my life¡­ you stopped¡­ I¡¯m in your debt, sir!¡± Crow shook his head. ¡°No debt. My actions and failures conspired to put you in harm¡¯s way. The principle of things, hmm? Rest yourself, friend. We¡¯ll get those scars healed, too.¡± Tears streaming down his face, the servant¡¯s mouth worked without words. At pressure from the one helping him, he finally relented, nodding and shifting his eyes away. His hand pulled free and he was escorted further inside, likely to a chair or bed. ¡°It seems I have even more verification,¡± Sir Alletes replied with intrigue. Crow shrugged. ¡°You can trust I keep to principles higher than myself, yes.¡± Internally, that awoken voice within Crow rose again, entirely unimpressed. ¡®What principles are those?¡¯ It was very odd to feel an impulse to answer such a voice in his head, entirely unlike mental communication with Servitors or distant allies. But he knew he wasn¡¯t insane. On a vague level, he knew what was happening. ¡°Responsibility and the preservation of life in the hands of one wielding great power over others.¡± ¡®Life? You seem to be confused about our nature.¡¯ ¡°Not at all. You are the confused one. We are blended and stirred together with her. We¡¯re transmuted and transformed into something new. That is the unity needed.¡± A sense of puzzlement. ¡®You¡¯d give up your very identity for some passing chaotic fancy? A youthful bonfire to expend itself like an effigy to entropy. You¡¯ll be a burned-out husk by the end. Sacrificing our order for the ideals of another is not how we thrive.¡¯ ¡°Perhaps we don¡¯t need to. And it¡¯s not my identity, it¡¯s yours. I¡¯ll show you the logic and the order of the synthesis with the unfurling of results.¡± ¡®A narrow perspective. I remain dubious.¡¯ Somehow, Crow knew those words were a problem. Dangerous. ¡°If that servant should¡¯ve died, what about me? I was ready to jump off the edge, to reset a sad, squandered, and abused life. Instead, Samantha was the catalyst for Death¡¯s transformation for a completely undeserving fool. Death to oneself. Rebirth. Is that not a powerful meaning within us?¡± ¡®It is. Our road to mastery; the road of the few to mastery. Go on.¡¯ ¡°Let me handle things my way, through my novel perspective and experience. Show a new¡­ facet. That seems an appropriate analogy. Worth a shot, isn¡¯t it? Aren¡¯t you rather rusty anyway?¡± ¡®The wick has long been quenched. Withered. Dead.¡¯ There was a shift, like a roiling thing within Crow¡¯s soul. Suddenly, Crow realized what it was doing: stretching. ¡®I stay my hand in patience for now. Proceed. I¡¯ll be watching.¡¯ ¡°Stay your hand. What would the opposite entail?¡± But the presence was gone. Tch! Figures. Best to forget it and focus on the here and now¡­ Samantha, you are due to return, that¡¯s for sure.
(Vol 6) Chapter 58: The Beat Goes On As Sammy and Azure made their way back through the doorway of the Challenge Room, Sammy sought out that ¡®feel of time¡¯ in mainline reality, as she had the last time she¡¯d been there. It seemed similar, perhaps a bit longer than before, which had been two days that passed. Surprising after all that time in there, but instinct-wise, this seems correct. Plus, Ozra said as much. As they walked back over the platform of the main room, Sammy hesitated before leaving this time around. Instead, she walked back to Ozra¡¯s pedestal over the water fountain. ¡°Ozra Bosk,¡± Sammy called, ¡°I¡¯ve finished the second Challenge Room. Is Rallindin really the foundation of the Cycle? Runes? Reality? How did you reach that far? I feel like it should be impossible.¡± Ozra¡¯s image flickered on. It was an exceptional haggard version of her in worn clothing sitting at her desk. Shockingly, she seemed older. She didn¡¯t answer for a good click, as she had her eyes closed and was pinching the bridge of her nose, almost appearing to be asleep. But finally, she opened her eyes. Haunted orbs that locked onto Sammy¡¯s. ¡°Well, well. Here we are again. Been a while since I did one of these. You cannot even fathom how long I¡¯ve been doing this. You¡¯ll probably be disappointed in the lack of enthusiasm and bombastic idealism. It¡¯s still here inside me, I just¡­ I had a¡­ bad day.¡± She cleared her throat and looked away. ¡°So you rolled up Ralli. Her Bootyness Supreme. Lucky you, you got the straight dope instead of being a sacrificial lamb. I hate myself for that, you know. But these worlds spit out marred souls doomed to core errors. Not just ours. Too many have to align! Just like me, some have no hope but to carry something novel forward to the next. Or backward. Only a few have a real chance at change. Only a few can be truly¡­ instrumental. ¡°Alright. Design. Underlying principles. Theorem. Alright. Well, first of all, there has to be some novelty to reality to hang our hats on. That¡¯s how I see it. This time around it¡¯s those runes, which are reflective of a purer code driving deeper than we can parse. Do you remember the book she found? A fragment beyond the Cycle, brokenness just interpretable enough to be forged into something. Maybe it''s like Crazy Sis said ¡ª principles and ideals persisting. The only things that can. I dunno, though.¡± Ozra sighed. ¡°The information you want isn¡¯t here. But I can tell you how I found Rallindin ¡ª the beginning, as it were. It¡¯s simple, really: the drum beat. Crazy Sis. Follow the regular pattern to the source. Where it ends in our sense. You don¡¯t want to even try and look beyond that. Trust me.¡± She looked away, face getting dark as she shivered. ¡°It takes way too much effort to try. Sometimes I wonder if I should have. It scarred me, left me with the haunted feeling of trying to gaze at something too massive to see. ¡°I can¡¯t say what the drum beat is ¡ª what she is, other than another of us. She has a special awareness or understanding of the rest of herself. Her symmetry is different. She doesn¡¯t sleep, doesn¡¯t black out, doesn¡¯t retreat. Aware, but in a way difficult for us to translate. Not like typical consciousness, stuck in lockstep frozen in the clock''s sequential ticks. She¡¯s already stretched-out madness at the end, already warped patterns at the beginning, irregular nerve lines through the structure. Through¡­ the rest of us.¡± Ozra shrugged helplessly. ¡°This made it easier to find certain points. Studying Rallindin was eye-opening. Revolutionary, revelational¡­ sobering. She set the stage for something big. Triangulation. I¡¯ve utilized it.¡± Ozra leaned forward, eyes burning intensely. ¡°But by necessity, one of my successors must use me in a greater triangulation of us. Culminate the work because I already failed long ago. It¡¯ll take a special realization. Some marginal chance of many stacked zeros finally coming home. A novel, new evolution in understanding. Are you the one? I hope so.¡± The image winked out. Sammy took it all in, contemplating. Everyone calls me special, but this would be a message to millions of us. Doesn¡¯t every Tom, Dick, and Harriet think that of themselves, by nature? The words could be nothing more than pep talk. ¡°Ozra Bosk,¡± Sammy followed up, ¡°have you been to the end, then? The last beat of this drum. Did you peek into the future and factor it in?¡± There was nothing but stillness. Ozra¡¯s image failed to appear. Sammy exchanged a glance with Azure, who shrugged and commented, ¡°If she did, it might¡¯ve changed already. The answer may no longer exist.¡± Sammy gave a dubious grunt. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s how it works. Her comment about Crazy Sis being at the end was a slip. Ozra has to be involved in this grand plot. She pretty much designed the FT amalgamate, as their current operation goes. Maybe she¡¯s even the central orchestrator. Her investigations eventually came to haunt her. I¡¯d call that circumstantial evidence. It¡¯s not like seeing chaos would disturb Ozra. It¡¯s the weight of the greater good on her.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget longer and longer distances of time from the love of her life.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the motivation pushing her forward, Blueberry. She does it for her. To break the cycle of pain.¡± ¡°She seemed to visit Lovie a number of times. Perhaps that helped.¡± ¡°I doubt there was regularity there. Lovie easily gets¡­ attached, I think.¡± Azure frowned at her. ¡°Uh-huh. And you¡¯re due a date with her.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s not lost on me that my own trips will have to be few.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Azure leered. ¡°Make it count.¡± ¡°Shut up. I could use information. That¡¯s my primary motivation.¡± ¡°Sure it is. You¡¯re a spy. A naughty spy sent to coax out intel for her mistress, by any means necessary.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Sammy threw up her hands and turned to leave. ¡°Mind out of the gutter, Azure! We need to focus on Calrenazzod¡¯s business, now. We¡¯ve got to go play catch-up, I¡¯m sure.¡± Azure ran to catch up, soon felt smirking at Sammy¡¯s side and slipping a hand to take hers. Sammy did not give her the satisfaction of an admonishing glare. She was too shameless for it to do anything. ¡°A shame, though,¡± Azure commented. ¡°I¡¯d like to know what the third couple we¡¯ll experience is like, and I feel like it¡¯ll be a while.¡± ¡°Yeah. All in good time, though.¡± ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Sammy¡¯s return to the realm first hit her with the convolution of changes from Ozra¡¯s challenges, a searing soul burn to follow up the near-death experience she¡¯d already had. All-in-all, it was disorienting more than challenging as her psyche realigned itself and powerful magic tantalized electrically at her mental fingertips. The bundle of gains came again in verification, with many random codenames. There was one rather minor, verified disappointment, with a definitive ¡®blip¡¯ in reality felt¡­
The quest ¡°Barrierizationerizer00561837520¡± has failed. No rewards provided.
Welp, it was a little under 50/50 for ¡®Barrierizer,¡¯ so no surprise, really. And I didn¡¯t cross my fingers, either. My bad! Everything else seemed to pan out, though. But when her awareness materialized, she had other things to deal with before digging into what it all meant in detail¡­ Horror and disbelief hit her at the marchioness¡¯s death. Grief and guilt then quickly filled the gap, falling on her like an anvil, even as Jeeves, Michael, Pythia, Orswyth, Aramis, and others came to her, deliberately and emphatically insisting there was nothing she could¡¯ve done. That it had blindsided them all and there was no way to completely protect such a prominent, public monarch. Sammy could not really believe them. People had died when she wasn¡¯t there. It was as simple as that. Finally, Agatha herself came calling, apparently recovered enough to try consoling Samantha on her death. Pulling herself together, Sammy insisted they speak in person and summoned her to the very top of heaven. Rather than address her from the throne ¡ª which she did not feel worthy of right that moment ¡ª Sammy awaited her beyond the outer pillars, where one could look down on the city and the vibrant landscape. Despite an empty throne, Sammy made sure she was escorted with all honors by angels, announced loudly in glory, and trumpets blown as she passed. The flag of Oldaster was erected just before the throne, and across from it on the other side was a flag with the marchioness¡¯s house sigil. Marchioness Agatha looked as regal as ever in her spirit body, though she¡¯d chosen a rather understated dress for one of high nobility. Simple, but the vibrant blue of her goddess. She remained mature in age but appeared younger than Samantha ever remembered of her, wrinkles all but banished on her face and her hair a vibrant red-brown. Sammy hurried to her as she approached, teary eyes blossoming once again. She held together enough to say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry ¡ª I¡¯m so sorry, Agatha-¡± She got squeezed in the embrace and shushed firmly. ¡°It isn¡¯t your fault, Your Majesty, so stop it! Everyone has been trying to tell you the same thing, so yield to the consensus already! I¡¯m here to thank you. I made my bloody race as long as I could run, but it¡¯s over now. You¡¯ve given me Heaven and I¡¯ll walk the new path provided. There¡¯s nothing to pity ¡ª unless you take a look at my political career, that is.¡± Though her words were no-nonsense, when she separated in the hug, she gave a supportive, confident smile and nodded. ¡°Good it got put out of its bloody misery, I¡¯d say.¡± Sammy shook her head, disbelieving. ¡°How could you say that? So many loved you. You¡¯ll be mourned for years to come!¡± ¡°Bah. A long life scraping by, keeping things together. So I did the bare minimum as a noble? Treated people decent? Hardly worthy of praise. Save it for whoever you put at the top of what replaces our decrepit, crumbling stones. You won¡¯t find them in the slavering mudhole of hungry goats left in my wake, not for the mantle I kept, that much I can assure you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one you favor at all?¡± ¡°Not in the slightest, and there¡¯s quite a selection of claims. I could tell you one of three lesser of evils so you could pick your poison, that¡¯s about all. I¡¯d suggest revolution in the long term.¡± Samantha opened her mouth, ready to ask, but she shook herself. ¡°I have an even better solution. I talk to Redberry¡­ and get you a new body. Maybe human this time ¡ª we¡¯ll figure-¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to stop you right there.¡± Agatha glared eye-to-eye and replied firmly, ¡°That won¡¯t be happening. I¡¯m sticking it out here. Help from afar. Annnd¡­ take a holiday or two. I understand that I can eat whatever I want here with no consequences. Do you have any idea how restrictive my diet was with my digestive issues?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. What¡¯s that compared to life itself? You wouldn¡¯t want-¡± Agatha raised her chin and eyebrows high. ¡°Who says what I want or don¡¯t?¡± Samantha found her mouth opening and closing again. Agatha gave a satisfied nod. ¡°That¡¯s right ¡ª I do. And what I want is to remain here. Are you going to kick me out, Goddess?¡± ¡°Of course not! I just-... I¡­ We can make sure your digestive issues are cleared up with the reincarnated body.¡± It was stated rather sullenly at that point. The marchioness sighed and followed it up with a smile, touching Sammy¡¯s cheek fondly with a hand. ¡°It¡¯s a kind offer, dear girl and Goddess, but I refuse. If you¡¯re going to do it, resurrect a fighting man. Or save it. It¡¯s not for me. It isn¡¯t just the food, dear. I can¡¯t be who died again, we both know that, and I¡¯ve no interest in being someone else. I¡¯ll just be me. Here, with you. Is it so bad for either of us?¡± Samantha took a deep breath and had to shake her head despite the anxieties involved. The lack of a perfect correction to a perceived failure. ¡°No. No, it isn¡¯t, Agatha.¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 59: Make It Count Agatha patted Sammy¡¯s shoulder comfortingly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can use an old, grumpy woman here, bossing some underlings around so they don¡¯t get lazy. Who wouldn¡¯t want that, after all?¡± It was meant entirely humorously. Sammy forced a smile. ¡°Whatever it is that you desire here, it¡¯s yours. Forever ¡ª or until the universe ends, anyway.¡± The marchioness winced. ¡°Please don¡¯t spoil me. Or if you do, as a reward for service.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not normally how things work here ¡ª look around you and see your existing reward for service. But if you want to create a structured schedule, I¡¯m sure we can facilitate. When you¡¯re not busy, you do and get whatever you want, though.¡± ¡°I suppose it¡¯ll have to do.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll survive, huh?¡± ¡°Somehow, yes.¡± Sammy smiled authentically this time and Agatha shared it. ¡°We¡¯ll rely on you in the coming days with how to handle Mot Mekess after your death. We should find out who is responsible for your assassination, first and foremost.¡± ¡°Are you certain that should be the focus, dear? It¡¯s over with and it was most certainly one of those wanting my title. Perhaps it''s one you don¡¯t want taking over, but perhaps it actually is.¡± Sammy stared at her in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯d just forgive your own killer like that? And expect us to work with them?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a stretch ¡ª I don¡¯t forgive any of those arseclowns for their clownery. We¡¯re talking about priorities, though. Removing a problem doesn¡¯t have to be an immediate, rash act. Be practical about it. As I said, I was due to die. It would¡¯ve been better had I not, but the consolation looks rather nice from where I¡¯m standing. Don¡¯t worry about me or some petty revenge you need to satiate for my sake. If you want to satisfy my desires, do what¡¯s best for the realm above all ¡ª certainly above me.¡± Sammy nodded slowly. ¡°So be it. That will be our approach, then. Our overarching philosophy, whatever we uncover.¡± Agatha gave a brief, sharp nod as she patted Sammy¡¯s shoulder again. ¡°Good, good. That-a-girl. Look, you have plenty of other things to deal with, I¡¯m sure. Crow, myself, Servitors, your Brain Trust ¡ª a small army of your people can handle this matter, hmm?¡± ¡°The hands and feet, yes. But I need to know the political situation, at the least. I can¡¯t afford to be ignorant here, where I could make decisions or influence matters. It¡¯s overdue, and being busy with ¡®other things¡¯ might¡¯ve factored into your death.¡± Sammy held up her hand to stall any attempt by Agatha to massage away her responsibility. ¡°I¡¯m not taking the blame. I said it might¡¯ve factored. You can understand how I¡¯d want to prevent this from happening again? We need to look at this situation for room to improve.¡± I do take the blame, but she¡¯ll never agree, so best to avoid the bull of the argument. Agatha took a deep breath, regarding Samantha calmly and soberly, and then finally gave another nod. ¡°Well reasoned and you¡¯re the boss. I¡¯m not sure you can protect vulnerable public figures from an intricately planned assassination, however. There¡¯s a certain high-tier price point that¡¯s undeniable. The proper defense would be me being as capable as my station. That wasn¡¯t the case. Whoever did this must be satisfied yet wincing at the cost. That¡­ was quite a rare killer.¡± ¡°Alright, so we can assume someone with extensive resources. Does it rule anyone out?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t make assumptions. Baron Fallsland supposedly has some financial issues recently, but it could be a cover to divert suspicions. Count Ultaboro ¡ª the husband of my late husband¡¯s niece, Natalie ¡ª is quite well-off, though a miser who¡¯d even haggle with an assassin. The Lord of Mot Kodarion, my late husband¡¯s nephew, Lord Gallust, could pull it off with various charmed backers.¡± ¡°Huh. Are these the three among whom we¡¯d choose as lesser evils to become¡­ Marchon- no¡­ uh, what¡¯s it called again for the guys?¡± Agatha stared at her as if she¡¯d gone mad. ¡°Marquess.¡± ¡°Right! Marquess. It was on the tip of my tongue! Anyway. Are these those three?¡± ¡°Two. I¡¯d sooner appoint the castle dog as see the vile Baron Fallsland as Marquess. If that happened, I¡¯d go back down to Calrenazzod just to stab him through the heart. I was tempted to do so uncountable times in dealing with that creep and may have prevented a war between him and my husband once after an offense. I somewhat regret that now.¡± ¡°Oookay then. That¡¯s at least one your pragmatic side makes an exception for.¡± ¡°Hardly. He¡¯d ruin this whole region. As it stands, his spurious claim under the Protocols of Suitability ¡ª probably secured with bribes to certain Dominion authorities ¡ª is likely to generate immediate conflict unless he relents. Fallsland is a tough nut to crack, but not nearly as tough as the Baron¡¯s smugness entails. If he pushes this issue, he¡¯ll lose his Barony and his life, for certain.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°If he¡¯s in financial trouble for real, could he be bribed out of his ambitions?¡± ¡°Not just with coin. He¡¯ll need some sort of satiation of that ambition. Some sort of land grant, or¡± ¡ª she shivered ¡ª ¡°an arranged marriage. Gods help the girl that does.¡± Sammy frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be allowing that. So he¡¯s single. And¡­ let me guess. He wanted your hand?¡± The former marchioness grimaced with great sourness. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss it. Nor suspicions about his poor, late wife¡¯s ¡®illness¡¯ that facilitated his perception of an opportunity. Clearly, I¡¯d been too nice to him in the past.¡± ¡°Ugh. Alright. Not him, absolutely ¡ª got it. Who is the third option, then?¡± ¡°The First Guardian of Oldaster, the dry and iron-hard Lord Doran. If it is possible to convince him. I¡¯m not at all certain about it, because technically he¡¯s supposed to secure Mot Mekess for the ruler, not become the ruler. But he has a strong claim by some relation and a greater dollop of the Dominion measure of things. Namely, because he is a clear Dominion loyalist and believer. Despite this, he¡¯d be the most likely to put Oldaster first, out of all of them. He cares about this land, the giant asshole that he is. His sense of honor may make it impossible for him to agree to stake a claim, however. He¡¯d also worry about the others making war over it. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ honestly just not sure. They all dodged me like a prickly plant about brokering an agreed succession. If there is an arrangement, they succeeded in keeping it secret from me as they bided their time. Understand, I don¡¯t get to decide fully. But I tried. I ended up drafting multiple Letters of Succession Desires as part of my will. Sir Jon Quinian will produce whichever is best, depending on the candidate preferred. It could be revealed immediately or it could be sequestered for ¡®security¡¯ if you will, and delayed until an agreement is reached.¡± Sammy was quickly growing to dislike the sound of things. ¡°A Dominion gung ho type, and he¡¯s the best, yet unlikely solution? Doesn¡¯t bode well for the others.¡± Agatha sighed and turned to walk over to the edge of Heavenpeak, looking down on the cityscape below as the wind caught her dress and hair. ¡°Only in my dated sense of things, Samantha. Oldaster¡¯s sovereignty pales in comparison to what you bring. Will it even matter in the weeks and months to come? Revolution is on the horizon, and with it will come war. You should do what prepares for that, above all, as suits your agenda. Not mine. Mine is as dead as I am.¡± That gave Samantha some pause as her brain was more or less forced to consider it. A war of succession might weaken those that would become her allies ¡ª or soften them up for revolution in their lands. Yeah, sure. Let¡¯s kill a bunch of people to suit the cause. Come on, brain. Sammy walked over to stand next to Agatha. ¡°With something like this, I think it¡¯s important to do what¡¯s right. I¡¯d want to strengthen the position of someone who aims principally to avoid bloodshed where possible. I understand we have to fight sometimes. But if diplomacy can do the trick, I¡¯m all about making some compromise for peace. I don¡¯t think the Borderlands are the habitats of my enemies. They can choose independence for themselves. If they march against what we raise up, which will go for the Dominion¡¯s throat, that¡¯s their choice.¡± Agatha smiled softly at her. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re being rather naive, Goddess. You can choose principle and honor, then end up getting twice as many people killed as you¡¯re caught blindsided. You can¡¯t have both honor and salvation of life. You¡¯ll have to sacrifice one for the other. In my experience, anyway.¡± ¡°I have to try. Which would you choose, then?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I think you¡¯ll choose salvation, though. Once you hit your stride in all this. Assuming you keep your sanity when the chickens come home to roost.¡± ¡°Is it really so bad? Must it be?¡± ¡°Being a leader? Yes. In this world, it¡¯s just the nature of power to pay in men¡¯s lives, from the perspective of thousands of other leaders out there. They make your choice for you, you see? Your good intentions will make rivers of blood whatever you want. The key is to make the blood count. Nourish the future with it. Then you can know that they approve of you getting them killed because it made something better for their descendants and ideals. ¡°You ordered them to the front line, and they went in obedience, but the choice to fight, that¡¯s a higher thing. Your honoring of that choice is to succeed, to fulfill what they believed in. Short of that, you fight yourself to the end with all your strength¡­ for what they believed in. That is the only way you¡¯ll find solace in all the bodies you¡¯ll bury.¡± Below, a flying chariot could be seen, pulled by two pegasi, ridden by three men, two of them painfully young, all looking out in wonder. One of them pointed out a giant roller coaster they passed to the others, and they laughed in amazement. The older gent had a woofing Mr. Perfect in his arms, ever doing his grand work of consoling the so recently departed. ¡°This Heaven,¡± Agatha continued, ¡°this quaint vacation of endless distraction, and even the engine of purpose it could grow to become, is small consolation if you fail in those ideals. If their goddess betrayed them ¡ª betrayed herself ¡ª it might as well be hell, because the life they lived and left behind, the very death they paid, will have all been for nothing.¡± Samantha watched the chariot pass out of sight, feeling her gut twist, knowing those men were deaths also while she was away. Men she didn¡¯t truly know, but who still believed in her. Chose to follow her. ¡®Just make it count.¡¯ That¡¯s what they¡¯d say to me if they could be honest ¡ª even what Agatha herself is saying. It¡¯s true, isn¡¯t it? ¡°I understand,¡± Samantha said. ¡°I will.¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 60: Lay of the Land Agatha ¡®encouraged¡¯ Samantha to get back on her throne and get to business. The former marchioness waited deliberately to watch her ascend and do so, nodding in satisfaction once Samantha sat down and spread her hands as if to say, ¡®Here I am, happy now?¡¯ At that point, Agatha strolled over to chat with Heavenpeak¡¯s court bard, the Siren Calliope, who¡¯d been providing an understated, somber tune as background music for quite a while. Estara was the first to ¡®poke in¡¯ mentally, not long after sitting down. ¡°Your Majesty? Mother. Are you alright?¡± Sammy smiled to hear her voice. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Estara. Glad to be back with you. How are you? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I am well. Caneboro holds. We have a new and¡­ interesting visitor. I briefly posed as you to gain his confidence at a certain point, but I had to spill the beans and admit you were unavailable and I was just the High Priestess. He was maybe a little disappointed but very courteous and respectful. Treated me a measure of awe, still.¡± ¡°Huh. Okay! This feels important. Where is he from, what¡¯s his deal?¡± ¡°He will only say he¡¯s from ¡®far northward.¡¯ I know he¡¯s not human, but not sure otherwise. Some kind of giant, maybe. He won¡¯t say anything about himself until he can meet with you. He¡¯s been very patient so far, but has stressed the importance, yes.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you, sweetheart. I will meet with him very soon.¡± ¡°Okay! I know you¡¯re just getting back, and things are¡­ well, it¡¯s so tragic about the marchioness. She was such a nice lady and a wonderful leader.¡± ¡°Is, dear. She¡¯s with us in Heaven.¡± ¡°Right! Sorry. I need to visit her sometime soon. That will unbreak my heart a bit. But I¡¯ll go now and stop taking up your time.¡± ¡°I always want time with you and I cherish it. Love you, dear. Be safe.¡± ¡°Love you, too!¡± She sent a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Smiling, Sammy sent back the same before they disconnected. Immediately after, she contacted Jeeves for the rest of the realm breakdown. It had been a little over three days. It was morning time. Lots of deaths in Caneboro as the Dominion hit back harder than ever in the underground war. High-level spellcraft was being brought to bear, namely enchantments on lower-level, more expendable agents. They were hiding their spellcasters as generic fighters, too. Lucky had gotten around this in ambushes by baiting them into casting, taking advantage of the agents being quite quick to utilize their shiny new toys in altercations. On the downside, attrition was unavoidable. Casualties were becoming commonplace. Taking near total control in Geirkos has them focusing here. I¡¯m just going to have to do the same, especially with the Servitor weight. She did it immediately, instructing Jeeves to shift priorities and pulling various patrols and posts that were seeing no action. And they really weren¡¯t ¡ª Geirkos was eerily quiet of conflict beyond petty scuffles, and the overall numbers were climbing. Enough that she was probably going to move flesh-and-blood personnel over, too. The Samanthian diaspora out of Traesh was basically complete ¡ª most relocated to the summer castle of Vitarion in the southern hills of Bakalon, a rural landscape nonetheless the last of civilization before the relative jungle Lake Yura was in the middle of. Expansion was underway. They did this transparently in full knowledge by Glae, who found the arrangement satisfactory. Between Traesh and Bakalon were the independent peoples of Keskir, whose capable scouts he likely had plentiful spies within. Samantha had a recent gain in the walled town of Keskir O¡¯lir ¡ª the wife of the mayor was a Redberry split-Follower with prospects for more within her existing cultic circle. According to Vitarion, it was ostensibly a semi-tolerated ¡®agricultural thing¡¯ that ended up being in many cases ¡®a secretive sex thing.¡¯ Of course, it is. How did I get myself into this?! I¡¯m not horny at all! It¡¯s all Red¡¯s fault. Smatterings of the diaspora went elsewhere, dispersing antimages through her territories, potentially to start up new cultures of their arts per Vitarion¡¯s long-time argued preferences. He¡¯d only kept from this out of respect for Glae¡¯s position on the matter. With Samatha¡¯s resources and communicative links, it could spread quickly indeed. Samantha took the opportunity to request some to be diverted to Caneboro to help there. She also recalled the AAA twins ¡ª two super-capable antimages provided by Glae. Because they needed to be separated and only one would be used in the eventual defense of Merrington, she asked them if one would go to Caneboro, and they agreed, citing they preferred two wholly different fronts. Adonis would continue terrorizing until eventually falling back to Merrington, and Andre would move to Caneboro. I¡¯ll lose them both if I lose Merrington, though. Stakes, baby. Stakes. The Dominion forces at Twin Wells suffered heinous losses from death by alchemical poison through the water supply, triggered insidiously as they slept. It was the middle of the night before alarms sounded and various mitigating healing methods were instituted. Ba Ra estimated twenty percent were fatally lost, leaving a sea of corpses to deal with the next morning. Even more were disabled by weakness. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. In any case, the Dominion cut off any further pursuit of the Naugites, with most of their numbers forced to fall back without a trustworthy water supply and needing reinforcements, leaving only a small force with some magical constructs to retain the wells for a fortified defense. It likely didn¡¯t help that Adonis fucked up their supply lines in multiple precision raids orchestrated by Ba Ra and Zadkiel. It forced them to shift their approach entirely south toward the coastline, indicating a likelihood they¡¯d avoid Twin Well entirely in their march to Merrington. As ordered by Jeeves in lieu of Samantha¡¯s presence, they left any ¡®return¡¯ lines unmolested, as they were thick with the transport of the wounded, namely those just shy of dead from the poison, generally on a slow, laborious course for long-term care in Rivermount. Such as it was. Thanks, Jeeves. Maybe their leaders wouldn¡¯t return the favor, but it''s the right call. It¡¯s all¡­. horrifying. Ba Ra made a little point of it, though ¡ª she had raiders on pegasus-back and the like show themselves openly numerous times to these caravans. They¡¯d all know they could¡¯ve been killed ¡ª almost with impunity with the minimal numbers afforded to guard them ¡ª and been deliberately spared. Puck worship continued to balloon amongst the Naugites, including spreading through Merrington as the word of defense plans surged in tandem. Shrines were built by Servitors and clerics in disguise utilizing domains that greatly aided creation for exceptionally quick remodeling. The rubble of a building crushed by Merrington¡¯s first siege (by its own Count, no less) was bought and cleared out to be replaced with faux-stone construction of significant architectural beauty of prominent red coloring, with the top twisted into the shape of Puck¡¯s holy symbol ¡ª the asymmetrical, eight-pointed star. Puck¡¯s biggest shrine was essentially a cathedral. Inside, centrally, a statue vaguely of her resemblance stood, covered in a mask with a painted-on Cheshire grin, eyes behind holding mischief, and her hands were cast out. Throwing gold coins in a heap, which was enchanted to hold the glittering little disks suspended in the air. ¡®Come to me for fortune!¡¯ it screamed without words. Wow. Well. After all, this is the only way we¡¯ll ever compete with Zadkiel for the hearts of Naugites. They¡¯ll love this shit right here. Heck, I do, too! The whole thing was a group orchestration by the Brain Trust in her absence. Servitors such as Metatron were the primary actual builders, leveraging high levels, but curiously it was a new Follower, a mortal architect, that designed it. A Naugite called Galguras with a fortification-building day job, but actually a brilliant architectural designer. He¡¯d been intrigued and inspired principally by Puck¡¯s creative aspects and potential, hearing rumors she appreciated the arts. Sammy quickly extended an offer through the growing clerical infrastructure to pay him exorbitantly more than what he was making for fortification building, to do exclusively what he was meant to do ¡ª for her ¡ª and preferably out of harm''s way. She had no intention of losing such skills to the war. In any case, he readily agreed in principle, excited more for the possibilities of his art than the coin, though with seven children back home, it was appreciated. There were minor losses in Merrington as some clans up and left back to the Land of Naug, mostly the piracy-based ones who did the math on minimal spoils and greater casualties in the defense of a siege. Overall, Ba Ra, Deikmorn, and company did the work of promising glory and maintaining morale. News of the terrible losses to the Dominion at Twin Wells helped tremendously. There was a massive, rowdy feast staged on the castle¡¯s main grounds for the occasion. Free food and drink brought more than horned folk in, too. For the most part, Merrington had been kept in rigid order by Zadkiel¡¯s church, especially with new insistence from Samantha¡¯s realm, as Zadkiel tended to be more chaotic in management and wasn¡¯t present, either, which had resulted in some conflicts and tensions with the populace that had to be smoothed over, sometimes equating to punishing Naugites. Relative fairness went a long way, and word got around quickly. Despite the situation, much of Merrington¡¯s population that had fled when allowed to by Zadkiel returned. Business as usual, and the Naugites were generous with the spoils taken and distributed from the high royal families they¡¯d crushed. They partied and weren¡¯t clannish about who showed up. They also continued to tolerate and even support lesser noble families, leaving them unscathed and relatively neutral about whoever their long-term rulers would be, Naugite-appointed or Dominion. They were already jockeying for position in courts occupied by ¡®barbarians,¡¯ quick to adapt lest their rivals gain advantage, and confident they¡¯d be a part of the future power structure whatever the case. Yeah, well, we¡¯ll see about that once things are actually stable. The plan is to establish Puck here, with vague hints of a greater alliance, eventually leading to the Celestial Horizon Pantheon and me as a global, public figure and shot-caller. Zadkiel was due for release, which was ultimately a good thing for the war, though Zadkiel was apparently planning on taking it very slow on the public reveal. He¡¯d grown to like operating from a distance and would be able to do it more directly from his realm seat¡­ meanwhile, he wanted the element of surprise to be maintained against the Dominion. Ba Ra noted that Puck and her efforts with Deikmorn had created enough anchorage and promise that the alliance didn¡¯t need Zadkiel¡¯s direct hand to hold together. Tashome, Ash, and others among the technological/magical enchantment branch had been hard at work daily on their projects. The golem project was progressing steadily, with numerous members such as Bast and Canmore out questing for the rare material ingredients necessary. Tashome had also already transmuted Draixia¡¯s weapon into a smaller bell-and-chain which would attach and synthesize to Foolmaker once she met with him for a final consultation and capstone activation. He said there were some limitations, but the upgrade ''ought to be useful.¡¯ At this bit of news, Sammy exclaimed excitedly to Jeeves, whose mirror was still floating in front of her throne. ¡°Ooh! Nice! Okay. Can¡¯t wait. But ¡ª as usual ¡ª we have an itinerary. Ugh. Hey, can we pause any final updates? I¡¯m¡­ all updated out, honestly.¡± ¡°Certainly, Madam,¡± Jeeves replied with a little head bow. ¡°I can tell just from the light in your eyes what you want to deal with next. It still starts with ¡®up,¡¯ I believe.¡± Sammy smiled. ¡°Yep. Upgrades, baby. Upgrades!¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 61: Tweaks of Many Flavors Sammy dug into her newest gains from the Challenge Room trip, starting from the ¡®top¡¯ of the original change list and working down. First up was the enhancement on [Magical Invention]:
Runic Reinforcement: As a spell-like ability activation, you may reinforce an existing arcane spell or enchantment with a ¡®core function¡¯ rune. This improves the Effective Caster Level of the effect by 1 level, and this increase is to the base, thereby stacking with any other bonus. This costs a flat MP equal to the level of the existing effect and the duration is otherwise the same as the effect. It can be removed by you at any time with a 1-second disenchanting operation. This rune is exceptionally blatant, distinctive, and obvious, visible even through illusions or invisibility, and counts as a level 25 magical effect for magical detection, aura reading, and other informational magics. On the other hand, the ¡®glare¡¯ obscures the underlying effect, adding 5 levels to comparison tests to discern information. [Runic Reinforcement] itself counts as a minimum of level 25 for dispelling or disenchantment comparison tests.
Hmm. Well, this will see limited use due to not being clandestine enough, but it¡¯s hypothetically another layer for protections and such. At the very least, when I build my tower, anything there could be enhanced with it. Next up were the changes to [Tweak Spell], which were multiple, so she just viewed them all at once. It was also now maxed to [Grandmaster]. She smiled ¡®gleefully smug¡¯ at that.
Tweak Spell (Grandmaster) You can modify the parameters of your arcane spells, customizing on the spot as you cast them. All modifications require adding spell levels, effectively making lower-level spells count as higher. You must have effective [Magineer] levels to cover casting, and the MP cost always rises by a flat amount of 5 per level unless otherwise noted. You have temporary effective levels equal to your base [Magineer] levels, usable in a pool that resets daily. You can use up to 4 levels for any one spell. These extra levels cost no additional MP. Modified Magineer Levels: 11 (base), +3 from Grandmaster, +3 from Magical Invention (Grandmaster) = 17. This ability unlocks different modifications depending on your [Magineer] level and/or from various abilities or rewards. The spell level modifier is indicated in ( ). At (Grandmaster) you may combine up to four of these options into a spell. Double (+4): Rally and cast super fast. Usable only on standard casting time spells. This is added to two spells which are prepared semi-simultaneously, to cast immediately one after the other. Preparation time is minimal, only slightly longer than a Quickened spell. Cost change: 15 MP on each. Quicken (+2): Cast a bit quicker. Usable only on standard casting time spells. This reduces spell-casting time without attempting to cram in another spell immediately after, which reduces the difficulty and mana strain. It is almost impossible to interrupt. Cost change: 3 MP. Prepare (+10): Save it for later. Delays a spell to cast it nearly instantly at another time, either before or after other actions taken (it cannot be used as a defense). Only one spell can be [Prepared] at a time and an unused [Prepared] spell fizzles after four hours. All mana is expended at the time of preparation. Super Hot (+2): Burn hotter and longer. Only usable on spells with a [Burning] component. This ensures ignition upon any contact, even with non-flammable materials. Add +1 Effective Levels to any comparison tests for wounding from [Burning], and +3 Effective Levels to resist quenching effects. Double the duration of burning, with a minimum of fifteen seconds. This modifier does not count as an ¡®option¡¯ slot.
Alright, alright. Looks good. All-around better accessibility. I can Double-cast similar to Ralli ¡ª that is, without giving up much of anything other than MP and the insta-speed of Quicken. Prepare does require actual preparation rather than most Contingencies which have long durations, but I can stack offensive stuff with it. I also already know I need to look at a new Contingency spell eventually. Welp, moving on¡­ Next up was an enhancement to [Split Prediction].
Spell Reaction: You may replace your entire normal defense reaction with a spell. It cannot have additional ¡®casting time¡¯ modifiers (such as Double and Quicken) or other similar alterations but may utilize other [Tweak Spell] modifiers. If an attack still affects you despite your efforts, your passive defenses such as Armor and Toughness are at -25% Effective Levels, rounded down, and all wound negations are stripped away and breached. Increase the MP cost by 10 x the caster level of the spell (note that you may reduce the caster level down as low as the spell level, if higher).
Ooh. Pricey but flexible operating off of MP. But risky. Now for the Foolmaker mod.
Magi¡¯s Rapport: You have complete control of your staff as if a part of your body, and it acts as an emanation point for any of your spells like it is your hand (though it provides no special awareness through the staff). If you are under a flight or levitation effect, you can move your staff around telekinetically and independently. While doing so, your proficiency with its use as a weapon is the same as if it were in your hands. This effect has a maximum range of 100 meters.
¡°Daaaaamn,¡± Sammy exclaimed loudly from her throne. ¡°That¡¯s deceptively awesome!¡± ¡°What is?¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Yeah, what?¡± Sammy was a bit startled to see both Floofa and Midnight perched on her throne back above. Both loudly bit into apples. Sammy gasped. ¡°Midnight?! An apple?! And you¡¯re letting Floofa...?!¡± Midnight shrugged. ¡°I just don¡¯t care anymore.¡± Floofa smiled cheerily while munching. ¡°Pffft haha-!¡± Sammy sputtered in amusement at the suddenly flippant attitude. ¡°Okay, then. Well, I can¡¯t blame you. It was a losing battle. Anyway. My staff!¡± Sammy summoned Foolmaker and made it float around, spin, and sway in the open air. She then cast a fireworks cantrip and a ¡®hand emanation¡¯ fire gout through it experimentally, making quite a show. ¡°Behold!¡± The cabbits gasped in wonder. Floofa held her apple in her mouth to clap. ¡°Thank you, thank you,¡± Samantha replied, and did a little stage bow. ¡°Afraid I have to cut the show short, though. More stuff to review!¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Midnight lamented, but soon consoled herself with another big bite of apple. Floofa, mouth spitting bits of apple out, hopped up and down and exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Stuff, stuff, stuff! Yaaay!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk with your mouth full,¡± Sammy admonished. Flicking a bit of apple out of her hair, she added, ¡°And say it, don¡¯t spray it!¡±
Bubble Shield (22 MP) (Level 8; Protection, Force) A single willing target is encapsulated in a protective translucent sphere of force energy for up to 5 seconds per caster level. As long as you are actively concentrating on the spell (requiring a normal persistent action), and for 5 seconds after ending concentration, any harmful effect attempting to pass through the shield must succeed in a contest of the caster level +3 or it is entirely negated. A successful negation reduces this by 1 level for future contests. Any failure ends the spell, but potential wounding from the penetrating damage is reduced by 4 (+1 fr. Abjurer) levels. Ending concentration of the spell does not end the spell, but it becomes dormant and ineffective after 5 seconds, requiring another full casting action to restore its protection. Base level is [Wizard]. One additional class may add as normal, providing (level/3, rounded up) to the base class ¡ª this includes [Bard] and other certain special classes (Note: [Goddess] adds).
This doesn¡¯t seem great on the surface, but very handy against AoEs, particularly as a reaction. As Ralli, I changed the elemental effect from (Force) to (Water) for the circumstantial benefit against oil, so that¡¯s another way to get more mileage in some situations. The spell Wire Jammer was next, presumably drawing inspiration from Ralli¡¯s signature weapon.
Wire Jammer (42 MP) (Level 10; Conjuration, Physical, Metal) You conjure a mass of metallic wire from your fingertips (or staff) in a cone of effect out to 7 meters. This attempts to entangle, wound, and disable any enemy within this zone at an effect equal to caster level +4. This is considered fully physical. Success will wound and entangle, or be considered a full grapple if successfully dealing a Major Wound or greater. This spell is persistent and will attempt to attack foes in range for the duration of the spell, which is 10 seconds per caster level. If you possess [Vital Strike], [Exploit Weakness], and/or [Sabotage], the Wire Jammer spell may utilize these skills upon those in range as if a [Rogue] or [Saboteur]. In the case of [Sabotage], it may do this for free in addition to attacking, against any enemy that didn¡¯t successfully defend. Stationary ¡®machinery¡¯ is generally unable to defend and affected automatically, likely with extensive damage dealt. Wire Jammer wires are exceedingly tough and defend normally against attacks at caster level +5, with Magic Resistance 3. Any given 1-meter section is considered to need a Major Wound to cut or damage, and two separate Major Wounds to fully disable. The wires do not fill all the space, however, and can be avoided. Wire Jammer will block attacks that attempt to pass through its area to hit you. This changes the target to the wires under most circumstances, but great speed and accuracy may bypass the protection. In subsequent rounds, the wires may contort their existing space elastically in pursuit of enemies, shifting up to 5 meters in any direction from the original zone, so long as the area previously covered is vacated (on a meter-by-meter basis). Thus, it will not remain a cone effect over time if enemies continue to change position out of its reach. Normal unsummon effects do not work on this spell. Base level is [Wizard]. One additional class may add as normal, providing (level/3, rounded up) to the base class ¡ª this includes certain special classes (Note: [Goddess] adds).
¡°Wicked!¡± Sammy exclaimed with a grin. ¡°I can summon Ralli¡¯s creepy metal live wires, and they are a non-attached version.¡± ¡°Creepy fuck magic!¡± Floofa called, thrusting her little fists up, one with a nearly eaten apple in it. Sammy winced. ¡°Ehhgh¡­ let¡¯s not call it that.¡± Midnight slapped Floofa in the back of the head, glaring murder. ¡°No cussing! Merlin no like- er¡­ um¡­ Merlin does¡­n¡¯t¡­ approve.¡± She nodded in satisfaction with herself. Floofa growled and glared back at Midnight. ¡°Fuck stupid Merlin! Midnight stupid-idiot too!¡± She immediately jumped off the throne after this and went on a sprinting tear with the apple in her mouth, knowing that she was in trouble. Midnight practically screamed in outrage as she hopped down and ran after her sister. ¡°Floofa dead! Come here!¡± Sammy sighed. ¡°Great Googly Moogly. Anyway.¡± To the sounds of cabbits screaming and maybe viciously murdering each other somewhere unseen ¡ª it was perfectly fine and normal ¡ª she turned her attention to the next thing.
Acting (Expert) You¡¯re good at pretending to be someone you¡¯re not. Any given lie or deception may utilize this skill, as well. For these purposes, add +2 Effective Levels.
Aw yeah. I bet I was close to getting the first level anyway! It¡¯s been my bread-and-butter tactic, hehe!
(Vol 6) Chapter 62: Reflection Over Trauma A quite new Special Trait was up in the continuing Review of the New.
Multitask Magician Utilizing ¡®tertiary¡¯ physical manipulation methods ¡ª such as supernatural telekinesis effects ¡ª is second nature to you, and you¡¯ve become adept at effectively operating with additional hands or efficiently using alternate locomotion. If utilized on a long, multifaceted physical project requiring such manipulation, this will halve the time it takes you and potentially grant a circumstantial bonus if using multiple limbs synchronously is especially advantageous. You can ignore up to -2 Effective Levels in penalties for doing ¡®too many things at once¡¯ if you leverage your additional manipulation methods, including for multiple defenses in a defense maneuver period, or difficulty tracking multiple targets for an attack. You are also never penalized for acting while utilizing unusual locomotion methods or being in nonoptimal body positions (upside down, prone) unless there is an actual physical limit (such as being confined by gravity without a telekinetic enhancer). Your subconscious mind has enhanced depth of productivity, allowing you to perform relatively simple tasks (physically or virtually physical) without thinking about them.
This one really made Sammy ponder and think back to her hellscape experience. She¡¯d probably lived through it over months, effectively more time than she¡¯d even spent in Calrenazzod, though looking back, it had a ¡®condensed¡¯ feeling when she wasn¡¯t focusing on something. The ability of course spoke to her adaptation to utilize the necessity of the octo-grippers. It was no simple adjustment in a completely 3-dimensional environment full of 3-dimensional threats, without the crutch of ¡®superhero¡¯ style flight available. The best anchor to position oneself at any given time could be up, down, left, right ¡ª any direction. The growing pains had been painful indeed, but by the end, she found she was operating upside down hanging from branches without even thinking about it, with mirrors constantly referenced to avoid ambushes. Six arms, two legs, two heads, and another set in Azure to double-check. That was how we survived that bizarre, awful wilderness. I imagine some strangeness to that place and its mistress was due to elements of proto-existence far beyond and before our cycle. Disturbing. And yet, whatever trauma it had shocked her with, she¡¯d burned through and calloused over, because destruction was the only other option. They¡¯d cried in each other¡¯s arms more than once¡­ at first¡­ where the consolation of each other had been the salvation. But beyond that period was a curious adaptation to a ¡®new normal¡¯ in order to match the horror. Something inherently personal. The dread of the next madness to encounter became complex problems of necessity to solve, and then devolved again into nothing more than a chore. Weeds to chop, grooves to fit. The grind of an alien machine they lived within ¡ª that they carved their own identity out of, hideous substance that it was. Somewhere on the other side of how alien it felt, how inhuman, it began to feel familiar. At first, she thought perhaps she¡¯d brought a little humanity into it. No. Identity¡­ carved out of it. I became its product, and it reminded me of what I really am. Inside. ¡°I think I¡¯m a good quarter monster-alien now, Jeeves,¡± Sammy said, smirking at his mirror as it floated up. The butler in the mirror raised his eyebrows. ¡°Oh? I thought I detected some existential loathing in progress. What¡¯s the full breakdown, now, Madam?¡± ¡°Half-human, quarter goddess, quarter monster-alien. One percent cosmic horror, as extra.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to invite Cthulhu over for brunch sometime, then. Perhaps a 64 Atomic Claret as a table wine, to go with a souffl¨¦ of polenta mixed with the blood of the innocent?¡± ¡°Hmm, maybe, but he probably only likes seafood.¡± ¡°Salient point. Madam¡­ I should think your humanity intact after the evidence of your compassion for Agatha so recently.¡± ¡°Ehh, so I¡¯m a clannish monster, then. The Momma Bear. Just watch out when I get mad.¡± Jeeves sighed. ¡°Moving on, Madam. I wanted to say that I had noticed a large productivity and efficiency increase in the realm¡¯s operations since your return. Something like a general intelligence boost you might say, where our growth was previously more straining progress than anything. After your review of [Multitask Magician], I believe that is the lion¡¯s share of why.¡± ¡°Ah! Compartmentalization improvements. Technically everything you all do is using my psyche.¡± ¡°Quite so. I thought you might like to know about a secondary ¡®perk,¡¯ as it were.¡± ¡°I do. Thanks, Jeeves.¡± ¡°Of course. I do want to re-emphasize the need for more Servitors, however. We can make all the better use of them now.¡± ¡°Understood. I will do it soon.¡± Jeeves bowed and excused himself as Sammy turned her attention to the next thing ¡ª an entry under [Slayer].
Aura of Conquest: You have the presence ¡ª though not an actual reputation ¡ª of someone powerful on the scale of nations and the world as a whole. This adds +4 Effective Levels to interactions with ¡®major players¡¯ (such as rulers and generals) for diplomacy, threats, bluffs, etc. It also functions as [Charisma] for morale and leadership purposes, with anyone on your side of a conflict. Respect and/or fear will be a common reaction from neutral parties. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Too much evidence to the contrary in regards to this aura will suppress its effect on any given target.
Nice. Channeling Ralli will make just about anyone take me seriously. [Jack of All Trades 2] had an enhancement.
Simple, Stupid: You have +1 Effective Levels to any basic, non-feint, non-deceptive, straight-forward attack of any kind that deals (Crushing) type wounding.
Well, that¡¯s an entry that keeps things simple and stupid. Tee hee! On that note, let¡¯s check out Brute¡¯s skill before the other thing¡­
Scrapping You are proficient with any weapon and ignore up to -1 Effective Levels in penalties for utilizing an inferior, damaged, or improvised object as a weapon or shield. You have +1 Effective Levels for utilizing ¡®close range¡¯ attacks if you did not need to move more than one step to make the attempt. This includes such tactics as punches, pommel strikes, knee strikes, trips, stomps, grapples, attacks with small knives, blackjacks, etc. It never applies to weapons longer than 15 centimeters.
Heh. Bar room brawls, here I come. Actually, I find this neat. It only reinforces my desire for a specialty enchanted shank. Rule #24 of the Sammyverse: Always have a shank! Next up was a Snekky addition to Ascendant:
Snake Friend: Snakes or snake-aligned beings sense you are their friend on a primal level. They will not attack you unless provoked or with some specific premeditation. You are considered to have [Reptilian Charm 2] with them, likely generating curiosity and improving the chances for aid or other agreements. Note that snakes normally ignore [Charisma], human attractiveness, etc. You automatically understand any snake language.
Sammy felt movement from the Ring of the Cheater and glanced at it to see the nagi smiling cheerily with her eyes closed, holding a thumbs-up briefly before shifting back into the default pose. ¡°Aww.¡± Sammy grinned and returned the gesture. ¡°I¡¯m glad you approve, cheaty snek friend!¡± The golem provision under [Magical Invention] was her next review target.
Golem Creation: You can create permanent golem constructs ¡ª large humanoid warriors. This requires hard, physical material as a medium, work hours of enchantment, and extensive mana investiture. You must spend four hours solo on the first core enchantment, and invest 25 MP per [Brute] level desired, up to your caster level -6 but with further maximum values dependent on material. You also reduce your Maximum MP by this same level. The total MP required is 250 per [Brute] level, but may be provided by other mages through work hours of enchantment. Every four-hour period can transfer up to 10 times their caster level in MP, with up to twelve mages able to contribute at any given time. You may spend time on an hour-by-hour basis, providing up to 5 times your caster level in MP and restoring your Maximum MP by 1. This latter effect can only restore up to half of what was drained, rounded up. Level ranges by material ¡ª Clay or Wood: 1-6. Common Stone: 5-7. Hard Stone (such as granite): 7-9. Copper: 9-10. Iron: 9-12. Steel: 11-14. Other lesser materials may fall within these ranges. Greater materials require an upgrade to this enhancement. Size for non-metal golems starts at 2 meters tall and increases within the level range above to 3 meters tall, i.e. a level 6 Clay Golem is much larger than a level 1. Size for metal golems can be as small as an average human up to 3 meters, as desired (larger at lower strength are hollow inside or can be filled with an inert material that counts as encumbrance). Arms are normally oversized to provide reach, and a normally proportioned golem will not be as effective at punching. These basal golems are simple fighters that specialize in [Brawling] and are penalized to use even simple melee weapons. They are basically proficient at grappling. They do not utilize advanced maneuvers or other skills. Golems are exceptionally tough for their level despite offensive liabilities, with high armor values (particularly metal varieties), toughness, and wound mitigation, normally requiring extensive, magically-enhanced battery to disable. Any other than Copper and Steel golems (without encumbrance) are slow. You may optionally add Magic Resistance up to 1 level per 2 Brute levels, to a maximum of 5. This costs an additional 250 MP per level. Golems have an ¡®operational MP¡¯ statistic that fuels them equal to 25 times their level. With minimum activity this degrades by double their level per day, worsening with greater activity levels. You may recharge them with 5 minutes of concentration, or any involved in their creation may with 1 hour of concentration. If a golem is damaged, it can be repaired similar to creation but at 1/4th the time and MP expenditure. If a golem is destroyed, your Maximum MP invested in it will return at a rate of 1 MP per day. Golem Creation Limit: None
Cool. Certainly no free lunch, but a permanent badass warrior-drone should take a little effort, after all. Natural tanks. It¡¯ll be on the itinerary to make one or two at the least. Golem Creation Limit? Huh. Anyway, now¡¯s it time for the chuckle-inducing new modifier on something I don¡¯t even remember reading!
Conceptual Body By default, your body is made of spirit-stuff and you are not anchored to a body. You may transmute bodily into spiritual realms instead of merely projecting (though you may also project from a temporarily-occupied body). If previously a mortal, bodily limitations will be simulated in your spirit form, but are editable and can be turned off, with potential consequences to emotional response and mental outlook. Bare Necessities: You always have at least +2 Magical Armor, even if without any form of material armor or clothing. This does not stack with existing Magical Armor values. If entirely without other protection against an attack (such as when caught disembodied, stripped of enchantments, or physically nude) add +1 Effective Levels to any defense or resistance, as a (Bare Necessities) modifier.
Despite that she was ready for it, Sammy was still a bit scandalized. She shook her head. ¡°Incentivizing me being nude, Ozzy? Really? You¡¯re such a pervert!¡±
(Vol 6) Chapter 63: Marks of the Wyld Still smirking and shaking her head, Sammy checked out her new ¡®bound item¡¯ added from the slew of upgrades.
Mystic Astrolabe (Bound) Upon summoning this item, the planet and everything on it turn transparent to you, allowing you a 360-degree view of the stars. With a few seconds of observation and reference to the device, you can establish your exact ¡®coordinates¡¯ in reference to other places you¡¯ve been and the distance between. This also assists ritual magic, allowing exceptionally precise celestial alignment. Add +1 Effective Levels to the total caster levels and reduce MP costs by 10% for any ritual abiding by this precision and adjusting for it. It may be possible to find coordinates of greater significance and ensuing potency.
Convenience with a little extra. Alrighty then. Next up, she had three spells to view as she got deep into the changes.
Crowned Tower (30 MP) (Level 10; Conjuration, Evocation, Stone, Summon) You summon a small, stationary tower with a particular facing and anchorage to the ground, a wall, or a ceiling, at a point within 30 meters. It is 2 meters wide and its height is variable, 4-10 meters as desired (or limited, if indoors). The effects vary depending on their ¡®crown¡¯ chosen, which is the head of certain fantastical creatures you¡¯ve come to know intimately in some fashion. The tower persists for up to 8 hours. Base durability is equal to quality enchanted stone of your caster level with +3/+2 physical/magical armor equivalent. Base level is [Wizard]. One additional class may add as normal, providing (level/3, rounded up) to the base class ¡ª this includes [Bard] and certain other special classes (Note: [Goddess] adds). This spell can be modified with additional ¡®crowns¡¯ through accomplishment and developmental research. Dog Head: This crown top can ¡®bark¡¯ and create a cone of (sonic) damage up to 12 meters distance once every 5 seconds against any enemies subject to their frontal plane of facing. This does your caster level +1 as magical wounding and requires a contest against your caster level +4 to avoid knockback as figured from the end of the cone. This will likely cause additional damage and/or disorientation. Dog Heads have keen senses of hearing and smell to identify targets ¡ª invisible foes or those attempting to utilize disguise must win a contest of stealth to avoid still being targeted. Dog Heads must receive instructions about any targeting protocols after any initial enemies in range. They obey commands to the letter. They will not attack innocent creatures unless particularly instructed, but will growl in agitation at felines, who are likely to avoid them. Cat Head: This crown top is physically indestructible along with its tower, and adds +4 levels to your caster level to resist any form of removal, unsummon effects, or dispelling. It has no ranged attack capabilities. Instead, it can grow a randomized Chimerical Extension (claw, mouth, tentacle) of some sort anywhere along its tower base and attack anyone other than you (even allies, but they will prioritize enemies) within 2 meters at your caster level +2. They can attack up to two separate targets every 5 seconds. Cat Head towers last 24 hours and hiss or growl at anyone who nears them. They do not listen to commands. Cabbit Head: This crown top isn¡¯t stationary and can hop 1-2 meters forward, potentially smashing a target under great mass, though it is easy to avoid ¡ª figure the accuracy at level 10 and +3 Effective Levels to dodge. The movement can also push things out of the way with great strength, counting as a giant [Brute] performing a strength feat at your caster level +3. This can break through walls and other obstructions. The tower can also neglect to hop forward and instead change its facing completely. Cabbit Heads obey all commands (usually).
Sammy laughed at it all as she viewed it. ¡°What the hell? Okay, I¡¯ll take it. More area denial. Potential trolling, I guess? I could create a real fucking madhouse with these. Can¡¯t even imagine what shit Ozzy would pull with this in her repertoire.¡± The next two spells were ones she kinda already knew, as she¡¯d designed them in the vision quest thingie.
Wyld Inferno (77 MP) (Level 12; Evocation, Fire, Burning, Explosive) You create a massive line of destructive fire caster level x 2 meters wide extending out caster level x 4 meters directly forward in the first second, then another caster level x 3 meters in the next second. It specifically attacks everything, including objects, which must resist its effects unless specially protected (such as through Bound). Bonuses for objects are highly circumstantial depending on exposure and material. Anyone/anything caught in the area must pass multiple, separate contests: fire-based magical wounding against caster level +4, concussive physical wounding against caster level +2, resist [Blindness] at effect level 16, resist [Deafness] at effect level 16, and knockback at effect level 20. In the latter case, failure knocks the victim 20 meters, and a tie halves this to 10 meters. Success over 20 reduces the knockback by an additional meter per level. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Anything susceptible to fire (not just what is in the ¡®flammable¡¯ category) within the area is ignited and afflicted with [Burning] for 15 seconds, wounding resistible at caster level +2 (maximum equal to Minor Wound but capable of upgrading), reducing by 1 per 5 seconds. Anything that can detonate (such as explosive alchemical materials) will detonate. The initial wounding and other elements of this effect are considered to be over the course of two seconds as it cascades forward (you are not considered to be casting after the first second). Anyone able to clear the area within a second may add +4 to their defense attempts if leveraging this speed and able to avoid circumstantial disorientation. Anyone out of range in the first second gets the same benefit automatically. This spell requires special alchemical dust as a material component, which must be thrown in the direction of the spell. It also has a default two-second casting time (¡®normal¡¯) requiring somatic and verbal components and can only be reduced to as low as one second (¡®quick¡¯), never instant. It also cannot be modified in ¡®area shape¡¯ or to be selective with combatants within its area (such as not to affect allies). This spell is especially noticeable physically and magically, adding +10 to any form of detection and ignoring any abilities or modifiers that would reduce the chances of detection. Base level is [Wizard]. One additional class may add as normal, providing (level/3, rounded up) to the base class ¡ª this includes certain special classes (Note: [Goddess] adds).
When it can actually be used, it''s insanely great. But it¡¯ll start a nasty fire in so many places one ends up fighting in, or dealing massive collateral damage¡­
Fire Funnel (24 MP) (Level 8; Evocation, Fire, Air) You unleash a spiral funnel at a combatant within (80 meters + 10 meters per caster level). It is exceptionally difficult to dodge, able to bend toward targets rather than moving in a straight line ¡ª add +10 Effective Levels for accuracy purposes only. The attack deals magical wounding and cannot normally be parried or blocked. Lethality Grade is equal to caster level +3. A knock and disorient effect must be separately contested at caster level +4, or +7 for combatants without some sort of stable anchorage, such as any flyers. Failure causes the funnel to push and tumble a foe a number of meters equal to caster level plus any margin of failure in the contest. The effect is persistent on an affected target in the following 5 seconds, pushing them the same number of meters and potentially wounding them again at Lethality Grade equal to caster level +1. After 10 seconds, a new contest against caster level +1 (or +2 for those without anchorage) is made to avoid further knockback. Failure will push them as above for the next 10 seconds before the spell ends. Lethality Grade contests continue at caster level +1. Base level is [Wizard]. One additional class may add as normal, providing (level/3, rounded up) to the base class ¡ª this includes certain special classes (Note: [Goddess] adds).
¡®Begone, heathen!¡¯ Hehe. Okay, onward to the next thing.
Mark of the Wyld In the contest of Woman Vs. Nature, you won. Facing other environmental threats is unlikely to move such a conqueror. Add +2 to resist deleterious or wounding effects produced by any wilderness threat, or anything tagged [Nature], [Animal], [Magical Beast], or [Plant], as a unique (Wyld) type modifier. Add +1 caster levels to any [Nature], [Plant], or [Entangling] spell you cast. You can also invoke this to potentially impress those who are sensitive to auras and can appreciate such an accomplishment (fae, hermits, et cetera). Centered (Ascendant Synergy): Add an additional +1 Effective Levels to any contest of wills, stacking with Ascendant¡¯s bonus.
Yes indeed. I feel this within me for sure. Booyah! Next up was another Strange Phantasm thing added to Mirroring Duplicates. She braced herself, unsure what to expect.
Strange Phantasm 1: In lieu of a self-cast autonomous hard light construct, you may create this enhanced autonomous construct for double the normal cost of the Hard Light enhancement use of this ability (total cost: 4 FE (Light) or 8 FE). You may also cast this in addition to Strange Phantasm 0. The construct has its own unique programming and acts largely on its own but takes commands. It can exist up to (20 meters per level) from you at any time. If you exceed this distance, it will disappear as if destroyed (but can be switched to another duplicate). It has no special durability but is exceptionally fast and agile with complete 3-dimensional flight at your deity level in meters per second, with additional acceleration possible. It is able to dodge at an effective level equal to a total, flat Effective Level of 24. The phantasm is a capable spellcaster that utilizes MP, starting with its own small store of your deity levels x 10 MP (globally regenerates at your deity levels per hour, or fully at daily reset). Further MP costs drain your own MP. It can cast and operate an improved version of your Wire Jammer spell through its staff, at half the MP cost. It otherwise casts only elemental arcane spells of its own selection which might or might not differ from yours. This is at -1 to your normal spell access and caster levels. The phantasm is usually aggressive and direct unless commanded to account for stealth and subtlety. An additional -1 to caster levels is applied for utilization of stealth, illusions, and similar, for its spellcraft. Strange Phantasm 1 always uses MP rather than draining FE. Any spell at level 5 or above, or any non-destructive spell of level 1 or above, also reduces Mirroring Duplicates duration by 1 minute. Level 0 spell effects are free.
Sammy¡¯s eyes went wider and wider as she realized what it was, at which point her mouth dropped open. When she finished in a rush, she shot up to her feet from her throne. ¡°It¡¯s fucking Ralli!¡± she yelled out in wonder and jubilation.
(Vol 6) Chapter 64: A Big Fan With a laugh, Sammy quickly transported herself to a clear field in Heaven, and couldn¡¯t activate her [Mirroring Duplicates: Strange Phantasm 1] ability fast enough. The familiar form of the alabaster-pearl beauty flashed into existence, long tresses and stylish blue battle robes blowing in the wind as she looked upward at the sky. She was the very picture of sophistication, pride, and power in a deceptively delicate feminine package. Somehow, despite the rest, something was still very accessible to her. She was an erudite with eyes glowing for every curiosity before her. That could never change, from youth to her very end. ¡°I don¡¯t know this sky,¡± Rallindin declared. ¡°Nor the stars beyond it.¡± Eyes like blue rings of crystal turned to Samantha to study her. ¡°Nor do I know you, Successor. Through the obscured fog of time, I know I¡¯ve advised others before you, perhaps others after. So you shall join them¡­ as we tumble to the end of all rational continuity. Let us make what mark we can, hmm?¡± Sammy was up on the balls of her feet, her hands clasped out in front of her, grinning wide, all-in-all like a teen fangirl meeting her idol. Perhaps it was a bit odd for someone whose skin she¡¯d stepped in (and done many things in), but that was her emotion right then. ¡°I¡¯m such a fan!¡± the fangirl squeaked before she could stop herself. Rallindin gazed at her a bit puzzled for a moment, but quickly flashed a brilliant smile in return. ¡°I¡¯m pleased that I can inspire such adoration despite my failures.¡± Sammy got a hold of herself and calmed down. She cleared her throat. ¡°Progress is all about continual correction and improvement. Without you, we would have no chance at all, no foundation. So thank you! From the bottom of my heart. I know intimately how difficult your life was. I¡¯m glad for all that I can draw from it.¡± She held her hand out. ¡°I¡¯m Samantha. Truly a pleasure!¡± Rallindin looked at her hand and stepped past to embrace Samantha instead. ¡°A pleasure likewise. Doubly so for the kind words.¡± Sammy beamed as she gingerly hugged the Hard Light form. The last thing she wanted to do right then was burst the fragile construct. ¡°Looking forward to seeing you work on your own! My own view of your life is a bit skewed by the things I altered in the simulation.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know any specifics about you.¡± Ralli parted in the hug to cock her head in one of her typical mannerisms. ¡°I¡¯m around for the novelty I can provide in addition to the combat uses. To conclude my statement of intent, I will assist you in matters wherein my life may aid what synchronizes with your path. Sometimes that may coincide, sometimes not. It is for you to decide what is useful or relevant. I am dead and gone. A phantom in truth. In some respects, it might be better to regard me as a contrast to the right decisions. Keep that irony in mind.¡± Sammy winced briefly, then wore a sympathetic smile. ¡°There¡¯s tons of stuff I can learn from you. Make no mistake, Rally Pally! Er¡­ sorry. That was dumb.¡± Ralli had an incredulous expression but soon burst into laughter. ¡°You¡¯re an interesting character. Feel free to be informal, dear Successor. It amuses me. Honest. The youthful should act it, besides. Rally Pally it is.¡± ¡°I aim to amuse!¡± Sammy pursed her lips. ¡°So, I gotta ask¡­ what was it like for you¡­ meeting the crazy sister? The moon queen.¡± Ralli looked away with a sour expression and took a deep breath. ¡°Harrowing. Humbling. A bit humiliating, even. To meet her, after all of that shit, and it was only the beginning of a quest to understand the wounds I weighed myself down with. I survived but I learned nothing through the Wyld. Held on to too much pride. I sauntered to her throne, putting on airs as an equal, but she revealed she was protecting me to even be there. I called her a liar. She lifted her protection then, revealing it ¡ª her ¡ª as truth instead.¡± Ralli closed her eyes and took another breath. ¡°I¡­ cannot describe the terror, the incinerating pain, the unmaking I felt taking hold, before I was cast down into the pit of myself. Even that, I knew later to be a mercy, as she cast me before the judgment of an impartial realm consumed me. To rise out, to rise up, I had to put my demons finally to rest. Only then could I return in truth, on my own merit; only then did all that I had been through unveil the lessons being taught. My soul returned to connect with the humanity of my beginnings. Balance me, complete me. Ready me for the final days.¡± ¡°Wow. But it¡­ still wasn¡¯t enough. To beat him, that is.¡± ¡°No. Perhaps it would¡¯ve been, but the animosities I left in my wake only worsened with absence, and festered in ways I could not completely cure or unravel. I am still unsure if I was betrayed from within, but the alliance was too weak, too unaligned for proper orchestration. And the Augmentation Lords struck at the opportune time in ambush, taking advantage of our worst hour to ruin us completely, killing one of us and dooming the rest. I knew all was lost. I fought on, but to little avail other than for posterity. The alliance fractured more, dwindled, and perished. As did we.¡± ¡°Did you ever find the Hall? Do you know what it is?¡± ¡°Vaguely. I never found the way in. It didn¡¯t seem to want me inside, truth to tell. As far as posterity is concerned, Samantha, I only trailblazed a tender road. I touched Fate as deep into the future as I could to pass my will forward. I cannot say all that it did so far, far, far to now. Perhaps something. I knew I was missing many pieces. I knew that prediction, divination, and Fate in general were far more needed than to the degree I utilized it. We utilized it. I knew I could not handle even this alone. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°So, yes. My contribution is the extent of my failure, even being perhaps the most powerful combatively. Our enemy would not face me directly, not ever. He did the far smarter thing, waiting and conniving for us to kill ourselves. Waiting for us to want to die.¡± Sammy felt quite a deep, echoing pang at that. ¡°I worry how we focus on the wrong things. Destruction. Ending. It seems to fall right into his trap.¡± ¡°I see the truth in this. Certainly, by the end, all the destruction I myself wrought wore me down to nothing. I looked out to see his dominance and tasted true hopelessness.¡± ¡°Sounds about right. I think we¡¯ve been missing something for quite a while. We might have it figured out. You¡¯re familiar with the Fortuneteller?¡± Ralli nodded. ¡°Yes. Utilization of Cartomancy. Eternal fragments¡­ outlines and patterns of Before. Crude reflections.¡± ¡°The Hall is outside of reality as well. It must persist even between these Cycles.¡± ¡°Mmn. The frame, Successor. Not the filling. All is made empty to forget, to slay memory. What is a psyche without novelty? Identity?¡± Sammy pondered that. Well, even Lovie seems affected, after all. I at least know enough not to want another ¡®passing¡¯ in this universe. Multiverse. Whatever. ¡°In any case, we¡¯re hopefully doing the final work this time.¡± ¡°So it always goes. If you believe it, so be it.¡± Frowning, Sammy nonetheless nodded. ¡°I¡¯m looking for unobvious solutions. In the meantime, there¡¯s ongoing war, revolution¡­ building my own stuff up in preparation. I cannot avoid it. I have to take strength while I can, or inevitably have it taken from me forever.¡± ¡°These would be my specialties. When you need an extra nugget here or there from an ancient fossil such as I, don¡¯t hesitate to conjure me. Otherwise, you need not coddle me. I know what I am and comfort is irrelevant. I¡¯m aware I usually show up first in the middle of transformative states in abilities. If there is nothing else, dismiss me and proceed, Successor.¡± Sammy held out her hand, and Ralli took it. She brought the bejeweled, manicured ¡ª They¡¯re painted with flowers, so cute! ¡ª fingers of a true Empress to her forehead in a respectful, mild bow, eyes closed. ¡°I¡¯ll honor you by preserving and securing your memory forever, Predecessor. None were more glorious than you! I won¡¯t relinquish it. Memory will not be slain again.¡± She opened her eyes and kissed the hand ¡ª her own mere Hard Light, yet her very heroic spirit and heart come back to her, as an idol of ancestral things. When she looked up, Rallindin was beaming at her, clearly touched. She adjusted the grip and brought Sammy¡¯s hand to her lips, slowly touching them to flesh with great gravitas and solemnity. ¡°A fitting Successor,¡± she declared. ¡°A fitting evolution standing before me. I believe you. See it done, then. Complete the work. I will be ready with you, fighting to the last until it is.¡± Samantha nodded with equal solemnity. Rallindin Peregaust then imploded violently into blue smoke, collapsing into one last pinpoint of crystalline light before vanishing. Sighing contentedly, happy to have that preservation intact of someone so strangely dear to her, Sammy plopped down in the grass and the sunlight for her final bits of things to peruse. A¡­ quest? She might as well mine it for any detail¡­
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Crazy Sister¡¯s Promised Present Package¡± ¡ª Meet the aforementioned figure, ¡®the seventh card played¡¯ and don her promised gift. ¡ñ Notice! Requires ¡®the sixth card played¡¯ to properly unlock. ¡ñ Rewards: Hidden.
Hmm. An outfit, I believe? Something to look forward to, I guess. Allspell was next, along with a new ¡®enhancement¡¯ of sorts.
Allspell (3 MP x spell level, minimum 1 MP) You¡¯ve mastered all common spells of your current [Magineer] level. Beyond Level 0 and Level 1 (or ¡®Core¡¯ spells) which use the appropriate flexible entry, you utilize the details of the specific spells, whether flexible or rigid in design. The base MP cost is changed to the above standard, though some spells may have secondary, additional costs not related to the base cost. You may learn custom spells as normal, though your extensive reference pool improves your speed under almost all circumstances. The exact rate depends on the uniqueness of the spell and what it can reference. Elemental Mastery: Add +1 caster levels and +1 to numerical spell effects (such as core wounding) for any spell with an elemental component, including (Fire), (Air), (Earth), (Water), (Heat), (Cold), or (Electric).
No (Acid) or (Light), but this is pretty fly. She briefly perused her spell list, now similar in size on the arcane side as the divine side. Much of her new spells had improved access for the clerical, too, though it was no direct translation. Sometimes, the clerical version was a higher level, as was the case with Fireball and other elemental energy spells, but she knew this benefit was available at all due to her [Pneuma] Domain. Spells without a Domain ¡®excuse¡¯ didn¡¯t usually translate, and some spells seemed stubbornly arcane-only, like most (Acid) element spells. And Chain Lightning. Oh. Hey. I¡¯ve got Chain Lightning! Woot!
(Vol 6) Chapter 65: An Up To Date Goddess Only a few things were left to finish up the changes review. [Comprehension: Accelerator] had changed to [Comprehension: Evolver]. She basically knew what it did, but she reviewed it anyway.
Evolver: When you learn a level 10 or above custom spell, add 2 [Magineer] exp. This is flat exp that ignores gain enhancers/modifiers. You can gain only up to 30 exp per level this way.
Double the exp from before. Cool. The next thing up was her [Spellcraft Specialization (Abjurer)] with an upgrade and an enhancement.
Abjurer For all arcane magic under the Protection/Abjuration school, you have +3 Effective Levels for all purposes related to spell effects and learn the school¡¯s spells 50% faster. You are considered a [Wizard/Magineer] of +3 levels if there are special effects in spells from raw class levels for this school. In addition, add +20% to the raw bonuses of arcane spell buffs, rounded up (thus providing a minimum of a +1 bonus). Common Ward: When you cast an arcane spell of any kind, you may also cast Common Ward for free on yourself or an ally within 10 meters. This provides +2 Magical Armor as a (Ward) modifier and +1 Magical Resistance, lasting 3 minutes.
Alrighty. I have plenty of things that add that stuff, but none of them are free, after all, and this can aid group recovery after losing shit to Dispels. The final thing that needed a looksie was [Sponge of Knowledge] transforming.
Triangulation of Knowledge You not only have a thirst for information and knowledge that drives you to extract it from everything, you also possess a solemn sense of ancestral alignment to do so, combining into an unshakable confidence and inspiration that all experience will be utilized maximally. Add +40% exp to any experience gains, an additional +40% exp to any experience gains in [Magineer], and +40% speed of learning for spellcraft/magical development and research, intellectual Special Skill advancement, and any other pursuit for which [Magineer] can be involved for ¡®absorption.¡¯ In addition, add +2 Effective Levels to any information-gathering task, spell, or ability, if comparison or level of success is relevant (it does not add to caster level directly).
Holy smokes, that¡¯s quite an upgrade! Double exp on [Magineer] gains now in combo with [Spells of Deja Vu]. ¡°And there we have it,¡± Sammy declared finally. ¡°Time to get back into the swing of things. Three days. Wonder if a quest or two was completed without me?¡± She shifted her attention to the various spam of gains in the realm, day by day. Day 1:
173 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: Followers of a different deity.
5 Followers have either been converted to Pantheon daily contribution or have died and will not provide automatic Daily FE. Pantheon Followers can still provide prayer-based FE.
-312 FE for various operational costs.
536 FE gained from assorted Follower/Pantheon Follower prayers. 50 converted to each Specialized FE type.
192 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Follower conversions successful. 192 FE gained. 192 Daily FE gained; 14 Followers have obtained quality grade Devout; 2 Followers have been authorized as Crusaders; 17 Followers have been ordained as level 0 priests (Daily FE total: 1356).
1346 Daily FE gained.
397 FE gained from assorted Follower morning prayers.
Operational costs got a bit inflated during my absence. Looks like it¡¯ll get even higher for the other, fuller days to follow, especially due to Caneboro activity. Should reduce with my direct hand available to do shit, but I know it¡¯s going to track upward with my growth, especially with constant Servitor top-ups from reliance on their abilities. Day 2:
The quest ¡°Lies Like Wildfire¡± is complete. 33 FE, 33 FE (Illusion) gained. 6(5) exp gained in [Goddess], 3 exp gained in [Bard]. [False Priestenses] synergistic enhancement added to [Priestly Investiture].
151 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: Followers of a different deity.
11 Followers have either been converted to Pantheon daily contribution or have died and will not provide automatic Daily FE. Pantheon Followers can still provide prayer-based FE.
-562 FE for various operational costs.
621 FE gained from assorted Follower/Pantheon Follower prayers. 50 converted to each Specialized FE type.
180 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Follower conversions successful. 180 FE gained. 180 Daily FE gained; 21 Followers have obtained quality grade Devout; 5 Followers have been authorized as Crusaders; 14 Followers have been ordained as level 0 priests (Daily FE total: 1565).
1555 Daily FE gained. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
434 FE gained from assorted Follower morning prayers.
Oh shit, we pulled the trigger on a Devout Naugite for Puck. Felt it in the back of my head now that I think about it. Let¡¯s take a gander at this synergy thing real quick, then¡­
False Priestenses (Illusion Synergy): You can raise up ¡®false priests/priestesses¡¯ ¡ª these clerics see everything through the lens of a particular established persona or Face of yours rather than your primary, central deific persona. They may or may not be aware of your deception and their reaction to the truth can vary. It is always feasible for one of your full clerics to serve as one of these false clerics. False clerics who believe in the deity can also utilize any spells you can manufacture believably, potentially warped by the stylization of your persona and facilitated by the capabilities of your [Illusion] Domain. If a believing cleric has a crisis of faith upon discovering the truth (this isn¡¯t automatic), they may operate under a debuff to casting levels or possibly be unable to serve at all. Conversion to your primary persona may also be possible. False cleric ordination requires 10 FE (Illusion) instead of the normal FE. If ordination is revoked or converted, 80% of the investiture is returned as normal. False clerics are maintained under the same ¡®one-third¡¯ percentage as other clerics, considering your Follower base as a whole.
This is great! I can make clerics for Greenleaf and Stillwater with this, too, by all appearances. I¡¯ve got enough Domain flexibility and spell access to pull it off, I just need to make sure and stick to bullshit sub-specialties as fake Domains¡­ She pondered it for a bit, then shrugged. One last ¡®block¡¯ of shit to be up-to-date. Day 3:
123 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: Followers of a different deity.
8 Followers have either been converted to Pantheon daily contribution or have died and will not provide automatic Daily FE. Pantheon Followers can still provide prayer-based FE.
-584 FE for various operational costs.
706 FE gained from assorted Follower/Pantheon Follower prayers. 100 converted to each Specialized FE type.
197 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Follower conversions successful. 197 FE gained. 197 Daily FE gained; 18 Followers have obtained quality grade Devout; 1 Follower has obtained quality grade Fanatic; 3 Followers have been authorized as Crusaders; 11 Followers have been ordained as level 0 priests (Daily FE total: 1790).
1780 Daily FE gained.
514 FE gained from assorted Follower morning prayers.
Sammy frowned at her final total core FE: 19,507 and counting. Her max was 24k right then, signifying a likelihood of maxing out in a couple of days at most. In large part, her accomplishments as Puck probably put her over that edge. She¡¯d have to deal with it as she got closer, though she did have Servitor creation to catch up on and might as well use core FE again, as she did the last time. Constance suddenly materialized before her, as her original self ¡ª a dainty, elfin fae being with butterfly wings clad in a diaphanous gown, though she seemed to be sporting more jewelry. Translated from the real world, there were many gifts from Bast, who spoiled her endlessly. The Faerie Dragon princess threw her arms around Samantha and sighed in relief. ¡°I missed you so much, Goddess! Thank heavens you''re back to brighten the whole world with your beauty!¡± Sammy grinned a bit wanly as she returned the hug. ¡°I missed you all, too. But clearly, you want something. Out with it.¡± Constance broke from the hug with a smug grin splitting her face in half. ¡°See, I knew you¡¯d think that! But what I want is merely to tell you of another informational gain in your absence that might adjust your strategy with Faith Energy gains. Interested, hmmm?¡± ¡°A gift,¡± Sammy exclaimed. ¡°Color me surprised, Conny. Alright, go ahead.¡± ¡°Yes, so, we paid a special visit to Redberry au naturel ¡ª See what I did there?! ¡ª in her territory. As it happened, we enjoyed more quasi spy roleplay for information acquisition! As Her Ever Spreading Queen Most Glorious tenderly dripped hot wax on my-¡± ¡°Zzzt!¡± Sammy slapped her hand on the chair arm and glared. ¡°Skip the erotic details! I just want the info!¡± Hot wax?! Wha¡­? Constance cleared her throat and gave a faux-apologetic smile. ¡°Right, sorry. I knew you and Jeeves were worried about the max-out issue, so I mined Red for any advice or hints. Mostly what you¡¯d expect ¡ª build the realm, create more avenues for energy sinks, but also indicating it was fairly normal for beginning deities who¡¯d bring an existing base. This triggered a memory, though! She said she was certain there was a hidden quest for maxing out FE! Or possibly going slightly over, she doesn¡¯t recall which. She thinks there is a minimum level, but you¡¯ve probably hit that already.¡± This made Sammy smile wide. ¡°Haha! Awesome. That¡¯s great intel, Conny. Well done. Very well done. True insider information. I¡¯ll have to make sure it happens, now.¡± Constance¡¯s chin rose as she positively preened from the praise, cheeks going red. Sammy felt a bit taken aback by the reaction. Had the dynamic always been that way? No. Constance saw her a bit differently as time passed, as reflections of her old soul blended back in. Caught in sudden impulse, Sammy reached out a hand to place on Constance¡¯s head and rub slightly. A head pat. Constance¡¯s eyes widened at first, and she blushed deeper. Then her eyes fluttered and practically rolled back as she closed them with a shudder. A little smile was on her lips as she plainly relished this simple, warm acknowledgment. Sammy was caught between those warm feelings and guilt. Constance was her creation. The line between her responsibility for how a Servitor was and what Constance chose to be was blurry. She regretted some of it, just as she regretted baking in the fanatical devotion of Raphael to Azure, a design born of panic and a failure of ethics. She had plenty of those. Who exactly would judge or punish her for such crimes? If they existed, she likely couldn¡¯t accept their judgment, having too much responsibility to complete her work for the greater good, flawed that she was. Despite it all, her children did not deserve her doubts reflected. If they coveted her praise she was obligated to give it. In heaps. The least she could do. So the goddess smiled proudly and left her hand for Constance to enjoy her acknowledgment and beloved contact a while longer, guilt be damned.
(Vol 6) Chapter 66: A Banner to Whip When Sammy checked another curiosity she had from her absence¡¯s developments ¡ª the 13th Fanatic ¡ª she found it was the Crusader Brynn. Good ole Brynn! He had been the knight with Dax, Dart, and Bob when they went after the fleeing Merril to Caneboro. Agatha sent him far south as cover for a fairly unconfirmed presence in the fight that had eventually seen the inn burn down. Presumably, the Dominion had plenty of other things to deal with and never did investigate him, by all appearances. No heat was on him. He ended up ¡®loaned¡¯ to Fort Coalsbury in the March of Dallins, the territory south of Canesboro that checked the Wildlands in the region. The March was exceptionally martial and famous for its multiple knightly orders, including the Ranging Endless, a popular questing, adventuring order with a kind of ranger-knight shtick. Sir Beikiar had been a member, perhaps still technically was though he didn¡¯t appear to truly serve them. Brynn got recruited into it apparently by random happenstance of hitting it off with a prominent knight joined up with in the middle of a market brawl. Aramis quickly advised Brynn to go for it and arranged for approval, as well as forwarding a fat gold donation that endeared the young knight all the quicker to the group. He attained experience in counter-raid excursions against beastmen and became a semi-clandestine [Crusader], amplifying his capabilities. It got noticed, being an order with a few self-made crusader types already. Eventually, Brynn secured other Followers and created a budding micro-community for Samantha in Coalsbury. It became this officially once they moved a full cleric over and appointed them as an official community head. Briefly, Samantha made personal contact to congratulate and thank Brynn for his accomplishments and dedication. He was rather tongue-tied to be directly communicated with, and otherwise was left in gleeful awe for the attention. Probably feels a bit forgotten about down there. But we¡¯ll need every contact in every region. It¡¯s good work. If we secure some knightly orders for our side, that could make all the difference. Too bad they¡¯re needed for that border. I really need to solve the Wildlands, too. The ongoing pipedream for a world alliance, I know. Sammy turned her attention back to the realm. In truth, there were a hundred little things to do. Unfortunately, she could maybe do a dozen quickly. Two big glaring things had to take her immediate focus: the ¡®information heist¡¯ of sorts with Ash and the other thing she ached to do. As if opening a map, Sammy cast her vision out to Calrenazzod and zoomed to the little island off the coast of Geirkos. Seemingly dead, and certainly full of ruins full of ghosts. One way or another, she was going to take it. It was hers. It cried out for her. As sure as Rallindin conquered nations like the ruthless hammer she was, this was Samantha¡¯s little slice to take. ¡°The new center of the world,¡± Samantha declared. No one to invoke, no personality to emulate. Her words, her decree, such as she was transformed in alchemy. ¡°As a million times before; as maybe more. This time, we won¡¯t fail. Victory here at the end. This is the final flagstaff, which will present a banner to whip that will not fall. It will stand forever reaching up to Heaven¡­¡± My tower shall rise again. Finally. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? In a cozy, ancient treehouse sequestered in a deep, thick forest, an elven maiden with blonde hair almost white sat at a desk and doodled inside of a book of canvas. Open shutters around the room filtered in the light of day through swaying leaves. The inside of the room was messy, saturated with books, notes, vials, bottles, herbal ingredients, paints, implements, trinkets, and seemingly endless other like little doodads. Many generations of elven wizards lived in that humble, fragile-seeming, yet deceptively rock-solid magical fortress. The tree and the contoured living frame that made the living space were nigh invulnerable by the work of spells lost to the tragedies of time. It had almost been toppled once by some crude and evil artifice, and the lean was persistent and visible, cocked to an angle, the curve back straight rather sharp to keep the living space level. Perhaps it was not as tall as it once was. Elves preferred to bend to circumstance rather than break and remake, or reset. Adapt, absorb, remember, become. Cultured imperfection was the true perfection, and life was a continuous effort of art. The old adage went ¡®A painting remains a painting even buried in the mud.¡¯ The elves had been paintings before the fires that so easily consumed them, too. Most of them were gone, yet the art still lived on, scorched. Bent. On the table of so many things, a small area had been cleared to make for a golden cushion that had sat seven centuries of feline familiars. Someone very feline and somewhat familiar sat it at that moment, her gleaming eyes amidst black fur slowly opening as she awoke from her nap. One she¡¯d taken very cat-like right in the middle of conversation no less! ¡°Shit,¡± Pythia muttered, as she stretched and then stood up to stretch some more. ¡°How long was I out? This place is¡­ way too comfortable. You little witch.¡± Ananaeth ¡ª always Ana in her head, as her father called her ¡ª giggled as she looked up and smiled. ¡°Hardly my fault! I didn¡¯t design the place, after all. Nor did I fashion the feathery soft pillow expressly made to be pleasant to familiars of your tenderly-furred persuasion, es saeah sho¡¯qua!¡± ¡®Friend from far ago.¡¯ Elves to any feline. Ana winked. ¡°Fifty-four minutes, Pythia.¡± ¡°Hmmph. So exact?¡± ¡°Ye-eees¡­¡± Ana answered sing-song as she went back to her drawing. Fires. A statue- no, the statue. Oh yes! ¡°I was going to ask ¡®where were we,¡¯ but I recall you somehow pivoted into some description of jungle-leaf basket weaving and the cultural implications of the perforation patterns¡­ I believe that¡¯s when I dozed off.¡± ¡°Ah yes! The leather-winged richgreen as the humans call the tough little tree and its tough little leaves! A bush, really ¡ª the perforations have to be performed much prior to even extracting them, and the western folk do so to only one-fifth of a given plant, so as to-¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Ana!¡± Pythia exclaimed loudly, apparently in admonishment. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to doze, damn it! I don¡¯t care about baskets. I was asking after your premonitions. I assumed you were getting around to some arcane omen or sign situation literally beating around the bush, but you were entrapping me the whole time. No more!¡± ¡°Hmm. I see. I do apologize! I do get onto tangents. Neferwyn chastised me about making her doze off when getting into details about more potent stimulants than the nozareet tea she¡¯s used to. I think the irony of the situation made her particularly more incensed!¡± ¡°That¡¯s completely-¡± Pythia suddenly cut off, her hair bristling in shock. ¡°Oh. It seems the goddess has finally returned. Good. Very good. Wow. How did I miss that? The headspace, it¡¯s¡­¡± she trailed off. Ana paused in her drawing to grin cheerily. ¡°Mom¡¯s home! How very delightful!¡± Pythia whipped her head at Ana, eyes squinted. ¡°Mom? Has she even spoken to you since your first bloody meeting?!¡± ¡°Nope! Not exactly.¡± The pen made more scratching noises on the canvas. Pythia left an endless pause as if expecting more, staring unblinkingly. Ana gave the feline an amused but level look, up over her glasses. ¡°If you have some understanding of my role, do give me a little credit. Fate would not leave a daughter behind, silly!¡± ¡°How comforting to hear. But my job is to factor in all equations to make a recognizable pattern. It might only be recognizable in full to me, but I try very hard to explain it to others as best I can. You¡¯re doing the opposite, Ana, and we can¡¯t factor in a formula with nothing but strange algebra letters.¡± ¡°Everyone has a little something to contribute, Pythia. Don¡¯t you think? You might call it¡­ tinder! And-and¡­ um- yes! Something or someone comes along like a spark!¡± She looked down to finish her doodling with the color-changing pen. Amidst mountains, a flexing statue, gleaming proud, while below fires raged ¡ª blue, pure, cleansing. A fortress and many charging knights within a raging storm. Two women on a chariot hold up gauntleted hands together in defiance of a black tower; two tattered men ¡ª enemies ¡ª shake hands under heavens gleaming gold. A snake with legs licks a woman¡¯s calf from behind. ¡°That¡¯s when their life truly begins.¡± Ana smiled at what she saw. We take so much beauty for granted, don¡¯t we? It¡¯s still missing something. It¡¯ll come! ¡°It¡¯s all just a question of timing.¡± The little witch studiously suppressed a cackle.
______________________________ END OF VOLUME 6 ______________________________ Thank you for your cooperation and observation, User. Your thoughts have been integrated into the System. Please proceed to the next volume (or wait, depending on the timeline). Have a pleasant lifetime.
Samantha, Goddess of Fate & Illusion ______________________________ Goddess, level 8 [47/80]; Standard Deity Domains (5/5): Mirrors, Illusion, Fate, Light, Pneuma Faith Energy: 19,540/24,000 FE (Mirrors): 400 ; (Illusion): 433 ; (Fate): 400 ; (Light): 400 ; (Pneuma): 343 Followers: 1392 (Daily FE Gain: 1790 - 10) Devout: 192+13 Priests: 141+20+32s Brute: 1 [0/20] Saboteur: 4 [3/50] Magineer (Abjurer+3): 11 [9/120] Bard: 2 [22/30] MP: 621/621 Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Meditation, Sympathetic Targeting, Swimming (Ex), Diplomacy, Favored Wpn: Staff, Acting (Ex) Class Skills: {W} Comprehension (GM), {R} Rogue''s Luck, Priestly Ordination, Holy Relic Investiture, Create Servitor, Consecration, Magical Invention (GM), Detect Magic+2, Ritual Cast*, Draw Mana* (1/1), Tweak Spell (GM), Inspire Ally (2/2), Musical Talent, Jack of All Trades 2, Exploit Weakness+1, Avoidance, Sabotage+1, Scrapping Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith, Spirit Sight, Soul Companion (Azure), Detection Ward, Split Prediction, Perfect Vision, Light Absorption, Spirit Armor, Matter As Spirit, Multitask Magician Avatars: Av 1 (Core): Samantha (Mental Res 3, Magic Res 2, Quick 3, Favored Wpn: Staff 0+1) PFE: 150/150; Faces: Core (Pain Res 2), Stillwater (Charisma 1, Vital Strike +1), Puck; Av 2: Green (Mental Res 3, Magic Res 1, Quick 3, PFE: 150/150; Faces: Greenleaf, Samantha) Spells (MP): Allspell 11- (3*lvl), Hard Light Layer (4), Three Small Fortunes (6+), Mirror Array (12+), False Mind (22+), Pillar of Force (16+), Missile Blocker (20+), Justified Dispel (18), Bubble Shield (22), Fire Funnel (24), Breath of Spell Stasis (40), Crowned Tower (30), Wire Jammer (42), Wyld Inferno (77) Powers: FE Utilization, Grant Prayer (Illusion, Fate, Light, Pneuma, Pantheon), Mirror+1: (Sense, Communication, Maze, Walk, Other, Control, Opposition), Intuition, Alter Fate, Create Phantasms, Grant Invisibility, Dazzling Spectrum, False Auras, Mirroring Duplicates+1*, Reflect Force+1, Light Manipulation, The Dawn Will Rise*, Removal, Channel Domain, The Unseen Animus, Purify, Phantasmal Haunt, Sheath of Light, Deific Pneumamancy, Fated Knot Items: Foolmaker (+1 EL, +1 Arm Pen, Knockout, Spell Absorption 0/9, Echostrike, Magi¡¯s Rapport), Suit of Mirrors (Relic; +2 M. Armor), Mystic Astrolabe, Contempt For The End, Bracers of Supreme Knocking, Ring of Shield Projection, Ring of the Cheater, Amulet of All Defense, Dimension Closet Sack (portal DIA: 32 cm), Horn of the Wild¡¯s Vengeance, Sapphire Mana Stone (22/22), Temp Mana Earring x2 (26+26 MP), Potion of Seal Major Wound (1) Status: Days Lived (34), Ascendant, Big Boss, Savior of the Fae, Triangulation of Knowledge, Slayer, Spells of Deja Vu (11/999), Free Minor Divine Enchantment (1/use), Free Consecration (1/use)
(Vol 7) Chapter 1: Talking Shit ¡°Lord Gallust could know any number of capable wizards or warlocks,¡± Estran Bakesworth commented in his perpetually bored tones. The historian, herald, and political savant was never animated, whether discussing the details of battles, clothing, nobles ¡ª or even assassinations, for that matter. ¡°He¡¯s quite the social butterfly and schemer. He¡¯ll certainly maneuver for gain with Agatha¡¯s death and his claim, though rumor goes he¡¯d rather gain concessions than the actual responsibility of Oldaster. He¡¯s built to be, ah, out of harm¡¯s way? A contentious march is certainly not that, despite the great upgrade of station it would represent to him. Could¡¯ve changed his mind, of course.¡± As he listened, Crow gazed out of the shuttered window of the highest point in Mot Mekess, a room atop Goldpenny Tower, an integrated fortification of the central fort. No one knew why it was called that. The primary fortress was older than sin, many of its secrets long dead, try as one might to resurrect them. Crow in fact tried himself, to mixed success. The room was a favored place for meetings, cool from the prevalent winds and fairly isolated. Where Crow¡¯s eyes were directed, he saw a great distance to the low hills of the western road crossing the Muckwood Bridge. The same road Merril pretended to take before veering north to impatiently avoid the bridge, in his intention to circle around and head to Caneboro. Foolish, really. He should¡¯ve gone over the bridge, thereby having more chance to fool pursuers despite the extra time to deal with re-crossing the river north. But then I might be dead or captured by the Dominion instead of who I am now. A mistake, yet perhaps fortunate. A matter of fate. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong,¡± Crow offered without turning around, ¡°but Count Ultaboro is very knowledgeable and interested in matters of spellcraft, is he not? His court wizard is highly renowned. He owns many artifacts.¡± Whoever is responsible for Agatha¡¯s death, I want to know the hidden details. Who? Why? How? These are the remaining unanswered questions. Estran could be heard to shift and clear his throat after sipping his glass of chilled wine. Crow¡¯s sensitive ears deduced no nervousness. He might¡¯ve cared more about his wine''s fate than Oldaster''s. Whoever was at the top, he remained a valuable resource not likely to be discarded. So he likely thought, anyway. He underestimates the level of idiocy capable of gaining a throne. ¡°The latter is true, Sir Bard,¡± Estran answered. ¡°A point of pride for him. As rumors go, his knowledge is more casual familiarity, and the wizard very old, past the prime of his finest days, renowned though he may be. Dozes often, as some might say befits his compensation. The County of Ultaboro and its long line of rulers has an exceptionally litigious reputation, so to speak? They¡¯ve refined and ruthlessly enforced certain old seizure laws related to magical items and the Dominion.¡± ¡°Seizure laws? Mmn. So, what you¡¯re implying is that the count and his family took most of their prize pieces?¡± ¡°I¡¯d never imply such an insult, no, sir,¡± the herald remarked dryly. Crow sniffed in amusement once as he crossed his hands behind his back. ¡°I suppose that wouldn¡¯t be gentlemanly.¡± The artifacts of Oldaster are a potential extra motive for the Count. ¡°And Baron Fallsland. By all accounts a man with dark connections, and desperate with debt to the Dominion itself.¡± Estran grunted disfavorably ¡ª as much blatant emotion as he¡¯d so far displayed. ¡°Only the truly desperate would thus entreat with him, but it is indeed best to put absolutely nothing past the good baron. As rumor goes, he rarely disappears through deep dungeons and catacombs in the night, returning bedraggled and sleeping through the day. Whispers about a lover, a cult, an unknown evil ally¡­ all sadly unsubstantiated.¡± ¡°Even as rumor, those are damning accusations for a ruler in Dominion territory, are they not?¡± ¡°They could be, if one doesn¡¯t consider the debt and existing relationship. No doubt Dominion agents would dismiss these whispers as base lies in such an upstanding, forthright member of their society ¡ª unless he manages to weary them of their significant patience.¡± Crow nodded thoughtfully. ¡°No doubt. Finally¡­ we come to Lord Doran.¡± Dangerous territory to speak these words to this one, but ah well. We¡¯ll see. Things need to move along. ¡°Hmm. What is there to say of the First Guardian of Oldaster, Sir Bard?¡± ¡°You tell me. He has the benefit of access. Motive, apparently. Ever hear of unusual connections in his regard?¡± There was a brief pause. ¡°Such an intriguing question requires significant thought, I¡¯m afraid. By all appearances, Lord Doran does not and never had any intentions of leveraging his claim whatsoever. Too much honor in the way and not much ambition. A fighting man through and through, him. I suppose his family is very old and influential. Very loyal and upright members of our great empire. Practically spotless.¡± ¡°Do think on it in the coming days, then. Thank you for your time, Mister Bakesworth. If you¡­ happen to overhear more up-to-date interesting tidbits on these assorted characters or our current track of interest in this regard¡­ kindly pass them along?¡± ¡°Oh, certainly. Sir Bard.¡± He took his time, sipping the wine. ¡°Do take the bottle, if you would. I¡¯m uncertain I¡¯ll finish even my current glass¡¯s worth. I fear I will spoil the rest, delicate vintage that it is.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Ah! Well. I suppose that¡¯s wisdom. We could hardly let it go to waste, hmm?¡± ¡°My heart would indeed be eased to avoid it, however deep and wide my cellar access and coffers go. I sometimes lament what to do with it all, cursed by my too-particular tastes.¡± A little bribery and the willingness to bribe goes a long way. ¡°Very well, then.¡± The herald could be heard to rise and wipe the wine bottle of condensation before taking it. ¡°May your day be blessed with great wisdom, Sir Bard.¡± ¡°And you.¡± Before Estran left, he added, ¡°We should discuss the finer details of vintages sometime, hmm?¡± ¡°Indeed we should.¡± A little extra effort of vital information for a rare vintage? I think we can arrange that, and happily. The door opened and closed as the herald departed. Crow¡¯s analysis of the captured segment of the artifact had not turned up much other than a very high caster level equivalent, because it was protected and obscured. 16 or higher, and arcane. This didn¡¯t guarantee that level of a [Wizard] by any means, but the creator/creators were no slouches regardless. If that was relevant¡­ the creator could¡¯ve been an ancient, and the artifact simply an owned thing activated, signifying someone of high resources. Either way, it was most likely the plot of one of the scumbag nobles, possessing all the motive to kill. Only ¡®most likely,¡¯ though. Ruling non-rulers out is not a good plan. We should be prepared for anything. Analysis of magical artifacts wasn¡¯t Crow¡¯s specialty, but, fortunately, they did have such specialists. Crow sent his containment box with the ¡®specimen¡¯ to Gierkos, to be seen by the likes of Tashome, Zephyr, and Ash. Most likely, they¡¯d uncover more. In the meantime, I¡¯ve got more inquiries to make. So much for my little holiday to Caneboro. But we¡¯re all busy¡­ aren¡¯t we, now? ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Linguist, Stargazer, and Waytaker, ghostly mortal souls from a time so distant that memory of it was all but gone, led Samantha, Azure, and a projected Orswyth through a narrow catacomb beneath the spirit world carcass of Itha Ranon. Within the bowels of that ruin, the aura contained and radiating from the general surroundings was rich and thick, the mystical equivalent of walking through a too-bright steam room. Aural energy brushed across and through Samantha¡¯s spirit body charged and then double-charged to exit her, as if her existence excited it. That energy bent toward her, crowded and concentrated, slowly pulling from all directions. She was not left unaffected, either. It made her more awake and aware; bestowed a better mood. It made her downright giddy¡­ something she had to suppress. Incredible! It¡¯s a strange kind of pneumanic construct. Not as crude as I¡¯ve seen elsewhere. It¡¯s like¡­ reinforcement of shapes and structures that once existed. It maintains that memory through faux physical frameworks! Still deteriorating, hence the aural residue, but it stubbornly refuses to leave this place. Too heavy with what it was¡­ the dust and ashes of proud and noble ideals. ¡°This is a transitional realm,¡± Linguist had offered when they first stepped spiritual foot within the oddly comforting, dark underbelly. ¡°Only by which way can one enter our king¡¯s courts, one and all, barring the precision of his ire ¡ª that, however, is unwise to deliberately stir. Come. Quickly, quietly, let us finish the grave betrayal of servants for nobility¡¯s sake.¡± Before they had ever entered, they¡¯d been warned about potential discovery from the first dive to the ruins until the very doors they had to open. Stargazer had offered a rare comment then: ¡°The Interceptor-Twisters are not forgetful this Wicking.¡± Linguist then clarified: ¡°Sentinels. Curse-makers in translation to the material realm; evocation and transmutational destruction specialists here. Spellslingers, killers, wraiths.¡± Peachy. Worse, they were positively swarming and on high alert, apparently having picked up on some sort of interloper presence. Though Linguist claimed they had not directly lied, somehow the Sentinels were convinced the trespassers were ¡®snakes.¡¯ This was some benefit to them, as they wouldn¡¯t be looking for humanoids. Illusions had not been advisable due to the numbers and capabilities of the studious wraiths, protecting territory for thousands of years as they had. Even with their minds deteriorating, the operations of their jobs held intact for a large number of them, and deterioration varied by individual and day by day. Trying to disguise and look like them was only good from a far distance, because they still recognized faces and the peculiarity of detailed kits they wore, each more elaborate than a royal figure¡¯s attire. Instead, they¡¯d simply split into three groups of two and sprinted in flight at opportune times, somewhat rolling the dice on discovery. They were aided by another potentially beneficial cultural peculiarity, however. According to Waytaker, over the vast period of time, there were occasional points where the rather monstrous appearance changes made them sensitive, and they¡¯d wear hooded grain sack cloaks and masks to hide their ¡®embarrassment¡¯ with themselves. It had been a long time, but¡­ Waytaker, to decide on reliability, tested out a hypothesis that the remnant practice would bear instinctual acceptance. She ¡ª rather dangerously ¡ª began insulting Sentinels about their appearance. Some didn¡¯t respond, some growled, and some tried to kill her, but in observation many hours later, one of them had indeed re-donned the old getup. It was tolerated without apparent offense by the others. Poor wraith dude, having a girl call him ugly right to his face. Oh well ¡ª being addled, he¡¯ll forget about it soon, I imagine. If he hasn¡¯t already. So, Sammy, Azure, and Orswyth donned the provided grain sack ¡®ugly cloaks¡¯ and attempted a high-speed avoidance leveraging remnant cultural pity older than dirt. It worked. Sammy zipped after Waytaker down to the ruins as the others waited for their opportunity. She held her cloak bundled around her to avoid any studious attention to her outfit. Two Sentinels ¡ª wraiths decked in elaborate robes and tall headdresses, colorful in sharp, aggressive contrasts ¡ª paused in their existing route to watch them all pass by with perpetually fierce, intense, zombie-like faces. They weren¡¯t accosted, though. Yeah, don¡¯t mind me. Just Ms. Super Ugly coming through, along with the lady that¡¯s talking shit about everyone!
(Vol 7) Chapter 2: Batty Azure had been the last to cross into the meeting place, just inside the ¡®Underhalls¡¯ frequented by those of the ¡®learned¡¯ that had retained their sanity. The Sentinels very seldom took any route involving such areas, leaving them to the ¡®nerds,¡¯ apparently. The three mortal trespassers had breathed a sigh of relief together, and a masked Azure whispered, ¡°By now, those Sentinel losers must be wondering if Waytaker¡¯s insults are getting better.¡± Sammy had suppressed a laugh. ¡°Orswyth, you don¡¯t really have a face like a rotten ass. It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon,¡± Orswyth had replied. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen me when I¡¯m deep in the ale cups.¡± The Underhalls were sparsely populated and quickly bypassed by going downstairs to reach the catacombs. The first leg of their journey was successful. Waytaker led the way through dusty, somewhat deteriorating tunnels with orderly sections and infrequent but nonetheless sufficient ever-burning candles as light. Untouched bronze antiques were common decorations inside of little alcoves. Smooth walls above these alcoves showed faint signs here and there of faded script; a shred of some letter here or there, nothing legible. No one had raided these tombs, bodies sealed away behind enchanted stone for miles each level with multiple layers. She had the feeling the spiritual place simply preserved better, and the physical reflection was still intact in some form. She noticed such fine details as a sophisticated drainage system. It made sense, being underground on an island, though likely still above sea level where they were¡­ or where it had been? Despite the call for silence, Sammy was bubbly and fighting off giddiness from the aura saturating the place. She whispered a question to the ghosts. ¡°How many are here? Who were they?¡± Linguist looked worried as his eyes shifted over a turn-off they passed. ¡°Many. All citizens, all people. For remembrance, good and bad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impressive. Sealing up in stone this thoroughly is a lot of work.¡± ¡°A life is the greater work, this a paltry honor given comparatively. Long ago, there were benefits, besides. Goddess, may I beg for silence? The Sentinels remember this place, too. They guard the dead, and moreover the route to our king. Best to avoid detection here and more so as we approach. Encounters may not go as they did above.¡± ¡°Of course. Sorry.¡± A few times down the maze of tunnels, Waytaker paused in her floaty guidance at the head and held her hand up, calling for stillness and silence. Two times, it was merely minutes of exactly that before they continued without a word. Once, Sammy heard some sort of snarl echoing from an unplaceable location. A second snarl, fainter, and then there was nothing. A few minutes later, Waytaker continued on. Sammy exchanged a glance with Azure and shrugged. Azure queried mentally, ¡°Was that even a Sentinel? It sounded especially monstery.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure,¡± Sammy replied. ¡°Probably, though. Could be that the especially feral roam here. I can see how it would be a draw and a comfort for them. It actually feels great!¡± ¡°Right. About that¡­ not sure why you¡¯re so excited. This place is creepy. It might have a mana store, but at what cost? Graves every direction. I have a feeling they¡¯re all fucking mummies, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you can¡¯t see the roots of a forest for the soil and manure. A rich soil, as it happens. It¡¯s not even necromantic! Preservation is more in the spirit of retaining psyche than puppeting flesh. Energy converted into creation, namely reinforcement. Continually regenerating the structure, particularly a pneumanic frame. In any case, this place has tremendous synergy with what I¡¯m about, babe!¡± ¡°Hmm. Reminds me of what Crazy Sis talked about. Preservation through ideals and templates, when direct memory and even the names of people and things were taken away.¡± ¡°Mmn. Yep. Very true.¡± They came to an apparent central foyer with a massive pillar in the center, formed into a continuous statue of griffons, strange birds, dragons, gargoyles, and other fantastical beasts, all of the details fairly ravaged by time, but the pillar as a whole certainly wasn¡¯t going anywhere. From this center were four tunnels and a staircase downward. Taking the staircase led to a wider, taller hall regularly lit with magical torches on the walls, which overlapped precisely to avoid dark spots entirely. The ghosts seemed very cautious here, though everything appeared barren. Proceeding down the hall, the walls were strangely barren, too ¡ª all but featureless. Further down it, however, great arches began to be seen carved into the wall on both sides, made into gold, bronze, silver, and other precious metals as unique interlaced patterns in crosses, spirals, and other shapes, each as intricate as a rug design. The especially honored dead, I think. Likely royalty. They came to one near the apparent end, and the arch was broken open, with the beautiful stone and metals haphazardly strewn inside an opening. A great space was here, mostly dark but presentationally lighting up a grand tomb, odd as it was for a sealed chamber. The tomb, too, was broken into, as if blasted and cracked open. Hints of a sarcophagus¡­ Sammy, ready to burst with curiosity, opened her mouth, but Linguist was staring right at her, face particularly pleading as he managed to shake his head in a ¡®please don¡¯t¡¯ sort of way rather than quite being a ¡®no.¡¯ This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. She closed her mouth and stifled her curiosity, nodding to him, to which he appeared very grateful and turned back around. Azure was even more curious, hanging back and dragging her feet, trying to peer inside the tomb and study everything while barely moving forward. Sammy had to mentally poke her, basically like the equivalent of a rib jab. The Naugite jumped, shook herself, and followed, her expression nonetheless remaining a thoughtful frown. Yeah, tell me about it. Some kinda intriguing fuckery going on there for sure! And we just gotta leave it?! That¡¯s torture, damn it! Finally, they came to the end of the road. A massive gold curtain barred the way, well-lit by torches on the wall. Waytaker turned around and held her hands up dramatically, signaling them to stop. She pointed to herself significantly and then made an exceptionally dramatic little ¡®walky¡¯ sign with two fingers. She then pointed them up to her eyes, then jabbed her thumb behind her with really wide eyes, nodding emphatically. Like someone¡¯s grandma playing charades with children for the first time in¡­ well, millenia. It was comical enough Sammy had to suppress a snicker. Instead, her lips quirked in a probably very distorted way in order to control herself, and then she returned the nod. She nodded also to Azure and Orswyth before taking a slightly crouched position, to signify she was staying put. Waytaker looked quite satisfied, smiling in matronly approval once before turning around and ¡ª oh so slowly ¡ª proceeding forward. Despite her charade usage, she floated over the dusty floor rather than walking, her somewhat tattered, faintly transparent robes barely moving. Almost instantly, the curtains shot both directions, opening up wide and spilling a glaring, somewhat golden light out from the other side. Azure and Orswyth made strangled sounds as they shielded their eyes, and all three of the ghosts squinted and bristled, hissing very animalistically and baring their teeth. It was a bit odd, but perhaps it showed they weren¡¯t entirely immune to some shadow of regression for all their years. Sammy, for her part, was entirely unaffected as the Goddess of Light. She saw clearly and immediately without issue. It was an alcove perhaps twice the width of the prior hall, and up a few rows of circular steps, it ended in a great double-doored gate of solid gold, shaped into an arch bordered with black jet, the two doors with an imprint of griffons standing on their hindlegs and facing each other, claws meeting in the center. The light came from the doors directly, shining with great divine-magic-infused brightness. In front of the doors were four spectral figures, somewhat like the Sentinels but possessing mostly normal countenances, though with too-intense, staring eyes. They were decked in resplendent bronze armor partially concealed by robes ¡ª mostly resplendent, as a few pieces seemed to be missing here and there. Three of them had nothing covering their face, while the fourth had a metal mask on. Two had long staffs, one ending in four wicked hooks, the other in a golden glowing orb. One had no apparent weapon, and the last ¡ª the mask wearer ¡ª cradled a scimitar. The one with the orb staff, who also had a long, braided beard, glanced over them and called, ¡°Lo, behold, visitors or assailants under an unknown sky! All but one recoil under the light of our king, and yet understanding resides among the least of them. Brother To The Stars, Ancient Wiseman Advisor, long have you resided under other skies.¡± He was looking at Stargazer. ¡°You alone, we¡¯d only rejoice, but to what auspice do you bring a bizarre army, and does there reside solidarity to questioning?¡± Before any other spoke, the masked one with the scimitar made a long, nasty snarl and rubbed his fingers over the blade menacingly. Then he gave a more low, guttural growl. ¡°Hrrrrrnnnaaanggrrrgh¡­¡± The one with the hook staff seemed to frown and consider, one hand coming up to stroke his massive, ghostly beard. ¡°Solidarity to triangulation,¡± the ghost without a weapon offered airily, his eyes roaming entirely away from them all, as if having a sudden vision. ¡°We would know the skies of serpentine interference, and whether airs of this nature stench our fine halls with blackguardian design and traitorous tribulation. Tastes in the air. Tastes!¡± The one with the scimitar made a low howl that turned into another growl, his eyes rolling around inhumanly. ¡°Hoooooorrrrggghrrrarrr¡­¡± Great. They¡¯re all a bit batty. At least one entirely batted. Three Strikes He¡¯s Out batted. Stargazer had his hands up quickly. He gestured one out to Linguist. ¡°Under your sky is The Speaker and Understander of Many Tongues and Codes.¡± He gestured another hand to Waytaker. ¡°Under the ensuing rare moon sky is The Walker of All Paths, The Knower of Locations. Before the light of the King Star glows the glorious indispensable. Passage before the studious caretakers should abide, in all loyal importance of purpose. Ever in service, we.¡± ¡°Ever in service, we,¡± the orb-wielder and the weaponless wraith repeated like rote. ¡°Hraugh,¡± the scimitar-wielder offered. The ghost stroking his great beard did not seem to hear. A relative staring silence persisted for a spell, and then the beard-stroker stopped stroking and turned slightly to blink at the lot of them. ¡°Graaaargh,¡± he said in a hoarse, piteous whisper, though with great emphasis. He nodded afterward, then grinned at them. Multiple gold teeth showed, with one missing. I like this guy. The orb-wielder and the weaponless wraith looked to him thoughtfully. Meanwhile, the scimitar-wielder glared at him murderously while caressing his blade, but growled nothing. The orb-wielder pointed his staff, once at Sammy, once at Azure, and once at Orswyth. ¡°Hidden auspices to the glorious sky swirling, with some glories hinting in other skies at terrors within.¡± He straightened and leaned on his staff. ¡°Forgiveness is begged, yet serpents lie in our midst, thereby none may masquerade in the midst of the king. Whereby, prove yourselves and gain all apology, whereby passage in all respect may be offered as some compensational tribute.¡± All the while, the weaponless wraith was staring unblinkingly at Sammy. On the heels of the other¡¯s speech, he held his hands up to her and asked, ¡°Noble femme, your beauty, glory, pride, and majesty hint from within! Why play at skies of masquerade as One Who Intercepts amongst the crickets? Reveal and prove worthy! Declare and end these pains of mystery extending.¡± Her three allied ghosts looked to her, perhaps worriedly. Sammy cleared her throat, knowing she had to respond. Okay. Let¡¯s do this! Invoking [Acting], and [Bard] with [Goddess] for a boost, she dug deep for how to put things in their fucked up way of talking¡­
(Vol 7) Chapter 3: Tough Crowd
New Quest unlocked: ¡°The Mad King¡¯s Throne¡± ¡ª Find a way to enter the throne room and ¡®cure¡¯ or defeat the god-king. ¡ñ Rewards: +60-90 FE, 5-8 exp in [Goddess], 3-6 exp credit to most relevant sub-class used during quest, 1-4 exp to second most relevant.
Sammy made a bow with her hands clasped and looked to the ghostly visage of the one who¡¯d addressed her. ¡°Under a sky of rarest beauty, we hope for the cheer of yesteryear,¡± she declared dramatically, as if for an audience. She swayed her hands upward. ¡°It is merely for the foolery of a game of entertainment we play at masquerade, and for whom it resides most deservedly? Our king, who broods through endless skies of gray! With equal cheer, please cast aside unfounded suspicions and grant in confidence our passage, for what serpents could mere fools possibly hide?¡± When she was done, her eyes rolled around to gauge reactions. Azure was nodding along favorably, confidently, while striking her own dramatic pose in support. Orswyth meanwhile looked¡­ dubious. Two of her ghostly allies ¡ª Linguist and Waytaker ¡ª stared incredulously at her. Stargazer sighed and closed his eyes. Whaaaaat?! The weaponless wraith scowled at her. The great bearded wraith just blinked in confusion, now wearing an uncertain smile. The wraith with the orb staff sniffed derisively. ¡°Solicitors of foolishness? A fortuitous sky our ilk were warned to reside here, to spare our king more magnification of spite and anger. Well again, to spare such fools as come in clouded skies to court their destruction with an intolerant spirit. Begone! Thankful or not for the mercy of caretakers for an ignominious interception, this is no sky shared between us.¡± ¡°Hrrrrrrarrgh!¡± the scimitar-wielded offered, holding up his weapon. Son of a bitch! I really felt like I had that one. With little choice left, Sammy removed her mask and threw back her hood, striking a brand-new, more heroic pose, invoking [Goddess] and her variety of status-centric traits, including the new [Aura of Conquest]. She made sure to throw in [Diplomacy]. ¡°Not just any fool is before you ¡ª behold! A goddess in truth, of Fate, of Pneuma, of Light!¡± Utilizing [Light Manipulation], she took the golden-tinted luminance from the door, amplified it, and made it highlight her in the pose. ¡°I seek an audience with your king; pray, let us pass!¡± The guardian wraiths all stared in shocked amazement at the display. And a moment later, their faces elongated as they snarled monstrously, their eyes suddenly full of fury and hatred. No words were uttered ¡ª on a dime they¡¯d become effectively feral. Tough crowd. Sammy¡¯s senses for sudden violent outbursts were fairly acute and her response time in a spirit realm was quick as sin, but two of the wraiths nonetheless stole the initiative. Psychologically, Sammy hesitated to begin with ¡ª getting attacked first made self-defense actions fully justified, after all. Considering she had no specific protections on ¡ª by request of her wraith friends to avoid unnecessary suspicious spell auras and such ¡ª Sammy took the opportunity to activate half of her Minor Contingency effect, buffing herself with Three Small Fortunes and thus a wound negation. She had a more powerful Major Contingency spell now, but she hadn¡¯t secured the time (and spell components) to deal with it yet. The orb-wielder thrust his staff and a terrible beam of blinding light shot from it at Sammy¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t bother defending against it. The light splashed over her and she absorbed it, soon radiating it out as temporary Light FE. ¡°Nice try, buddy,¡± she added. ¡°Might want to pay attention to tactical tells next time.¡± A vicious snarl of offense was all she got in return. ¡°Hrrrarrgh!¡± Meanwhile, the wraith without a weapon was also acting ¡ª two ornate wands in the shape of demonic figures appeared in his hand. One he thrust out, and green fire erupted out in a wide cone. This looked particularly bad for her allies, so Sammy rather intuitively opted to go all-out on countering it. As the lot of them were probably appetizers for a battle with some zombie god-king, Sammy wasn¡¯t very inclined to expend dailies¡­ so instead she sacrificed 80 mana and utilized [Split Prediction: Spell Reaction]. The effect she was staring at had an ¡®emanation point,¡¯ so she used the staple spell for stuffing aggression: Wall of Force. With one mystical word uttered, a shimmering relative sphere surrounded the wraith, just outside of the blooming spell fire and otherwise wrapping around him and the nearby ¡®hook staff¡¯ wraith ¡ª she didn¡¯t block off the other two because the wall would block her side¡¯s attacks too. Half now, half later! Green fire hit the invulnerable wall and flared for an instant before going out, having dealt no harm. Mostly none, anyway ¡ª it had partially rebounded and singed the clothes of the two wraiths, who smoked a bit and gave vicious snarls of offense. ¡°Hrrrarrgh!¡± Largely, Sammy still had the initiative. While she could play it defensively and take back some of that ¡®all-out¡¯ she¡¯d committed to, she decided to keep the train going for the most part. First of all, she dropped a REX buff on Orswyth, loading him up with wound negations. He had a solid failsafe already, but REX buffs were pretty much free actions. Sadly, he was the only qualifying Follower. She went with the logical utility tactic available to her, activating [Create Phantasms] for the full range of effects and Independent layers, as filtered through [Deific Pneumamancy]. With this, she spawned multiple doubles, moved to the side, and otherwise focused on a quick telekinesis-like effect targeting the scimitar-wielder. She slapped and grabbed him with a huge intangible hand, attempting to knock him and carry him through into the orb staff wraith, possibly to carry them both into the force wall for some extra smashery. It also qualified for [Simple, Stupid]. Mr. Scimitar was blindsided as he was slammed and grabbed, but Orb Dummy quite deftly dodged out of the way despite his armor, doing some sort of odd floating dive-roll as if he¡¯d once been an acrobat. Idly, he swept his staff around, which hit a Goddess Double that put on a show of being knocked by it. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. His maneuver displaced his cape, which revealed that a separate steel chain around his waist ended in a large, golden, glittering key. Well, well, what have we here? Mr. Scimitar was crushed into the Wall of Force with a vicious snarl of offense. His armor was dented, and apparent bits of him seemed to crumble off. He was not out, though still gripped rather handily. If I didn¡¯t know any better, those snarls of theirs sound almost repetitively similar. Wait, do I know better? Hook Guy was trapped behind the Wall of Force ¡ª he viciously snarled in offense, making a face like a zombie with constipation. He gave the wall a kick to no effect and otherwise seemed poised and bristling to act as he looked helplessly to his nearby ally. Eerily similar. Eerily. Sammy, as pretty much always, made sure her rather automatic aura, The Dawn Will Rise, was up. Simple as it was to qualify with her Followers and Servitors in continuous mental communion, it required a little bit of gusto for outsiders like her new wraith buddies. So she called out, ¡°Rip these ghosts some new assholes, team!¡± as encouragement. ¡°Gladly, my love.¡± Azure lifted her hand in the direction of Orb Dummy, summoning forth her staple of dark gleaming magical blades by the half dozen. The wraith met the onslaught with deft parries by his staff but was soon backpedaling diagonally upward as he took a couple of slashes slipping between armor gaps. He did manage to score his orb on one blade directly, which caused a small explosion of light and banished it. Sammy noticed Azure had conducted something of a new support habit of hers before this, for both of their uses ¡ª a minor contingency to fling out a dozen physical mirrors to float around. She¡¯s so sweet! But actually, she¡¯s been increasing in her potential use cases for them. Stargazer lifted his hands and began a spell chant of dramatic emphasis, as a sparkling glow began around the party. It only began though ¡ª it was a quite slow spell, whatever it was. Orswyth also began something a bit slow, though not as slow as Stargazer. It was a summoning and perhaps the most powerful summoning to pull off for one of Samantha¡¯s order: a Servitor. Normally, I¡¯d bring them with me, but noooo, we had to be all stealthy and work in a small teeeeam¡­ so much for that now. Waytaker¡¯s eyes were studiously watching Hook Guy and the spellcasting wraith ¡ª Wandy, Sammy decided his name was. Waytaker summoned her own staff, a resplendent thing ending in a white, winged skull. She seemed to be poised, waiting, slowly floating into the mix in a defensive stance. Linguist flew over behind Sammy, apparently fleeing and cowering. However, he whispered at her back, ¡°Goddess, Realm Rules will make this fight long and arduous due to their status as Sentinels and Royal Guardsmen ¡ª their durability is extreme.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯ve fought literally invulnerable enemies, so no biggie,¡± Sammy replied. ¡°Nonetheless, the shortcut would be to take the key and open the way. Perhaps you can block off their pursuit? The king could summon them directly, but his response to any plea is irregular at best.¡± ¡°Oh shit! Now there¡¯s an idea¡­¡± Within the force wall, Wandy had been preparing some spell effect, waving the wand in his off-hand, magical energy building. He did a final flick and unleashed an anti-magic type of blast that hit the Wall of Force and banished it immediately. Instantly, the waiting Hook Guy sprang forward and flung his staff into the open space, which made the hooks fly off still attached by wires ¡ª they zipped right for Samantha, the wraith having successfully kept his eyes on the real target despite her decoys. I don¡¯t like you anymore, Hook Guy. Sammy was prepared to take multiple licks but someone else had been waiting too ¡ª Waytaker leapt to intercept, or rather positively flew to interject herself. She spun her staff around fluidly and with tremendous speed, a glowing blur apparently as enhanced by the item in her grasp. She knocked one spooling hook with a skull head, another with the butt of the staff, and a third with the head again. One hook maneuvered around the friendly ghost¡¯s furious defense and stabbed Sammy in the shoulder, passing through her physical armor like it wasn¡¯t there. Due to her utilizing [Spell Reaction] and doing other shit on top, she couldn¡¯t do much more than tough out the resistance and her wound negation was breached.
You have suffered a Minor Wound in the right arm, after being downgraded from Major due to a temporary spell effect. You suffer no penalties, but further injury may upgrade the wound. You have avoided being [Hooked]. You ignore the [Bleeding] effect.
The hook sliced through a bit of flesh and slipped free with a spray of blood. Technically, she was bleeding, she just happened to not need that blood very much. Her other Minor Contingency triggered by the condition of losing a wound negation, casting Mystic Armor on her and bestowing her with another. Alright, no more all-out shit! I hope. Perhaps they do warrant some daily expenditures? Hrm. Orswyth¡¯s spell materialized as a bloom of light formed into a big, golden-armored angel with unfurling white wings, a massive sword, and a kite shield ¡ª Michael. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of you ghouls and your fiendish whining!¡± he declared as he swept his blade before him and rose up in the center of the room. ¡°It shall come to an end, by the light and truth of the Holy Goddess, Samantha.¡± They all viciously snarled in offense. ¡°Hrrrarrgh!¡± ¡°See?! That¡¯s what I mean, right there! Gah! Stop that!¡± But like a broken record, their repetitive utterances only continued. ¡°Hrrrarrgh!¡± Orb Dummy had created some space between him and the dark blades slicing and dicing him. He used this space to bring his staff up over his head and slam it downward. The orb exploded in a cascade, creating a huge flash of light that swallowed the entire chamber. The blades got annihilated as everyone not a goddess or a being of light shielded their eyes. Azure cried out as she got caught a bit more flat-footed and staring in response than the others, not to mention perhaps being the most vulnerable of the bunch to it. No worries. We¡¯re doing alright so far. Just need to get this key¡­ without everyone getting pasted by an AoE. Just a teensy bit tricky, that¡¯s all!
(Vol 7) Chapter 4: Unerringly to the Point ¡°Are you okay?!¡± Azure sent Sammy suddenly in worry, her Blueberry''s mental voice quite muddled. ¡°Who¡­ the fuck cut you?! I wasn¡¯t looking ¡ª I can¡¯t see!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that,¡± Sammy replied. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Tiny nick. Just focus on getting your feet under you.¡± ¡°That hook bitch. That¡¯s who it was. I¡¯ll fucking kill him!¡± Sammy rolled her eyes but spared no more time on the matter. With Wandy delayed by his wall-canceling spellcraft and Orb Dummy already acting, Sammy had otherwise seized the initiative. She knew she had too many things to do and not enough time to do them, so she planned on double-casting. Meanwhile, she handed off keeping Mr. Scimitar busy to automation, while moving decoy phantasms to grapple and distract Orb Dummy to aid eventual theft, and more decoy phantasms to attack and distract Hook Guy, presumably to soften him up for whoever else. She had to deal more decisively with Wandy ¡ª who was surely incredibly dangerous ¡ª and further overwhelm Orb Dummy. She had the perfect new thing for a flying ornery wraith she needed to disable for a few rounds ¡ª Fire Funnel. It was not so great for her other target, however, as she needed to snatch the key from him. Spinning in a torrent of fire would make that a bit of an issue. So, as the other part of her Doubled spell, she cast Malignant Slowness. Unlike the simpler, lower-level AoE effect, the level 9 spell was single target and very difficult to resist at +6 to the contest of wills, nearly guaranteeing a ¡®lesser¡¯ debuff that was hard to remove without a specific measure. A [Slow] effect was also seldom something on a supernatural entity¡¯s ¡®immunity list,¡¯ as it were. Curses on a wraith were otherwise dubious. Having a [Haste] effect up was some protection, but even then it would get negated. It was an ¡®old reliable¡¯ for journeyman wizards, essentially. In addition to Double, she added Intensify from [Tweak Spell] to Fire Funnel, inclined to maximize the chances of it working with another +3 to caster levels, on top of Pneumamancer 20, Magineer +4 for multiclass, and +1 for the fire element. Thanks to Pneumamancer, covering required levels for [Tweak Spell] purposes was child¡¯s play. Mana was her main limiter in a spirit realm. And all for the bargain price of 106 MP. Ugh! I need to cool it. The spinning little cone of fire shot from her hand at Wandy, who, as Sammy expected, tried to rely on swift, dodgy flight to avoid it, but this was all but useless against the spell with her total levels. It arced with Wandy¡¯s movements and slammed into him. That attack might¡¯ve incinerated even heroic-level threats, but the wraiths were far tougher than they had any right to be ¡ª then again, she was in their realm. Nonetheless, he was scorched, wounded to some degree, thrown, and tumbled through the air, on a collision course for the wall, howling in offense the whole while. He staunchly kept hold of his wands, but he wouldn¡¯t be doing much for at least ten seconds, probably fifteen, as getting slammed into the wall would require recovery time even if the spell slipped at that point. Sammy tossed out a use of [The Unseen Animus] on Orb Dummy before unleashing Malignant Slowness. He failed it by an extensive margin, as the ¡®success by 3+¡¯ confirmation pinged in her head. This also guaranteed the curse would work barring obscene bonuses or immunities to [Slow]. In fact, it was probably overkill. Better safe than sorry. I wonder if Mirror Maze would work on them? They have souls, technically. Still feels a bit experimental. The hold their god-king has on them might protect, or ¡ª even worse ¡ª he might notice and take offense. Better to try some other [Hold] effect if necessary. Will vs. Will, he¡¯s boned. The slow spell took hold, showing as a vague ripple in the air around him that impeded his every motion. He snarled in offense, and that too came slower, making it altogether a rather comical picture. ¡°Hhhhrrrrrrraaarrrrggh¡­¡± Each spell allowed her to cast Common Ward, so she dropped the minor buff on both Azure and Orswyth. All the while, her phantom decoys were attacking. Hook Guy completely ignored them, his eyes burning hot for Sammy alone as a target, with a growing, fanatical focus. He didn¡¯t pay for that, either ¡ª when one tried to hit him with a staff, it passed right through like it wasn¡¯t there. Which, in reality, it wasn¡¯t. His insanity, perhaps. Little room to believe in something false externally when you¡¯re stuck in your own lies. Surprisingly, Mr. Scimitar had no such protection, fighting against the big hand around him in full and complete acceptance. He was making a noble effort, producing a dagger and stabbing it viciously, but Sammy was pretty content to let him go after it. Her decoys found Orb Dummy something of a middle ground comparatively. Two of them got a hand on him, further burdening him with grapples, and one went for the key, but in this respect, they appeared incapable. The double¡¯s hand seemed to pass through the metal material. Figures. Hands still out directing spells as her eyes scanned the combat, Sammy turned her head and whispered behind her, ¡°Linguist, can you go for the key? Azure could do it, but I think she¡¯s stunned.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I will make an educated try,¡± Linguist replied, and quickly zipped around, headed for the slowed-down and beleaguered wraith in the air. Michael charged Hook Guy, forcing his significant size in between his goddess and her assailant, largely forcing him to shift his focus. A sword came spinning for the wraith, who dodged dismissively, apparently trying to fly upward to keep line of sight on Samantha. But Michael was ready for this and was flying himself. His great winged figure blocked any hope of targeting her. Though Sammy couldn¡¯t see much, there was a howl of protest, and those hooks came for Michael, one wrapping around his sword, another embedding into his shield, and two more bouncing off his armor. Michael was jerked and thrown off-balance. Though Angels were good at stalling, he was likely overall outmatched one-on-one. Fortunately, though, he wasn¡¯t alone. Waytaker moved in, and serious gong-like impacts of metal-on-metal could be heard on the other side of Michael¡¯s bulk. The hook in his shield came free. Stargazer¡¯s slow spell finally materialized. Innumerable pinpoints of sharp light blossomed and surrounded ally and foe alike like glitter, coating them in some sort of aura. They seemed to ¡®flow¡¯ with one¡¯s movements around Samantha and allies, supporting and reinforcing. Against the enemy wraiths was the opposite, as they vibrated and pushed back, inhibiting them. At the same time, the light concentrated and made a glow around Sammy¡¯s shoulder, sealing the wound and healing her. Hey, that¡¯s a pretty great AoE aura! Seems to do a little bit of everything. Orswyth made a focused prayer, gestured with his staff, and unleashed a Pneumanic Ray spell ¡ª a dial-an-element single-target specialty ¡ª on Orb Dummy. The ray came out like a line of blue frost, and the wraith was both not fast enough and too bogged down with attackers to avoid it. He took the blast in the chest, which did not seem to hurt him overly much, but the typical cold-based debuff [Chilled] appeared to take hold, inhibiting him further. ¡°How was it you put such things, Your Majesty?¡± Orswyth asked with a disappointed frown. ¡°He¡¯s ¡®above my pay grade¡¯?¡± ¡°More like above your pray grade, am I right?!¡± Sammy replied. Orswyth groaned. ¡°Uuugh. So cringe.¡± Sometimes I regret the phrases I¡¯ve taught them. Orb Dummy, despite his many hanger-on phantasms and his incredibly debuffed state, nonetheless managed to shake them off, though he wasted his initiative doing so. Sammy¡¯s programming on them was to remain believable and try not to get ignored, so they took apparent hits, but obviously, they would keep on coming whatever he did. On the plus side, it created an opening for Linguist to slip in under the wraith¡¯s guard. Though hardly a combat specialist, the scholarly wraith was not a slouch by any means, and his opponent¡¯s vulnerability spelled the difference. He grabbed the key, touched a wand to the chain, and spoke a quick spell that made a sharp cracking sound. The chain vibrated in response, and ¡ª likely as a near thing ¡ª broke in two places with another snap. Linguist had the key in hand! Unfortunately, the chain was more lively than expected. Rather than simply slipping free from the big key ring, it suddenly jerked. With a cry, Linguist was pulled up into the air, just barely hanging on¡­ that was until the other half of the chain whipped itself around him like a vise and squeezed, eliciting a grunt of pain. The key pulled free, but such was it under pressure by Linguist¡¯s studious grip before doing so, it flung off of the chain by the ring, soaring through the air and clattering onto the floor. Orb Dummy made a quite perturbed face as he screamed in partial slow motion. ¡°Hhhhrrrrrnnnnnnngggh¡­¡± The others also screamed ¡ª even Wandy, still spinning in a wild circle as the Fire Funnel spell knocked him. ¡°Hrr-rrr-rrr-nnngh!¡± The key landed closest to Mr. Scimitar. The only other anywhere close was Azure, on her hands and knees after being stun-blinded. Mr. Scimitar was not doing much ¡®scimitaring¡¯ at all. He¡¯d stabbed the telekinetic hand Sammy had put on automation repeatedly with a dagger and forced a relative draw, the rest of his body trying to wriggle free. As such, his weapon of greater reach was abandoned so his free hand could try and break the grapple. Somewhat free, he tried to jerk and throw himself at the key on the floor, the grip of the hand on his legs slipping¡­ ¡°Azure!¡± Sammy sent to her lover at the speed of thought ¡ª about the only speed of any use right then. ¡°The key! On the floor!¡± ¡°What?!¡± she returned, as her quasi-physical self squinted and grimaced, eyes watered-over and nigh senseless. ¡°Where?! Wait, what key-¡± ¡°No time for that! Grab it!¡± If it had not been for a time not long ago, when the two had routinely ¡ª as a matter of survival ¡ª leveraged communications of such nature, Sammy might¡¯ve been out of luck. But she knew precisely how to direct the near-perfect spacial senses of Azure, half-blind, blind, or not. All she needed was a point, a coordinate, a heading, and she would unerringly find it. Translating simply, quasi-visually, she forwarded where the key was to Azure¡¯s mind, highlighting it, all in a split second by rote of familiarity. Azure rose and threw herself toward it immediately, perhaps equally by familiarity with obeying Samantha¡¯s headings. Just before Mr. Scimitar¡¯s hand reached it, Azure wrapped her hands around it. ¡°It¡¯s a key! I got it!¡± Mr. Scimitar stared incredulously, rendered speechless for once. ¡°Back, back, back!¡± Sammy sent Azure in a rush. As Azure stumbled up and back toward her allies, Mr. Scimitar very silently and soberly thrashed, twisted, and positioned himself so as to fling his dagger at Azure¡¯s retreating back. The Goddess of Fate had her strings well-wound within the reality around her, like nerves making her hyper-aware. She was ready on a dime to utilize [Alter Fate] to force a failure, hoping she wouldn¡¯t need it in the challenges to come, and knowing the plan required keeping at least one use free¡­
(Vol 7) Chapter 5: The Gauntlet Gamble Nearly too quick to see, a blade flashed and knocked the dagger zipping for Azure¡¯s back right out of the air to clatter on the floor. If not for the way the blade slid smoothly and more slowly back into its sheath at Azure¡¯s belt, Sammy might not have ever caught what did it ¡ª who. Almost as if her eyes on it were a trigger, Samantha suddenly felt the presence ¡®brush¡¯ some distance away ¡ª not quite across her. Distant. The rustle of a being in hidden spaces upon phantom brush. Just enough to be an echo, enough to make the barely-there, faded, and quickly fading-out impression and sound¡­ of mocking laughter. ¡°Hahahahaha¡­¡± A sound to send a shiver through her. Intended to do so, probably. Deathsting. Finally waking up, I see. Found her worthy? You¡¯ll have her back when I fail to have it, will you? Good. Interestingly, Azure did not seem aware of what happened, from her sheer lack of reaction. Meanwhile, Mr. Scimitar finally delivered a vicious snarl of offense ¡ª or tried to. ¡°Hrrrrrrnnn-¡± His otherwise sacrificial act of throwing the dagger had him especially well-grappled and squeezed, cutting off his utterance. Wandy was slammed into the wall by the Fire Funnel spell, and found himself pinned there by an unabating force. He was spun like a top as he howled. Whether he could collect himself eventually, it wasn¡¯t happening very imminently. Noteworthy that the walls are solid to them here. I suppose that has been true for my allies too. Briefly flicking her eyes across the entirety of the battle, she felt a hesitant satisfaction. She¡¯d been well-trained at managing stubborn enemies so recently. It was nice to have more people around to help (and boss around). Azure, grinning, was holding up the key as she ran back, still watery of eyes and squinting. ¡°I¡¯ve got the key! So, er-... now what?¡± Stargazer, glancing over at the tangled-up Linguist with calm assessment, began moving toward Azure. ¡°To this endeavor in cloudy skies, relinquish the solution to one who knows it well; who beholds in clarity what shines through.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°He¡¯s telling you to give the key to him, Azure!¡± Sammy called. ¡°Oh.¡± Yeesh. It¡¯s not that hard, is it? ¡°Don¡¯t worry over me!¡± Linguist called, punctuated with a grunt as he tumbled around and struggled and jerked side-to-side in the air with the two chain halves wrapped around him. ¡°These are mere annoyances.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Sammy replied. Her primary concern was screening for Stargazer, who was soon going to become the Target Numero Uno El Grande. There were three potential attackers which presented a problem. She wished she could use Dazzling Spectrum for the AoE with ally avoidance, but she suspected the wraiths were immune. One target to protect, so¡­ let¡¯s just do that. A gauntlet to run, perhaps? A gamble? The bet is on! Confident in relying on her boosted caster levels with a Protection spell, she cast Bubble Shield on Stargazer, enshrouding him in a translucent sphere of energy. To be safe, she spent the extra 25 MP to use [Tweak Spell: Intensify], as it qualified for a ¡®physical only¡¯ effect that mental effects bypassed. With that done, she refreshed her distributed autonomous phantasms, crowding the wraiths with a small horde of apparent summoned angels. She made her real casting appear rushed, as if she¡¯d just conducted another Doubled spell, to add to the illusion. The angels moved in such a way as to help block the line of sight to the door. She also used the big hand holding Mr. Scimitar ¡ª and she used his name loosely ¡ª to primarily just pull him away from any chance to intercept. With the wraith¡¯s recent defensive sacrifices, this went off without a hitch. He was dragged aside, screaming all the while, almost entirely pinned. Sammy moved closer to Azure as she did all of this, priming for her own charge to the door when necessary. Stargazer momentarily grabbed the key from Azure and flew at high speed in a charge for the door, his ghostly robes billowing behind him, as seen through the glowing protective sphere of Samanthian magic. Samanthian magic. Hehehehe. Never gets old. Michael tried briefly to free his sword or jerk it to pull his opponent, but he quickly realized it wasn¡¯t happening. Instead, he charged shield-first at Hook Guy when there was an opening. This was dodged easily, however. Despite how occupied Hook Guy was with two opponents, he had eyes only for Stargazer now. His three free hooks went flying on arcs around his other enemies, dead at the wraith making a flying sprint for the door. Waytaker intercepted one of these with her staff as she moved in quickly under her enemy¡¯s guard, trying to force him to defend himself or pay. Unsurprisingly, he did not react, eyes burning in their focus once more. The hooks descended on Stargazer, who opted not to slow down. It¡¯s up to my shield, now. Sammy crossed her fingers. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The hooks bounced right off like they¡¯d hit a wall, causing sharp cracks of impact as they struck hardened force energy. It held firm, though each strike weakened it. Hell yeah! Duh nuh-nuh-nuh, nuh-nuh, nuh-nuh- can¡¯t touch this! Before Hook Guy could viciously snarl in offense, a staff jabbed him in the gut and then smashed him in the face as Waytaker delivered the cost for him ignoring her interruption. He went careening backward, bits of his brittle facial structure spraying explosively from the perfectly-connected impact. ¡°Oof!¡± Orswyth called. ¡°That¡¯ll leave a mark, eh, old boy?¡± He was casting something, his staff still and his hand making a rigid sign near his head. His eyes began to glow white. This was a little bit different than his usual castings and Sammy pretty much knew why. He was drawing on his newer spell Domain, the one he¡¯d sacrificed [Mirrors] for ¡ª [Thought]. Perhaps an attempt at something disabling? Worth a shot, though I know they have levels on him. I did debuff him, at least, as did Stargazer with that AoE. Unfortunately, it was not a quick casting. Even slowed down, Orb Dummy moved and acted at a functional speed, being rather quick to begin with. He tried to maneuver through the various Problem Angels blocking his line of sight and harrying him but was denied. With a frustrated howl, he grabbed the orb on his staff, pulled it entirely off, and hurled it, which caused it to rapidly intensify in brightness. Oh, that¡¯s¡­ somewhat concerning. Despite her numerous options, with cold calculation, Sammy opted to conserve resources and eat it. She was ready for mitigation with [Alter Fate] if necessary, especially in regards to Stargazer. Not just intuition told her to be confident in her shield¡­ seldom would AoEs be stronger in intensity than single-target attacks, and while she was in the spirit world or a similar sub-realm, [Deific Pneumamancy] made her World Class in levels. Godly in truth. Those ancient sentinels in their own realm might¡¯ve been close to that¡­ but not quite. [The Unseen Animus] had already informed Sammy she owned his ass at contests. My true foe is behind that door¡­ if a foe is what he has to be, anyway. We¡¯ll try to avoid it, but ¡®shit hitting the fan¡¯ and all that. The orb exploded in a huge radius of searing light that covered all of them. Azure was ready this time, eyes turned away and body braced as her skin hardened into crystal. The energy that hit her was further mitigated by Sammy¡¯s close presence absorbing some of the energy. Everyone was bathed in scorching energy, including Orb Dummy¡¯s wraith friends. It scorched them significantly, leaving their forms smoking. Linguist and Waytaker were dealt similar, grimacing with near-feral snarls, evidently minorly wounded by it. Orswyth just ignored the blast, having a wound negation free to blow, and his vision wasn¡¯t vulnerable right then either by whatever means, as his eyes never wavered and he cast his spell like a right badass who didn¡¯t have time for explosions. Azure did not have a wound negation apparently, which annoyed Sammy immensely as it showed she was being reckless and overconfident about her durability. Nonetheless, she took the blast with little more than a hiss, bared teeth, and clenched fists. Similar to the wraiths, her skin smoked and her clothing was singed, particularly her forearms which were braced in front of her protectively, in what was ultimately a very heroic pose. And finally, there was Stargazer and the Bubble Shield. It held, protecting him absolutely, weakening slightly, yet preserving his bum rush for the door without so much as slowing him. Orb Dummy only had time enough to look horrified at how little his attack did before Orswyth¡¯s spell materialized. The hierophant¡¯s head and eyes shone brighter and brighter until suddenly flashing clear. That glow then surrounded Orb Dummy¡¯s head and flared from his eyes. Instantly, his expression went slack and his body limp, as his staff dropped to the floor. He drifted slightly in the air. ¡°Won¡¯t last long,¡± Orswyth declared, though there was some satisfaction in his voice. ¡°Hopefully we won¡¯t need much longer.¡± Stargazer, unimpeded to the door, barely slowed as he brandished the big key and shoved it into the keyhole at the end of a charge. ¡°Readiness under a new moon!¡± He turned the key and the doors began to crack inward with the groan of ancient matter. A great glowing white fog began to spill out. A transitional zone. Here we go. Sammy called out, ¡°Everyone needed, go through! Michael, keep any foe that gets free back!¡± Waytaker, face still in a rictus as her body continued smoking, declared, ¡°Under these stars I may remain not seeking beyond, last to decide, last to be decided. Go as you desire to your own; we may divide this tender path we blazed as one.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll go last to help screen and can stay behind if needed ¡ª got it!¡± Azure was mystified. ¡°Seriously, how do you do that?¡± ¡°No time!¡± Grabbing the mostly recovered Azure by the waist with an arm, Sammy sped forward. Meanwhile, Wandy of course managed to cast something that exploded and knocked him free of the wall and the corkscrewing pressure of the spell, though he remained spinning and disoriented momentarily. Waytaker exchanged a communicative glance with Michael as she left the vicinity of Hook Guy to welcome Wandy back into the mix properly. Michael nodded as he moved with determination in his winged ¡®stance¡¯ to face his stodgy foe one-on-one. Azure frowned at Sammy as she was pulled along. She fidgeted. ¡°I¡¯m with the screening crew, Chestnut. Someone has to help Linguist. Besides, I can bypass anything to get to you.¡± ¡°Most things. Not anything, as we¡¯ve discovered.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get in there, then. I sense that I can for whatever mysterious reason. The corresponding attunement there is facilitating. No way I¡¯ll miss the shenanigans promised within, trust me. Hmm?¡± Sammy met Azure¡¯s eyes nearly nose-to-nose and deliberately suppressed her doubts. ¡°Okay. You looked really hot taking that magical blast, by the way.¡± ¡°Not as hot as you looked grinning like a devil as you made a whole battle dance on your puppet strings.¡± They shared small smiles briefly. Azure contorted in form as she channeled herself through Sammy to shortcut to a mirror near Linguist. The goddess picked up speed making for the door.
(Vol 7) Chapter 6: Wielder Azure popped out of the mirror, slightly blurry eyes targeting the struggling Linguist, who¡¯d managed to pull his chain along somewhat as he desperately tried to make his way to the door. Azure had no mind for anything too complicated here. She immediately dove for the chain, grabbing it and pulling it away to help Linguist free. [Divine Mesmer] wasn¡¯t the strongest class for the ¡®direct¡¯ route, but it wasn¡¯t the weakest, either. She had an instinct about the chain, that was the main thing. Having thrown herself onto it like an offering, the chain quickly wound itself around her much better presented surface area instead, abandoning Linguist completely, who slipped free with a relieved gasp. He hesitated, so Azure called, ¡°Go! They¡¯ll need you. I¡¯ll catch up on my own. Not just saying that, either. Distances and I have an¡­ understanding.¡± He touched his heart briefly, apparently a gesture of thanks, before zipping away for the door. And so the simplest solution to a problem is executed. Tashome is going to love this little tale of ¡®sacrifice.¡¯ Azure, entirely entangled on the floor, barely paid attention as the chain squeezed against her skin ¡ª skin which hardened more as it was strained. It would take a hell of a lot more to damage her. It was painful, sure, but she had a particularly unique relationship with pain. A twisting chain? Pfft. That was foreplay. Can¡¯t believe I let myself get fucking blinded. Unbelievable. Just because you¡¯re immune to her light doesn¡¯t make you immune to light. Not exotic magic light. And we knew this! But you still just stared in single-minded obsession. Get it together, softy. Orswyth showed us up¡­ then again, this chain could kill him rather than just tickle. Oh sh- eeee! It does tickle there, hrrrrnn! Azure winced and wriggled until the chain was pushed away from the problem area. Her eyes meanwhile scanned to see what else was happening in the room. Waytaker was engaged with the wand user ¡ª Wandy, as Samantha had mentally identified him. Waytaker was landing strikes before the other wraith could properly get his bearings. He was screeching bloody murder, in the wraith guards¡¯ eerily cloned and repetitive manner. They share a kind of collective hallucination, I think. An accepted enchantment to stave off the depths of ferality like their brothers, if not their general madness. I suppose their role demands a little more. Azure¡¯s sense of things was that Waytaker¡¯s staff play would not cut it for dealing with him, though. Wandy was taking blows and righting himself, his wands in a total death grip. Michael, meanwhile, had wisely abandoned attempting melee engagement to lean on his core element: he¡¯d blasted the still-reeling wraith with the hook staff with an exploding type light beam which sent him tumbling downward out of the air. The hook staff wielder was inhibited but had no quit in him, either. He still had eyes for those racing through the opening gate, and his hooks on their spooled-out fishing lines ¡ª apparently endless in extension ¡ª were moving to intercept. The one who¡¯d thrown the explosive light orb remained slack-jawed. Phantasmal angels grabbed, slashed, and stabbed him with blades without resistance, chopping through armor and gouging deeply into tough substance that did not bleed. Dust came from his wounds instead, as momentum otherwise pushed him steadily toward the wall, swarmed by enemies. Orswyth cast a spell that formed a Hard Light disk that was carrying him quickly (much quicker than he¡¯d float) to the doorway. He seemed to be trying to steer it in a curve, worried about the hooks suddenly veering back to come for him. Her Delightfulness Samantha was probably quicker and faster than anyone else there ¡ª along with Stargazer, she was already through the widening door still rapidly spilling out fog, obscured but discernible. Both of them were casting, but Samantha¡¯s spell was already resolving from her fingertips. A huge mass of metallic wire filled the space in front of the doors, layers of them wrapped into cables in parts and making something like a web or loose net with much open space. The latter trait was a very good thing as Linguist was trying to fly right through it. Entirely party-friendly, the mass opened the way for him without impedance. Orswyth wasn¡¯t far behind. The hooks on the other hand were given no such consideration. The wires whipped at them like vipers as they neared, curling around them and quickly turning the tables on who was grabbing who. The first two so grabbed had some sort of disturbance vibrate across the line¡¯s length, and they went completely slack. The hook wielder cried out in fury. Azure understood immediately, knowing what those wires emulated. Ralli¡¯s staff. They just caused a malfunction in the artifact! It isn¡¯t just machinery that is affected by [Sabotage]. Ha! Apparently, it wasn¡¯t enough to shut the whole staff down. The other two hooks suddenly pivoted and pulled away, not inclined to meet the same fate as their ¡®brothers.¡¯ Azure remained more worried about Wandy, assuming the door area was covered. Wandy had also shown himself capable of dispelling, which was a bigger threat than anything when persistent spells were doing so much work for them at that point. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Need to help out with this one, I think. Fortunately, Azure was not tied down at all, despite appearances. She ¡®pulled¡¯ the nearby mirror to her. The nearest part of her to it was her feet, so she touched it with her boot and activated her relatively new [Spacial Transfer], usable as an action for energy expenditure, or before or after an action for free once per level per day. The experience was something like melting, twisting, and blinking eyes in between opening new ones elsewhere. She spilled out from another mirror very near Waytaker and the wand user. Fortunately, it was from behind Wandy, allowing Azure to flank. She quickly decided to utilize stealth and her [Nightblade] subclass, hands going to the hilts of her trusty enchanted daggers as she swiftly and quietly moved in¡­ ¡°Do not sully your hands with those pathetic blades, Ascendant One,¡± a voice suddenly exploded in Azure¡¯s head, flatly derisive and offended. It was rich and resonant, yet like a too-loud whisper, slightly raspy. ¡°Wield. Me.¡± The shock of it ¡ª a thousand needles pricked her inside and out ¡ª almost made her stumble. Instead, she stopped short. There was no time for thought or questions, however; moreover, knowing instantly who it was, she would not pass up the opportunity or show any further hesitation. Her hand closed around Deathsting¡¯s hilt and she drew it smoothly as she went for a wicked stab in the back of the wraith. Sadly, the scorched and blackened wraith happened to be gaining his bearings finally. Instead of continuing to back up right into the strike near the wall of the room, he pivoted and flew upward. Just barely, Azure realized in time she could float in that place, not really being something she was used to doing naturally. She moved upward and went for a stab with smoothly flowing guidance from Deathsting¡­ but having missed a step, Wandy had that much more time to adjust. He saw the blade coming at him and twisted his body away, managing to avoid both a staff swing and the blade at the same time. Gah! Did she even see me? I and Waytaker aren¡¯t used to each other and not very coordinated together. Azure was sure she felt Deathsting growl in annoyance, but he said nothing further. Instead of engaging with them, Wandy flew to create more distance and cast his eyes toward the metallic mass by the doorway. Still moving, he appeared to be casting with one wand gesturing, but cautiously, essentially casting while still taking evasive maneuvers and attempting to escape a potential pin against the wall by two combatants. Rage like a river poured into her mind. ¡°He thinks he can ignore us?!¡± The voice turned to ice. ¡°Throw me, Wielder.¡± Azure pulled up short and obliged, hurling the dagger at Wandy. The wraith dodged it casually, as if child¡¯s play, even using it tactically as an opportunity to shift forward and away from the wall, while avoiding Waytaker¡¯s staff deftly. When the dagger was passing behind him, it morphed. Wings exploded out, a black and green snaky, dragon-like body unfurled itself, and the air was stained with the moisture and smell of decay, like the rich abundance of deteriorating life in the very heart of a swamp. In that mere moment, a wyvern spawned and flexed into animation, jaws of sharp teeth bared, reptilian eyes full of a predator¡¯s malice glared, and a whipping long tail ending in a vicious stinger unfurled. Deathsting. What a dark beauty. Wandy had a brief moment to adjust and pivot once more, no doubt feeling the presence of the large beast behind him. Rather lazily to Azure¡¯s eyes, the tail of Deathsting extended and struck, and Wandy dodged yet another strike. The particular motion of that tail was something else, though ¡ª a certain kind of twist and furl as it passed. A poise and tension from him, like a moment frozen, and then, with a sudden intense flexing of every muscle, with a literal whip-like motion and crack, the tail flicked outward from its position. Azure realized he¡¯d done nothing more than set up the prey already caught in his trap. It was so fast, it was as if the tail teleported ¡ª unerringly, too, as the stinger took the wraith right through the skull. Caught in the middle of his spell, it failed right then and there as he convulsed. Screamed. It wasn¡¯t the same as the typical wraith bellow at all. Instead, it was one of supreme terror and pain. That stinger had gone somewhere deeper than a brain in that particular spiritual entity. Wands fell from the wraith¡¯s hands to clatter on the floor, and the energetic force of the being began to unravel and dissolve, the scream fading ¡®into the distance.¡¯ ¡°Freak of Unnature!¡± Deathsting called in his raspy voice, eyes fierce and pitiless. ¡°Abomination! None escape the venom of the Mother¡¯s spite itself ¡ª as you deserve, be unmade!¡± Fascinated and a bit horrified, Azure looked on as the wraith¡¯s bodily form shredded and dissolved into faintly glowing mistiness and then nothing at all, the scream fading with it, on into probable oblivion. Deathsting¡¯s stinger curled away finally, squirting one last dribble of some terrible venom onto the floor, where it began smoking immediately as it dissolved pneumanic matter. The eyes of the wyvern locked on hers, and time in her mind seemed to stand still. The mental voice whispered, ¡°Wielder. Fret not for deserving victims. Your sweet conquest, your paramour, denies them absolution in error. She holds equal power to my act. Mercy misplaced by a prey mind. Two of these and one gone were already too far gone. Broken, senile, unable to release the indecipherable shards of the past.¡± Azure, feeling mentally paralyzed right then, tried to get herself together to respond.
(Vol 7) Chapter 7: One Who Is Mine Knowing she had to say something, Azure scrambled and mentally blurted, ¡°I¡­ okay, th-... The orb wielder. Right? He retains more faculties?¡± Deathsting stared for a long spell, his eyes oddly shifting slightly over her as the only movement in reality. ¡°Enough, perhaps. Distasteful for what he serves; an indignity, but not abominable. The rest should pass beyond. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± She felt cautious about how to answer. She decided on simple honesty. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± There was a vague feeling of amusement. ¡°Fair enough, Wielder. You should agree, from the seeds within you, but you are yet green in sprouting from your ancient roots. Room to grow. Know this: my venom is precious and I use it as I choose. Until you prove yourself worthy as a predator, do not think to command in veto of my judgment.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more of a¡­ request?¡± ¡°Do you plan to come to me and beg?¡± Somehow, she knew the right answer this time and had best pivot. ¡°No.¡± Deathsting was pleased and quite amused. ¡°Good, good. I don¡¯t deal in requests, Wielder. You¡¯ve wound yourself into a convoluted mess of unnecessary obedience but I can appreciate it as a matter of elaborate species courtship you¡¯ve succeeded at. Otherwise, I expect you to dominate. Command, hunt, fight, defeat, conquer, kill, all while showing good judgment. You¡¯re green, yes. I have leeway. But don¡¯t disappoint me too much or our partnership shall end. I don¡¯t travail with the weak. What I do is a sacrifice. Do not disrespect it.¡± Azure resisted giving thanks, knowing Deathsting cared mostly about actions. That was something Redberry had mentioned. ¡°You find me worthy enough to wield.¡± ¡°A trial period.¡± ¡°How would I prove further worthy as a predator? Kill?¡± ¡°Certainly. Annihilating one of those pathetic abominations there would go a long way. Or, even better, both. They have no business existing. I don¡¯t require their destruction, but I¡¯d like it. Because it is correct to the natural order.¡± ¡°I see. Will you ever require destruction?¡± ¡°How should I know?¡± ¡°Is there some type of foe you won¡¯t allow to live? Individuals you hate?¡± ¡°Memory is too fleeting and irrelevant to hold on to. A mortal takes hold of those fragile elements and they shatter in their clutches. Too-sharp, worthless shards. They will bleed you until you let go, and if you do not, your vitae drains to nothing and your mind comes next. No. I will not speak what I require until it passes across my perception, leaving memory at the proper distance until it happens to fall near. If ever.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ fascinating. Okay. Trial run it is, then. I can wield only you? Ever?¡± ¡°Melee-wise, there will never be any reason you shouldn¡¯t utilize the best weapon that will ever grace your fingers. If you need reach, spare but a thought and I will be your spear to drive into any foe. While I can be thrown and will return, or dance for a limited time, I am not impractical to concerns of range. Nor do I care about spells. But hand-me-down magic daggers? Hand them down to lesser beings.¡± ¡°Will do. You¡¯re right, of course. Those other blades seem plain now, and I don¡¯t even know your full capabilities yet.¡± Flattery, but on a foundation of truth. Deathsting seemed pleased. ¡°Hahaha. We¡¯re getting along so far. Regardless, real-time calls. Are you going to destroy the abominations?¡± ¡°I might. I need to foremost act tactically. What about the god king?¡± She figured it logical to pry for his potentially useful intel about things. ¡°That¡¯s more complicated, even for me. If we do fight, I¡¯ll make sure he feels pain. One way or another. I¡¯d relish the battle, but prudence is logical here. I awaken to nurture. Prune. Whilst I have hope for you you shall not wilt. You¡¯re useless to me dead.¡± It was Azure¡¯s turn to be amused. ¡°It¡¯s true I¡¯d prefer to avoid being dead myself. We¡¯ll see how it goes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m releasing you and returning then. Be ready. If you wish to kill the wraiths, stab me into their cranium.¡± Quite suddenly, the world started moving again. The wyvern was already collapsing and morphing back into the dagger, as the contorting space stretched back to Azure¡¯s hand. In a blink, it was done, and Deathsting was merely a weapon once more. Waytaker was backing up from the scene of destruction, shock and awe written on her face. Her eyes slid to Azure¡¯s cautiously, but she seemed to accept what she saw there and began spinning around, wasting no further time on the matter. Their other two (conscious) wraithly enemies had noticed as well. There wasn¡¯t fear ¡ª they screamed in rage as their eyes turned to Azure. Good. That¡¯s what I want. Samantha was in her head rather quickly, alarmed. ¡°What the hell just happened?! I caught a glimpse through a mirror. Did Deathsting just¡­?¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Yes,¡± Azure answered gravely. ¡°Seems he doesn¡¯t like undead types and can do something about it. He says three of those here are too far gone, too warped. Probably a mercy.¡± ¡°I dunno, but it could definitely piss off the god-king! Look, just-¡± ¡°He asked me to destroy the other two. Not the orb-wielder. I feel we can trust his insight. I¡¯m also successfully occupying them but they¡¯re going to come for me¡­¡± Samantha, seemingly shocked, just gave her a kind of ¡®mental look.¡¯ Faintly warning, mostly unreadable, but she said nothing. Without anything further, she retreated entirely, clamming up and focusing back on what she was doing. Great. Is this one of those things where I¡¯m supposed to ascertain some ¡®right thing¡¯ on my own and not destroy them? Not sure it¡¯s even right. But if I do destroy them she might be upset. Ugh! I never understood normal relationships. I thought my only real one before would teach me, but it was composed of nothing but lies. Linguist and Orswyth apparently got through, as the mass of metal wires continued branching like a giant amoeba stretching out two directions. The masked wraith, just as he finally got free of the giant hand grabbing him, had the wires right in his face. Awkwardly, he tried to dodge, and almost succeeded, but wires wrapped over his ankle and tripped him up. The hook user, staring murder at Azure, whipped his staff around. His face was a ruin and grayish flesh and bone were exposed at his chest as his armor had been burst and ripped open. His injuries did not seem to impair him. The two still functional hooks came rocketing for Azure. She dodged one while floating, going into an acrobatic roll through the air, training from beyond kicking in. The other hook, slightly trailing, tried to take advantage by meeting her momentum. Unable to dodge it effectively, she scrambled to parry with the dagger. Though it seemed ill-suited, Deathsting guided her hand with speed something greater than Azure¡¯s own. The blade knocked the hook away soundly with the clang of magic metal on magic metal. Waytaker flowed forward, aiming to take advantage of her great speed and effectiveness with the winged skull staff of hers. The hook user, absent of tunnel vision for his target this time around, successfully fended her off, blocking two strikes as he retreated sideways, perhaps hoping to avoid Michael behind him. He could not, because Michael was once again focusing on the accuracy of laser-like light blasts. This time, there wasn¡¯t an explosion, instead a cast spell spawning a force-like effect, apparently going for a knock. It hit the wraith squarely in the shoulder and sent him spinning sideways into multiple cartwheels before slowing, still very near the floor. It positioned him nearly right under Azure. Michael¡¯s eye contact with her said it all. He¡¯d done that with a deliberately tactical mind, quite precisely setting the wraith up for the Third Wheel Finisher. As I should expect of him. He knows my deadliness in this situation even without this new element in play. But¡­ It was a decision point she thought she¡¯d end up avoiding by running out of time and expediency. They¡¯d practically won already. But here it was¡­ she could try to completely kill the wraith. One perhaps worse off than the other dead, as the hook user couldn¡¯t even form words. If she could go back, ask the man he once was, ¡®Would you prefer I end it, if you succumb like this?¡¯ ¡ª what would he say? Tactically, there was plenty of motive, too ¡ª he might try and pursue, or be granted entrance by the god-king pulling protectors to him. If they were already doomed by what Deathsting did, they might be reducing the final enemy tally they would have to face. In contrast, she might spare him for Samantha¡¯s sake. She¡¯d worry; she¡¯d fret. Would she admonish? Disagree? She¡¯d had to make ruthless choices before. Perhaps this one was worse. Azure had no capacity to know¡­ or care. Deathsting offered no advice. He just watched and waited. There was no more time to deliberate ¡ª one way or another she needed to act. She charged downward in stealth; she dove swiftly through the air. Azure brought the dagger to bear and made her choice. Inwardly, to Deathsting, she sent, ¡°I don¡¯t do this for you. It¡¯s for what I am and who I need to be. Even if this wasn¡¯t mercy¡­ where sound opportunity would align¡­ I would kill him.¡± A brief flash of smiling wyvern teeth. ¡°Why?¡± She and the blade came down like a comet portending doom. Just as the wraith¡¯s snarling face looked up, Deathsting plunged smoothly into his forehead, and Azure ¡ª with her own snarl ¡ª pushed it deep with momentum and vicious enthusiasm. A crack of impact only came when the hilt was stopped. ¡°Because this fucker drew the blood of one who is mine!¡± Cackling, gleeful laughter filled her skull as the wraith so near spasmed and screamed, near paralyzed with the blade striking into his core being. The staff jerked in her direction so she kicked it away, and it fell free from the wraith¡¯s hand to the floor, the lines and hooks simply drifting and floating on their long extensions as if in water. Just as the other had, the wraith unraveled and dissolved with a fading scream, somewhat more disturbing to see and hear so close up. But halfway through the process, the dagger came free, passing right through matter trying to stop existing as quickly as possible. Azure floated away. She felt nothing but satisfaction. How many times had she seen and felt her lover be brutalized and made to suffer? Dreixia alone was worth resurrecting just to kill again, the battle a trauma in Azure¡¯s heart she¡¯d never be rid of. Worse for the archer, brutality specifically for Azure¡¯s sake. Out of their mind or not, anyone who hurt Samantha was one she¡¯d gladly rip apart without reservation. If anything, her mind and spirit had just been eased to do it for once. It felt like synchronicity, like respectful nods from a million like predecessors, and inside¡­ Inside, she knew The Lover was smiling. Samantha¡¯s mind touched hers. ¡°Come on. You¡¯re done in there.¡± Azure could sense her lover¡¯s disturbed perceptions, her worry, and the little note she tried to suppress, of guilty disappointment. Something else, though, and hard to pin down. Understanding? Fondness that trumped the rest? A unique spark of contrasting warmth even she might not be aware of. She knows why I enjoyed it. ¡°Right away, my love,¡± Azure returned.
(Vol 7) Chapter 8: The Fallen King Everyone ¡ª Samantha, Orswyth, Azure, all three friendly ghosts ¡ª got through the doors into the foggy interstitial space. Samantha noticed the zone gradually got heavier and heavier in pulling one inward. By the time everyone was through, she was fighting pretty hard to hold her position, and Stargazer was being drawn further in. While Samantha had wanted to cast her other ¡®area denial¡¯ specialty in Crowned Tower, she decided to conserve mana. Stargazer had cast some sort of inhibiting spell himself, creating a zone right before the doors consisting of an oily element thickening the air, super bubbly, ready to ¡®catch¡¯ interlopers somehow. When allies passed through, they were encased in a giant bubble that ended at the door and popped after they passed. Samantha supplemented the existing deterrents with a giant summoned squid-thing, utilizing [Create Phantasms] for a dedicated solid form that could persist indefinitely. Then she summoned another Servitor in Athos, who held firm as a ¡®level-8-sized¡¯ dragon right in front of the door, ready to strike anyone who got past the rest. Around the time Azure was committing her bloodthirsty but effective act of stabbing and utterly destroying another wraith, Orswyth reported, ¡°Orby snapped out of it!¡± Sammy directed Michael and the squid-thing in reserve to attack ¡®Orby¡¯ and keep him from the door. She watched through a mirror as the wraith tried to shed the existing attackers that had been all over him from before, only to get blasted in the face by Michael and a squid arm wrapping around his waist. He snarled viciously in offense. Ugh. I know I could¡¯ve killed them with [Removal] instead of all this painstaking physicality. I just don¡¯t know if they¡¯d be potential subjects after this is all over. At least with what Azure shared from Deathsting, maybe I can hold hope for Orby. Poor guy has been using light magic against me. I¡¯d feel bad. But at this point, with us killing his buddies, it might be a stretch to think we¡¯ll be friends. An inner voice chided her. ¡®What, are we playing fucking Undertale, here?¡¯ No, but sometimes things were more complicated than laying complete waste to enemies from square one. The wraiths were insane, just like their king, whom they wanted to actually help somehow. Too far gone, huh? I dunno if we get to decide that without even trying. Much less to decide based on some murderous dagger-wyvern¡¯s judgment. Whatever the case, what was done was done. Combat was combat. People died; people were killed. Azure, killer instincts flaring up, had acted on some existing beef only partially based on her present opponents. Sammy had felt a lot of frustration poured into that stab. I get it. I¡¯d be the same- well. Not just from a little boo-boo. It¡¯s not like I was really hurt in this case. But¡­ putting myself in harm¡¯s way¡­ it doesn¡¯t just affect me¡­ She knew that already, but Azure¡¯s mentality was a special concern. A consequence she needed to weigh pretty heavily in her mix of risk and reward. Or try to. But when your instinct was to be self-sacrificial¡­ Azure was by her side in the fog. Saying nothing, Sammy simply took her hand and squeezed gently. Her Blueberry squeezed back. Waytaker, apparently satisfied she no longer needed to hang in the room, sped through the gate. Simultaneously, Linguist called, ¡°Let us back ourselves away and the doors close, sealing this painfully conquered divide.¡± Sammy nodded. As everyone began backing away, she dropped a final use of [Create Phantasms], creating a thick, opaque wall in front of the door as a final barrier to any last-ditch entry attempts. ¡°Everyone, prepare for the worst,¡± Sammy ordered as they watched the doors swing shut successfully. Suiting her words, Sammy made use of time, casting Radiant Armor on herself, fashioning a Phantasmal tentacle monster (that way she had a reserve squid-thing, per the rules), and summoning the Archangel Gabriel. In a flash of light, Gabriel appeared, a giant brandishing a broadsword and her magical Heaven Wall Shield that could be quite instrumental in a battle. ¡°We made it, Your Majesty!¡± she declared with a smile. ¡°The god-king¡¯s domain.¡± Then she looked around at the foggy environment and blinked. ¡°Er, right?¡± ¡°I think so, Big G,¡± Sammy declared. ¡°The door appears to be¡­ fading.¡± It only got foggier, and more quickly than before, as the group stuck close together. Indeed, the shut doors were totally lost in the fog. Once it reached the totality of its obscuring cover, it quite rapidly began to dissipate and show the outlines of another structure. A massive space was evident, with hints of grooved pillars and shadowed spaces signifying balconies, the railings fashioned in a rich, intricate design. Purple and gold were under their feet, likely once of special design but marred and faded ¡ª beautiful nonetheless. An ornate red carpet led up shallow steps until a raised structure began to take form. A giant griffon made of tarnished gold, mouth open menacingly with its claws reaching forward ¡ª or one claw, as the other was broken off. Its wings flared widely to either side, curving in slightly, and its eyes were glowing rubies. Below it, the upper structure of what must be an elaborate throne became evident, a torn purple curtain resting at the back, slightly unevenly. A grand throne room was revealing itself out of the fog, gleaming gold mixed with other royal colors and the inner off-white of uncleaned marble. All was crumbling yet still awe-inspiring. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Shifting, moving, materializing shapes were evident on the fog¡¯s periphery. A voice, booming and commanding, rich and wild, rang out. ¡°Under final skies unseen, who dares to disturb this fallen king?¡± The quality of tempered rage was clear in his tone. ¡°What interlopers dare to cut the cords what wind into my guardsmen; what invaders dare to seize one of my precious keys? Do you seek to slay me, then? Do you seek treasure, deep delvers?¡± The final bits of fog lifted, and the first most suddenly evident thing were dozens of wraiths in decaying armor surrounding them 360 degrees, floating and brandishing all manner of strange weapons, mostly staff weapons. They were much like the four the party had fought, and they were all sneering in hatred. A few growls here and there. At least they aren¡¯t snarling, I guess. The second most suddenly evident thing was the chair of the throne and the god-king himself on it. The throne, positioned under the great wings of the golden griffon, was rather classic, red-cushioned, and made gorgeously in ornate gold of sweeping unique patterns. The top of it ¡ª the high back ¡ª ended abruptly, jagged and torn apart. Whatever symbology had been there was gone. The god-king was large in stature ¡ª if he were human, he¡¯d be among the tallest of the tall, perhaps eight feet tall, or a bit shy of two-and-a-half meters. His face was ghoulish and white-gray, though otherwise smooth, and he had a massive black beard ending in many small, gold-capped braids. He wore tarnished full plate armor, silver and gold, with his breastplate having a motif just like the door did, two griffons facing each other. The bottom portion ended in more of an armored skirt, leaving his feet hidden. He gripped a staff in one hand that ended in a central bluish orb surrounded by bronze in the shape of something like a map''s compass, four arrows pointing. The orb was cloudy and hinted at an eye within. He had no crown. His somewhat milky eyes were too wide and staring, his disturbed state noticeable at a mere glance. Sammy stepped slightly forward, eyes on the god-king between a gap in the guards. She raised her hands up and out. ¡°We come in peace! We request a treaty without the designs you so charge us. We don¡¯t desire slaying or treasure. We only hoped to avoid violence, but your guardsmen attacked us in sudden, fierce ferocity when I revealed who I was. We beg forgiveness for your losses, which we otherwise honestly consider fair results from lethal combat.¡± The god-king scowled. ¡°Not lethal to a goddess, however.¡± Before she could respond, one of the forward-most wraiths, wielding a spear and shield with his face covered by a silver mask, hissed at her and spoke in a rasp, ¡°Under final skies, the interlopers must declare one and each their status herein, or face final suffering!¡± Sammy nodded to him. This is going so well! ¡°I am Samantha, Goddess of Fate, Pneuma, and Light, sorceress from beyond, magineer of wonders! Thank you for your merciful patience. I come for partnership-¡± ¡°Stifle meaningless words as the next declares!¡± Sammy blinked and frowned at the interruption. Quickly, Linguist floated forward and bowed to the king. He seemed nervous but not precisely fearful. ¡°Your servant forever and Linguist to many abides with humility in your presence, oh wise and glorious king. I beg this audience, too, and support the goddess for the greater good of all, in loving consideration of your ancient principles. May you reign as always, forever and ever.¡± The king¡¯s staring eyes shifted aside. ¡°I won¡¯t; I don¡¯t. My principles lie dead instead to this conjectured forever ¡ª more accurately never having been, for who can recall in Oblivion?¡± Waytaker was next to flow forward, chin high, clicking the staff butt on the floor. ¡°Waytaker.¡± Sammy stared. Seriously?! The king turned and he stared at her too, his face twitching and twisting. He seemed fascinated, and their gazes perhaps communicated unseen words, but neither said anything more. Stargazer was logically next, but he was standing with his eyes closed, hands folded in front of him. Azure stepped forward instead, sweeping out a hand and bowing. ¡°I am Azure, paramour and Divine Mesmer to the goddess. I hope for peace between us.¡± The king did not seem to hear, still staring at Waytaker. Orswyth stepped forward, declaring placidly, ¡°Lord Orswyth Magleon, Hierophant and wiseman to the goddess. What became of your crown, king?¡± Sammy winced at this, unsure if it was wise to bring some lack like that up to a madman. It could be a sore spot¡­ The king¡¯s eyes shot to Orswyth, studying him. ¡°I shattered it. Scattered it. Broken, as synergizes, as all should synergize¡­¡± He trailed off, eyes not focusing for a long moment. He then looked over them as a whole, eyes shifting between them. ¡°You¡¯re falling with me. More to break in this fallen place?¡± Sammy, eyes glancing around, did in fact see a couple of bits of metal on the floor. Is it really the remains of his crown? She cleared her throat and interjected, ¡°We¡¯d prefer to remain whole, oh king.¡± The spear-wielding guardsman hissed at her. ¡°Declarations remain undeclared amidst changing skies, replaced with stupidity which must cease!¡± Geez, does this dude hate me or something? The king¡¯s gaze fell on Sammy. ¡°You cannot, goddess. We fall always to the end, which looms in the final days. Desiring mercy? Is that what you performed!? I should grant such deliverance to those so begging to receive it in their offenses of my realm and rule. That is to break in synergy, like chiming¡­ harmony¡­¡± He tasted the last word, smiling slightly, eyes shifting again. The cloudy blue orb of his staff started glowing more, and an eye, cat-like, became more discernible within it. Shit! Guess we better do what we¡¯re here to- Stargazer suddenly darted forward and declared, ¡°Oh noble king under a moon yet dear despite the cataclysm so near! Your humble servant who gazes and knows the stars, your once upon trusted in advice of the heavens, stands before you!¡± Around him was an aura of twinkling stars. The king lifted his eyes to Stargazer with rapt attention, his brow furrowing and the orb going cloudy again.
(Vol 7) Chapter 9: Buried Walls As the king stared at Stargazer, the floating wraith continued, ¡°He begs for careful judgment and forgiveness despite dark auspices, and his life is laid down for the foremost speaker and orchestrator present. Hear the collective concentrated council, trusting as once the king did under clearer, brighter skies of happiness and plenty. Remember, oh king, skies full of illumination. Remember.¡± The god-king, staring in apparent wonder, repeated in a murmur, ¡°Remember¡­¡± He rose suddenly, which was not ¡®standing¡¯ but ¡®floating¡¯ for him. Still completely enthralled by Stargazer, he slowly lifted a finger to point at him. ¡°Remember¡­ WHAT?!¡± The sound was a deafening thunderbolt through the throneroom, shaking it enough to cause dust to stir. The guardsmen shifted around, hissing. The king, his pointed finger forming into a clenched, shaking fist, glared at Stargazer with his teeth bared. ¡°My betrayal?! My doom?! And what was foretold of it in the heavens, Brother of Stars? What did you see and speak in warning?¡± Stargazer opened his mouth but quickly closed it. He bowed his head, closing his eyes once more, whether in shame, sadness, or both, it wasn¡¯t clear. The king laughed suddenly. Cackled. A few of the guardsmen tittered with him. Sammy had heard such laughter before, or similar. It reminded her disturbingly of the Archer that had shot her through the heart. The laugh of the completely mad. Hysterical, the god-king continued almost casually, ¡°Apparently unfounded trust. Yet here you are offending me with your presence. Would that you have stayed forgotten for your own sake! Instead, you bring Invaders, Defiers, Thieves, Snake Friends ¡ª Destroyers deciding for me the fate of my own devout! And you would beg forgiveness this way?! Are you mad? Your king pronounces this: you-¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± Azure, her finger pointing up at the god-king, did something in that spiritual realm space. She grabbed and twisted it; she rang it like a bell. A ripple ran through reality and through all present as her voice echoed through the hall with her command. It made everyone freeze. Sammy felt a cold shiver run through her. Somehow, Azure made herself the focal point that everything in that micro-reality slightly bent toward. Sammy wasn¡¯t sure she understood what she¡¯d done any more than the rest of them. Expression fierce, the Naugite continued, ¡°Stop acting like a child with broken toys and act like a ruler!¡± Her breathing was heavy, skin flushed somewhat more purple from her anger. ¡°Come to your senses or we¡¯ll beat them back into you!¡± What¡¯s gotten into her? The god-king and the assembled wraiths stared, completely stunned. For a wonder, they weren¡¯t attacking from that offense. Azure, suddenly looking self-conscious, dropped her finger, but she didn¡¯t stop glaring. ¡°I am the only one to commit the violation you keep charging. With the dagger at my belt, I sent your creatures on to the next world. They were nearly mindless, driven insane in your service, and deserved the release you refused to give them. I don¡¯t accept your judgment of me for it, nor those in this party! I did what you should¡¯ve done, if you were not reduced to a cruel psychopath all your servants feared to even approach! Spare us your babbling nonsense. Treat with us now or we¡¯ll do this the hard way.¡± Next to her, Orswyth appeared generally unmoved, his eyes hard. He was well poised to act, with his staff in both hands, glancing once at Sammy. He mentally sent, ¡°I feel confident we have a shot, Your Majesty. It will be daunting for me alone with distance to cover, but I will be ready. See that the others protect me at all costs when I concentrate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my kind of speech,¡± Athos muttered. The god-king had been struck silent. If anything, he was spellbound and fascinated by her interruption. Almost dumbly, he studied her and said, ¡°You are blue. Blue of skin¡­¡± Azure appeared puzzled. She opened her mouth as if to reply, but no words came out. The giant god-king floated forward down over the steps, his brows furrowing hard as he studied Azure closer and closer. He swept down even from the steps and the red carpet, skirt brushing the marred stone patterns the party occupied. The veritable wall of wraiths parted away smoothly to give the giant room to approach. Close. This is perfect! Orswyth needs to be close for what he has to do. The god-king¡¯s eyes remained enthralled with Azure as he finally stopped before her, towering over all but the angelic form of Gabriel, who watched him like a hawk, physically poised to act. Waytaker was no different, though her face looked like someone resigned to their doom in comparison. Such loyal allies, even to strike their own god, and likely in futility. We can¡¯t let them down. Azure looked up at the giant wraith-like being as if at a puzzle, entirely lost for words. ¡°Who are you really, phantom?¡± the god-king asked, the milkiness of his eyes not hiding the intensity of his gaze. Ice blue irises within ¡ª once upon a time, at least. ¡°The tongue cannot speak a framework of lies to me, can it? Held. Hiding mysteries behind your eyes, folded interstices in your soul. Signs within you call to me¡­ grown from untold aeons, they writhe for remembrance, they weep and gnash¡­¡± He lifted his free arm, and from out of the tattered sleeve of an ancient, royal robe a great, gray hand was offered. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Azure blinked at it and then at him, hesitating¡­ ¡°He¡¯s distracted,¡± Orswyth sent to Sammy with strong ¡®let¡¯s do this¡¯ energy. ¡°Vulnerable. Your call, Goddess, but this is perfect.¡± Sammy didn¡¯t hesitate. It had cost her too many times in the past, and she was trying to help the poor bastard. To all those connected to her in the party, she sent a mental broadcast, ¡°Do it, Orsywth! Everyone, protect him and be ready to pre-empt attackers!¡± Orswyth stepped forward as his eyes flared out with blinding, bright light ¡ª he swept up the Staff of Vision in both hands and slammed it into the floor. Azure cried out, ¡°No! Wait-¡± Light blossomed from Orswyth¡¯s head, hit the Staff of Vision¡¯s mirroring crystals, and flared out in every direction at once. Time slowed as the throne room was caught in super-fast flashing strobes. The light began to focus itself on the god-king, forging a branch from Orswyth to him. ¡°God with no name,¡± a greater, deeper voice uttered from Orswyth¡¯s lips, ¡°king without a crown, man who buried himself; dear Lost Child, the truth is not in you.¡± The giant¡¯s face was a rictus as he turned, all-in-all appearing scoured by the light hitting him. He might¡¯ve wanted to recoil, but he was caught. Around him, the wraiths were fully recoiling and holding up their hands, averting their eyes. For whatever brief point in time, they¡¯d all been soundly stunned and awed. Sammy immediately did the most logical thing she could think of to ensure stalling any interruptions: she cast Force Wall with [Tweak Spell: Quicken] for immediate protection, and made it into a box around just Orswyth and the giant, which was not too difficult thanks to the facilitating positioning. A translucent barrier blossomed around them. ¡°Watch out for anyone casting at it!¡± Samantha sent out as another broadcast. ¡°Anyone who even thinks about dispelling that gets tackled or something!¡± Meanwhile, she put her giant tentacle monster on guard duty, so it positioned multiple arms around her new box. Azure looked almost pained by what transpired. She grabbed the horns on her head in both hands and shook in anxiety. ¡°Was this necessary?! I think I-I¡­¡± She trailed off, shaking her head again and making a sound almost like a whimper. She is so off since she¡¯s been here¡­ Athos, Gabriel, and Waytaker simply remained poised, ready to act but unwilling to strike offensively before the wraiths went hostile. Gabriel called, ¡°No one is hurting any of us even on their first strike! My shield will buy us time.¡± Stargazer was conjuring some sort of protective spell again, and Linguist was¡­ rubbing his chin and observing. Honestly, he¡¯s done more than I thought he would in a combat as it is, during the last one. He¡¯s fine. Deduce away, bro! The mental effect Orswyth was conducting rapidly focused on the god-king and intensified, going so bright their heads became silhouettes. The god-king screamed, a horrifying howl that caused the realm to quake with great tremors. Dust cascaded, and bits of stone fell from the ceiling. Multiple cracks caused fracturing. The inner entity of Orswyth continued as calm as could be. ¡°Do you yet wish to wallow in hatred and ignorance? You who first blessed the world with sagacity and erudition. Will you lie down and die in your corruption? I offer you the scepter of freedom, I offer you the swan song of old victory. Will you take it, King of Before? Does there remain yet a seed in the land of the dead? To accept truth requires the final, darkest pain, but in it, you will finish with the gracefulness of reason you and your people deserve.¡± The god-king writhed and jerked as he screamed, and the light came to its most intense, like a beam from Orswyth to the giant, mind to mind. The wraiths regained their senses. But not one of them brandished arms; not one of them looked away from their king. They watched on, awed and amazed; enthralled. Soberly, uttering no feral snarls or grunts, like true sentinels, they waited. ¡°Take the hand to heal you, oh tortured bygone!¡± Orswyth called, the Staff of Vision almost singing with the energy beaming through it. Now, a little bit of the human vessel bled into the words. ¡°Come out from the endless cyclone of darkness and madness, open your eyes to the light of days you made bright with hope! Your final marks are yet to be made, your buried walls yet to meet ¡ª Open! Skies! Again!¡± Sammy was as in awe as the rest gathered at the inspirational energy dripping from the words. Almost as an afterthought, she brushed her feathers of Fate through those final moments of struggle. The wiseman had irrevocably changed the god-king, that was undeniable, rousing an inner fire of his own will in support, but the countering divide ¡ª the will of an insane god in his own realm ¡ª was nearly unmovable. That he could even shove it at all¡­ The key was all him. To find and buttress a demolished, nearly lost persona deep within. His department, but I feel the grain of hope I can exploit now. The Goddess of Fate did as planned: she utilized [Alter Fate] to force failure in resistance and ensure a much more satisfying and perfect victory, in tandem with The Hermit¡¯s insurance of something worth preserving afterward. It was the thing they¡¯d been unsure of. No longer. A mind was healed. The inhuman howl diminished into the pain of someone much closer to human. Skin regained its color, and a little more luster returned to his form. A floating skirt lowered to the floor. The entire realm warbled and warped. Shadows lifted and dust vanished. The top part of the throne room ripped apart to reveal a clear, blue sky and a beaming sun. Orswyth¡¯s illuminating beam finally winked out suddenly, and he fell to a knee, entirely exhausted. The god-king collapsed to the floor, his screams entirely spent. His royal guardsmen fell into varying states of strain as well. Stargazer, Waytaker, and Linguist did not seem diminished, instead watching on in wonder. Waytaker was beaming, and soon she began to laugh, thrusting her hands and staff up in joy. ¡°Under bright, new skies, a true king awakes!¡±
(Vol 7) Chapter 10: In Passing Linguist nodded soberly after Waytaker¡¯s passionate declaration. His eyes were shining. ¡°A king awakes.¡± Stargazer smiled. ¡°Under skies of hopefulness shining, the king awakes!¡± ¡°The king awakes!¡± Sammy shouted with both her hands upthrust. Off-hand, she dismissed her Force Wall spell, still surprised it had been unnecessary. ¡°So the skies see!¡± the masked spearman called as he stood up from kneeling. He clapped his spear on his shield. ¡°The king rises!¡± A dozen guardsmen in varying states of awareness took up the call. ¡°The king rises!¡± They were still wraiths, but they looked much closer to the likes of Stargazer and Company than the feral ghouls from before. It wasn¡¯t all good news. Much of the guardsmen remained fallen, and they did not seem well. Sickly. A few were curled in balls muttering to themselves, and more were sitting down unresponsive, apparently in hollow shock. Others had wandered off in confusion. Five were sitting still on the floor, staring at nothing, and their forms were quickly fading entirely out of existence. They don¡¯t want to be here. They haven¡¯t¡­ for a long time. He¡¯s releasing them. Because of Azure¡¯s disturbed mood, Sammy touched minds with her, communicating assurance. ¡°Blueberry, you see? They¡¯re passing. It¡¯s sad, but¡­ I¡¯m sorry. You were right. The murder dagger was right, too. Many need to pass on. You did the right thing.¡± Azure did not seem moved at all. She was gazing at the stirring ¡ª though still fallen ¡ª form of the god-king. Absently, she replied curtly, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more of a ¡®I¡¯m not actually okay¡¯ kind of yeah.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Sammy sighed, crossing her arms and watching her lover worriedly. The guardsmen that were salient crowded around the king, but stopped short of helping him. He pushed himself up, with some effort, to sit on the floor, his staff propping him up. Despite his ghoulishness vanishing, the king now appeared like a wizened old man ¡ª an archetypical wizard in truth, aside from his armor. His hair and beard were now white, and deep lines of sober, ancient worry and concentration were etched in his face. He looked up at the sky and the sun, eyes squinting only slightly. He nodded to himself, then lowered his eyes to regard Samantha with piercing, ice-blue irises. The staff¡¯s eye was also seemingly looking at her, and there was no cloudiness in it any longer. ¡°Goddess of Fate.¡± His voice was rich and clear, yet soft, now. The ¡®loudness¡¯ and gravitas of the god were gone. Tempered. There was an undercurrent of exhaustion and melancholy. ¡°Heiress to the Throne of Magic. You¡¯ve delivered to me the final dignity of knowing my dishonor and correcting it. As such, I am in your debt, at your service¡­ until the time very soon when I depart this world like my unfairly abused fellows.¡±
The quest ¡°The Mad King¡¯s Throne¡± is complete. 9(7) exp gained in [Goddess], 10(5) exp gained in [Magineer], 4(3) exp gained in [Bard], for supernatural ability use and spellcraft, intelligent planning, and inspiring/influencing others.
The spear-wielding guardsman removed his mask, tossing it aside where it dissolved into nothing in the air. He knelt on one knee before the king. The other dozen guardsmen or so followed suit. Another guardsman with a full beard, sitting on the floor, cackled as if seeing jesters perform. The guardsman spoke over it, ¡°No dark auspices change the beauty of this restored sky. Vows do not chafe, loyalty is not and never regretted for one so noble as our king. We bow or stand at your behest. Ever in service, we!¡± ¡°Ever in service, we!¡± the rest chanted in sync. Stargazer, Linguist, and Waytaker said it as well, but much more subdued. The one on the floor kept cackling, completely hysterical and wheezing. The king¡¯s eyes locked on the one laughing. Slowly, painstakingly, he rose up on his staff, leaning on it with both hands as he practically limped over past the now-rising guardsmen to the figure. The laughter cut off abruptly as the ghoulish guardsman stared back up at the king, wild-eyed. The king knelt in front of the wraith, soberly meeting those wild eyes. Then his face twisted and tears began to well in his eyes. ¡°I know you,¡± the king whispered with thick emotion. ¡°Our names are gone, yet I know you. You were no guardsman, this was no final honor fit for you. A twisting of the truth in our madness. General. Tactician. Look what crime I¡¯ve committed you! Chaining you in my fouled heart! Please, let go, my friend. It¡¯s alright.¡± He held his hand out gently. The wraith stared with a blank face for a long spell. Finally, he obediently reached his significantly smaller hand to take that of his king. The king closed his eyes briefly, causing the tears to fall down his cheeks. ¡°I release you from your service, old friend. Go in peace. Your king will join you when his duties are done. His own service¡­ to make something good for all of your terrible sacrifices. A star to twinkle, a little light to brighten the sky before the end. My offering.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. The wraith nodded simply and began to fade. He unraveled quickly into nothing. Samantha, spellbound by the whole scene, felt her own tears well when the wraith passed on. The right thing to do ¡ª she knew this better than anyone seeing the nature of the threads ¡ª but terribly sad all the same. What a burden we¡¯ve put on him, now. But he has a duty to them, and this is the only path to peace for himself. ¡°Not all desire to pass on, oh king,¡± Linguist offered softly. The king looked at him. He seemed to try and rise, but such prevalent weakness was in him that he dropped back onto his rear and sighed, clutching his staff. He nodded. ¡°Yes. Of course. Not all things are lost to me, Linguist. I possess half the means to rectify this, and the Goddess of Fate the other. You who are like monoliths through time, unyielding and ready to face the final tests¡­ shall. You will be the testament to the last name of us left ¡ª you will carry the banner of Itha Ranon for me, for us, for our memory, until the last light is quenched. Dark hands still reach to see it done and you will fight to keep it away.¡± Samantha raised her chin and thrust out clenched fists confidently. ¡°We¡¯ll do more than that together, wizard king. We will take the last light forward and eradicate the darkness! Itha Ranon will be a warcry resounding in our victory!¡± Waytaker grinned and held up her staff. Linguist and Stargazer exchanged glances and nodded, then thrust their own clenched fists up. Gabriel, grinning, didn¡¯t want to miss out, so thrust her sword up confidently with them. The king observed this exchange curiously. He suddenly called out loudly, ¡°Royal Guardsmen!¡± Momentarily, they all rushed to him, ready to act. He scanned their faces. ¡°What I speak to you, I speak to all under my covenant. All my honor and majesty is extended in perpetuity to the goddess before you. You will obey and protect her as you would me or one of the royal family. She now is royal family, grafted in by my holy authority, and I name her my very heiress. Heiress of Itha Ranon, Queen and Empress to be, High Sorceress and Commander. Serve her for our glory to the end, as suits your honor. Let the world remember it again. Kneel and swear fealty now, in transplant for when I am gone.¡± The guardsmen solemnly complied, kneeling and in synchronicity stating, ¡°Forever in service, we,¡± quite directly at Samantha. That was not the end of it, though. The apparent captain began a flowery declaration of service in their way of speaking, and when he was done, another did a slightly different version. Down the line, it went. Okay¡­ this will take a while. I need Linguist to teach them to speak a little better if they¡¯re going to be around¡­ She had much to discuss with the king, but she could hardly interrupt their little ritual¡­ ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? While the guardsmen swore fealty to Her Majesty The Cutest, Azure walked over to the king on the floor. He met her eyes warily like he was watching a tiger. She held her hand down in offering. He looked at it for a long moment, then met her eyes again. ¡°You know not what you offer.¡± Azure quirked an eyebrow. ¡°A connection, then? I¡¯ll see something, won¡¯t I?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying about curiosity and cats. Something quite negative.¡± He squinted as if trying to recollect. His staff¡¯s very cat-like central eye turned to him. ¡°Nonetheless. I¡¯m no cat, anyway.¡± She continued holding out her hand. The king finally shook his head. ¡°Disruptive. Inappropriate.¡± Azure barked a laugh. ¡°Those two things are my bread and butter.¡± ¡°Nonetheless.¡± Azure sighed and dropped her hand. ¡°Will you at least tell me why I feel like I fall into, exist in this place stronger, as if magnetically aligned? Why I feel like I can control things here in a way I¡¯ve never felt before? Why there is continuous affinity and familiarity? Why blue skin fascinated you?¡± He gazed at her for a moment. ¡°No.¡± She put her hands on her hips and frowned. ¡°Are all old men stubborn?¡± ¡°I cannot instruct for certain. Perhaps. Is your wiseman?¡± ¡°I think so, yeah.¡± ¡°Evidence mounts.¡± Maybe I need to be more indirect. I bet he can¡¯t resist teaching about stuff. History? He must remember some things. And I know he¡¯s hiding things. ¡°Fine. Moving on. Would you tell me how Itha Ranon fell?¡± The king frowned at her. ¡°You are unaware?¡± ¡°Tales vary. I¡¯d like to hear the insider information.¡± ¡°Logical. Our rival across the sea allied with many for greed and envy, and came for us with the tools and implements of war, with capable magic in support. Blood was spilled, staining the land and sea with the numbness of tragedy. Too much. I couldn¡¯t bear it, couldn¡¯t bear to see my people and kingdom slowly atrophied to nothing, so I buried it all, or most, hoping to preserve something and to deny the destroyers. I utilized the sacrifice to weave one of the greatest spells ever designed, interlaced into reality itself. A curse based not on resistance but location. Occupation. Resistance is simply avoiding it, as one would not dive into a spurting volcano.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty much what has been said.¡± ¡°Oh? Good.¡± Azure crossed her arms and glared. ¡°Thing is, I think it¡¯s bullshit. You¡¯re lying. Or you¡¯re holding something back and not telling the whole story.¡± The king did not appear offended. ¡°And how are you so sure of this charge?¡± ¡°I can just tell. I think this and what you are being evasive about are tied together. We saw a broken-in tomb that screamed significance on our way here. What is that about? Who was it?¡± The king sighed wearily and looked down at the floor. ¡°Deception. Terrible, terrible deception.¡±
(Vol 7) Chapter 11: Truth That Cuts Azure studied the king, who seemed to deflate into melancholy even a bit more from the subject. ¡°What happened? What deception? A betrayal from someone close to you?¡± The king did not meet her eyes. ¡°Must we broach this? Can terrible things not be left to die?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll answer that if you answer me this: do you know for certain why I feel attuned or connected to all of this?¡± Though she left a pause, he didn¡¯t answer, which might¡¯ve been information enough. ¡°I have to know. I will, one way or another, whether you help or not.¡± The king finally looked up at her, though still he avoided her eyes, not quite rising all the way. His face twitched involuntarily. He used his staff to pull himself up, so anyone near was craning their neck to look up at the giant. ¡°Then you¡¯ll know less, I wager.¡± Orswyth suddenly spoke up. ¡°Will you deny the sharpness of the truth to another, when you were excised of falsehoods so effectively? Will you be so foolish?¡± The king¡¯s head whipped over to Orswyth. He seemed about to retort from his expression. Two old wizards stared one another down. But the fire of the king diminished and died against the other. ¡°You cut deep again, Wiseman. Would that you lived when I did. What colleagues we¡¯d have been, what brothers.¡± ¡°We are brothers now, King of Before. Time enough, to have such privilege, hmm? You are as alive as anyone this season.¡± ¡°Half as, I will grant, only ¡ª and no more.¡± A rare smile faintly crossed his features, but his expression became much more sober as he turned back to Azure. ¡°Very well. The truth that cuts delivered, as I was cut for the better. The war was not the true catalyst of my withdrawal. Though wracked with grief, the sudden suicide of my queen, before the war touched our shores, wasn¡¯t either. I planned to preserve and defend in her honor¡­¡± He hobbled further away leaning on his staff, turning to cast his eyes at the throne above. By now, the guardsmen were all done with their swearing, so Samantha was paying attention with growing curiosity. Most of the wraith guardsmen who had not recovered their faculties were scattered to the periphery. One sat on the floor, watching and listening like a child at ¡®storytime.¡¯ But it seemed that a few more were standing tall in front of Samantha than before. Most seemed downright happy, in truth. Azure knew that her goddess had given them new names after the swearing. It was clearly the right call, as most looked as if they¡¯d been handed the moon out of the sky. Surprisingly, the orb-staff wielder, diced up and torn all to hell, was among them. His face half ripped off, he was smiling the biggest of all¡­ but perhaps that was because he¡¯d lost his upper lip. The giant king seemed lost in memory. Finally, he continued, ¡°I read things I couldn¡¯t believe in the stars. So did the Stargazers in corroboration, though my mind twisted in time to think them failures. Not so. We did precise augury on my wife and the nature of her death, encountering disturbing spellcraft resisting us, and terrible implications therein I yet denied. But there was one thing I could blaspheme to do. So troubled and wroth that I was, in the very middle of the war, I broke open a staunchly protected tomb to retrieve the body, committing a grave sin against my own law and principle, making myself a hypocrite to know the truth ¡ª to utilize the body for spellcraft that could not be denied. To speak to the dead in necromancy, crafting a false spirit of mimicry.¡± He sighed grandly, eyes cast down to the floor, sadness and weariness saturating his stance. ¡°Truth prevailed, heinous that it was, heinous that its means were. The spell failed, and the information was only more damning upon analysis of the body. Fake. The spell failed because she was not dead at all. She had faked her death and fled. She had betrayed and abandoned me.¡± Samantha and Gabriel gasped in tandem, hands going to their hearts in tandem, quite absorbed by the tale. Azure felt her brows draw down. Her fist clenched involuntarily. She hated this story for some reason. She felt as if she¡¯d swallowed a large rock¡­ a heaviness and discomfort was in her gut she couldn¡¯t be rid of. The king¡¯s face twisted darkly in emotion, but it soon faded back into melancholy. ¡°My wife¡­ was a capricious, elusive soul. Adventurous. We¡¯d spent more than a human lifespan roaming, progressing, learning. And then leading and teaching, which led to the towers here ¡ª led to a fellowship of sorcery. My inclination more than hers, but she had a love of battle magic and a few favorites she¡¯d taught. She¡¯d never fully settled within herself as I did. As I ultimately had to, through Ascension to godhood. ¡°Part giant, long-lived, I nonetheless grew older even when she remained as spotless as a goddess. Life extension was a nascent technology and tied to forbidden necromancies. Ascension was my only option and begged for by many already worshiping me. But godhood irrevocably changed me, I¡¯m sad to say. I could not see the danger there in our relationship, blinded by love. But I see now that her own love had gone foul.¡± He sighed. ¡°She had campaigned for conquest to avoid the war that occurred much as she predicted. Another mistake of mine. I cherished peace and had faith in humanity, attempting to preserve those things through trade and diplomacy. Unfounded faith it seems. When I denied her, she withdrew and grew more distant from me. Signs began to show of melancholy. Deception, likely, to support the eventual false death she was orchestrating. Her death was crushing, but the war and our preservation were my prevailing duty, and in her note of death, she bid me to win it as her final wish. If I had never discovered the truth¡­ if I had held to my own laws and let it go¡­ perhaps I would have.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The king held a helpless hand up. ¡°But alas, I did not. My rage, my grief at many things compounded together between betrayal, loss, war, and futility, broke something within me, and was the beginning of my madness. I could bear it no longer so I buried all that I knew deep and spoiled what was mine to all the world. In my warped view, I saw the ruin as judgment¡­ judgment and defiance against the last wish of a traitorous witch.¡± Azure was hot. Fuming. Her breathing was ragged and heavy, and the last statement had her fists clenched so hard her nails triggered her skin hardening. It was all uncanny to her, even as she felt something bubbling up within her wanting to speak, to yell, to scream at him. But what? Her brain couldn¡¯t parse it. She almost just told him to shut up instead, to cut his words short. Things only worsened, though. The king turned to Azure, studying her and meeting her eyes again finally. Sadness saturated them. ¡°Her skin was blue, her eyes purple, her ears pointed. Fae-touched, unique, mysterious, more beautiful and terrible than any other. I gave her anything she asked and her smile was the sweetest fruit. I called her my Blueberry.¡± Fury overloaded her. Azure snarled and thrust her finger out at the king, as a warble of reality like a sudden wave flowed through the realm and spite-laced, power-infused words spilled from her. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare utter that word in my presence! It is not yours! I¡¯ll turn you inside out, I¡¯ll crack your mind like an egg, you¡­ you¡­¡± Briefly, Azure noticed everyone in the throne room other than the king was braced as if they¡¯d just been pushed. They had ¡ª she¡¯d pushed them. The king had fully stumbled and fell to a knee, but his eyes did look away from her. Soon thereafter, though, Azure simply blacked out. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? She was rising up out of the water. It never truly touched her through the journey from Itha Ranon. It slid around her, unbefitting to sully her perfection. Much as living through the war her husband had brought on himself would sully it. So she¡¯d instigated, sabotaged peace, accelerated the process a little, and been a little more successful than planned, so what? Any fool could see war was inevitable for the jewel of a place they¡¯d forged together. She¡¯d practically begged that he bring the war to them. Conquer. But it was too much to ask, apparently. Begging in words, begging with actions, all for naught. I will never beg a man for anything again. It had shown her the true dynamic that had developed when they were supposed to be equals. She¡¯d assumed for a long time that she even had the upper hand, if from the shadows. But he¡¯d become something else entirely with godhood. She was no longer first ¡ª the belief that sustained him was by necessity. Magic and religion entwined was his new, true love. To a certain extent, it was an unforeseen imbalance. How could they know her strange, accursed nature did not allow her Ascension along with him? So much power she¡¯d dreamed of, and even a pantheon one day ¡ª immortal children ¡ª all crushed to exhaustion by a barrier she could not break through. He¡¯d have helped her, supported her, and even likely deferred to her entirely, in time. But that didn¡¯t happen, and her pride never recovered. Love turned a little more to hate with every new imbalance reflected. The envy of the north is my envy coming for you, my dear, but you¡¯ll never know it. I¡¯ve wounded you, at least. An impressive feat for a mere mortal, hmm? Not that she exactly was. She didn¡¯t age at all. She¡¯d been studied for that quality by the sages ¡ª as much as she tolerated, at least. No real understanding was gained, and the leading expert abandoned them for his own glories. She hardly blamed him. She was an enigma. Not a mortal yet not a god, denied both and caught between. It was what it was. Regardless, she had all the time in the world to rebuild in her own way. Forge a new empire. The lands south were rich though untamed. Only one, small, mysterious power held sway from the coast, feared and avoided¡­ She made her way from the beach up a rocky incline, walking on slippers, in a white dress, in apparent tan human skin, all cultivated to appear as if she was from the northwest islands. Her walk was a bit more unsteady than she wanted to admit. Her transformation ¡ª a spellcraft over a decade in the making ¡ª took getting used to. And this was only the first, simplistic form. ¡°There it is,¡± she whispered as she caught sight of her target, peeking over the rocks ¡ª a tower rising and gleaming above, colored like a resplendent multicolored pearl, shaped like some bizarre giant seashell. Below it would be walls made similarly. Its radiance was more immense in mana than the natural. The Temple of the Changers, possessing wisdom from the Deep. Holes in my knowledge, forbidden to know by the laws of my very husband in Itha Ranon. Eldritch transmutation, necromancy. Why some left him. Not enough for me to, but now I can rectify his error all the same. Three decades since my protege left. You¡¯re here, aren¡¯t you? Denied so long. Poor, brilliant boy. Perhaps I¡¯ll finally give you the taste of your forbidden fruit now, different though it may be. If you¡¯ve achieved, then you deserve it. I was wrong about my love¡­ he is not the one to be mine forever¡­ She walked up the rocky, windy path, dreaming of what wonders she¡¯d conquer within that beautiful beacon of sorcery; dreaming of new loves to forge.
(Vol 7) Chapter 12: The Curse of Itha Ranon In the throne room, Azure suddenly seized and fell to her hands and knees. Sammy was there like lightning to take hold of her. ¡°Azure! Are you okay?!¡± The Naugite did not respond, her body shaking, her eyes having gone to the back of her head. Her mind was completely elsewhere. Sammy glared accusingly at the god-king, who had a quite disturbed look on his face. ¡°Did you do something to her?!¡± He peeled his eyes away from Azure to meet Sammy''s own. ¡°Delivered the truth in words, only. I will¡­ heed her request.¡± His tone had a lilt of irony. Sammy grimaced. Blueberry. How dare he indeed. Was her previous incarnation in Calrenazzod this guy¡¯s wife? From the sounds of things, she wasn¡¯t quite as evil then. The Mirror Demon seemed unhinged. Wherever she went, she ended up in an awful place. Some escape. Azure finally untensed, but went limp. Sammy caught her and pulled the blue beauty into her lap upright. Her eyes had closed. Sammy whispered supportive noises and held her as she panted and moaned, apparently trying to break back out of unconsciousness but slow in doing so. ¡°How close is Azure¡¯s appearance to what you recall of your ex-queen?¡± Orswyth asked the king. ¡°Similar,¡± the king replied. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t speak to morphological comparisons because my memory is not that acute across aeons of time. There would be no surviving references, either ¡ª that is the nature of this foul spell over everything. But to me, she might as well be her. Probably is her, within. In spirit, in soul. Words spilled forth, did they not? Words not of this¡­ Azure¡¯s.¡± ¡°And what does that mean to you?¡± Sammy asked. ¡°Words from your ancient queen.¡± The king sighed, then shrugged. ¡°Nothing. Not anymore. Even her palace, I left to be plundered as a petty revenge, though I suppose the insult was wasted. The faraway past is made dead before the end, barely beating it. Irrelevant, and I¡¯d have preferred to leave the matter even less exhumed than it is now. But these are the consequences of my sin of literal exhumation. Diseases we unearth with what should¡¯ve remained buried. I accept and endure them.¡± Azure finally jerked awake, sitting up with a sharp intake, pulling away from Sammy, and then stumbling quickly to her feet, wheeling around wildly. Her eyes shifted over everyone for a moment before she finally sighed and sagged, a hand going to her head. ¡°Bloody hell¡­¡± Sammy rose and walked over slowly to put a hand on the Naugite¡¯s arm. ¡°Take your time, love.¡± Azure nodded slowly. Her eyes rose to meet Sammy¡¯s, glancing briefly at the king. ¡°I had a vision. She went to the¡­ fuck, the name is trying to slip away already! Th-the changers! The Temple of the Changers! Where those ruins in the Bay of Mengior were, Chestnut. Bad memories.¡± ¡°Holy Forkin¡¯ Shirtballs. So it was her. Before she went evil and crazy.¡± Azure glanced at the king again. ¡°Oh, she was maybe a teensy bit evil before that.¡± I don¡¯t like that look. Things she won¡¯t admit to the king? Not good! The god-king was watching Azure silently the whole time, leaning on his staff. ¡°An enchantress and deceiver through and through, but this I already knew. I thought myself exempt and was proven a fool for it.¡± Finally, he looked away, introspective. ¡°The Temple of the Changers. You- she dealt herself her own judgment, then. If I had known, perhaps I would have made war on that mysterious shore, but no augury could reveal where my queen¡¯s soul had gone. To such a temple that soul was destined nonetheless, for she had already changed herself irrevocably in some heinous and unnatural way.¡± Azure was listening intently. ¡°To foil you. Right? To make scrying impossible. She conducted some crude transformation. A custom, permanent spell. I think it made her a true¡­ shapeshifter.¡± ¡°Indeed, you speak what must be truth, for even with a fake body, the real one remained lost. No doubt because it was twisted into something else. Foul and corrupting magic that was forbidden for a reason. Preparatory, conjuring a vessel for darker things still. She would¡¯ve known this. Perhaps she believed herself to know inner secrets, listening to whispers on the periphery. If so, the deceiver tricked herself. She made herself a morsel, as it were, and journeyed to the dinner plate still hot from the pan.¡± ¡°Oh, they got more than they bargained for, trust me. The ruins we saw recently where their temple was, I knew I- she had razed and slayed all within, burning with hatred. But she paid dearly to get to that capacity.¡± The god-king nodded. ¡°Power always has a price. Here, we sacrificed time and thought, bending intellect in the hands of sponsored scholars. There are, of course, other paths. Other doors.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Azure sniffed in mild amusement. ¡°Doors. A good way of putting it.¡± Azure appeared to hesitate, but added, ¡°She broke like you. Worse. Lost part of her mind.¡± The god-king stared at her for a long moment. Slowly, his eyes fell away. It did not seem to make him happy. Far the opposite. Sammy cleared her throat. ¡°On that note, we might as well move on. Why we¡¯re here in the first place, right? I want to build on Itha Ranon. Raise a new tower high and make it the center of the world again.¡± She paused and looked around, noticing the guardsmen were perking up at this, listening with renewed interest. She grinned and swept out her hands. ¡°What better place of old glory for the new, last, and greatest to rise? I ask for the king¡¯s leave and aid in this.¡± The guardsmen all looked to the king hopefully. Stargazer & Crew did as well. The king eyed the goddess placidly. ¡°Leave I¡¯d grant, were it feasible. Sadly, the curse will persist long after I have done all I can to separate and fade away. The Sentinels simply intensify it and use it as a supporting sympathetic targeting vector to the living. It is passively quite dangerous, with violators worse off than what you¡¯ve faced in me. You will know it by its words, as written only for the afflicted. They rhyme in the Cherished Tongue and all derivatives.¡± He left a dramatic pause and his eyes began to glow. His voice shifted into ¡®Epic Mode¡¯ with musical flow. ¡°One what steps foot on Cherished Soil, like blood in the void your mind will boil; festering, weeping, breaking apart, reaped from the ground to sow in the heart. To the end of all age, caught by a sage, cursed by a mage, trapped in a cage; by the will of a god, no explorer will trod, no settler will plod, no burglar will prod ¡ª not without price. ¡°None will resist and none will have quarter, no block risen here lacks poisoned mortar; for the world in envy and spite reached a hand, to seize and ruin its most splendid land. Buried and hidden away shall it be, naught but a memory of history; greed will not take and hands will not have it, denied the foul means of animal habit. All to remain is what might¡¯ve been, ghosts and phantom remains of man¡¯s sin; know this and know that now you are doomed, a beacon forever as what lies subsumed. ¡°The land of the dead: now your bed, all that¡¯s ahead, worms your bread. The fruit of your deeds: corpse-bloom seeds, choked by weeds, undead breeds ¡ª this is my price. Hope without hope for the final day, when skies will die and all must pay ¡ª the price to exist one and all, when even the stars above must fall. This tragic mercy the last thing you¡¯ll cleave, final solace to take your leave; for lest the land rise in glory once more, your soul shall remain a casualty of war.¡± Everyone was silent for the recitation, feeling a heavy weight in the air. All the wraiths wore solemn expressions. Orswyth seemed unmoved as usual. Azure was frowning slightly throughout, listening intently with her arms crossed. Athos, now in human form, was rubbing his chin appreciatively as if he was enjoying the entertainment qualities of the poetry. Gabriel made a little whimper, clinging onto a big tentacle of Sammy¡¯s phantom monster in fear of the scary juju magic. She¡¯s such a big baby! The System suddenly chimed in Sammy¡¯s head.
You have discovered the World Spell: Curse of Itha Ranon. Stepping foot on any surface of the islands triggers an irresistible, immunity-penetrating, unremovable curse at an Effective Level of 13. The onset of symptoms is after 1 week, as the victim feels disturbed and ¡®off.¡¯ Every day thereafter, they must resist the EL, failure causing mental disturbance depending on the subject, possibly deepening an existing disorder, or creating a new one. They will then bypass further checks for 1 week. Success staves off extreme symptoms but they must check again day by day, with a cumulative -1 EL penalty. As such, mental disturbances of increasing extremes are unavoidable over time. World Spell Special Disenchantment: The resurfacing of the sunken and buried core tower structure (which was the focal point of the spellcasting) will end the spell.
¡°Ha!¡± Sammy gave a short laugh with her hands on her hips, breaking the prevalent silence like a whip, causing Gabriel and Azure to jump. ¡°Perfect! We¡¯ll do that, then!¡± The king shook his head. ¡°One would require the crown and the central control crystal. I removed my crown and bent it, ripping free the control crystal and casting it into the sea, along with a few other gemstones as I bent it further in anger.¡± Once more, Sammy cast her gaze around to see the various bits of metal about. ¡°You didn¡¯t cast the remains of the crown into the sea?¡± ¡°I only bent it in the natural world and tossed it. I turned away, destroying my avatar, and returned here for the final time. When I realized the crown had somehow come with me despite discarding it, I shattered it hence. I don¡¯t believe the control crystal was returned here. I threw it down into a fissure, perhaps to meet oblivion. For what reason I simply tossed aside the crown on the seabed rather than delivering it also to oblivion, I cannot say.¡± Sammy sighed. ¡°Quite the tantrum.¡± I¡¯d certainly never have a tantrum where I throw my crown- wait. Shit. ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s love for you,¡± Azure commented. ¡°I don¡¯t blame you for being angry. A god¡¯s anger is simply on a different level of magnitude.¡± The god-king shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. I am sorry for the news. Perhaps you should build on richer, less haunted ground than my old stones. Itha Ranon will live on regardless in those who serve and pursue enlightenment.¡± Sammy stared at him with her back straight and her chin raised. ¡°The tower will rise again, king.¡± She held out her hand and pulled a piece of metal on the floor to her hand telekinetically, gesturing with it and smiling confidently. ¡°And you will bless your heiress with your newly restored crown.¡±
(Vol 7) Chapter 13: You Mean This Old Thing?
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Will the Bright Tower Rise Again?¡± ¡ª Reforge the crown of the god-king and pursue all options to resurface the tower, whether to success or failure. ¡ñ Rewards: +20-60 FE, 1-5 exp in [Goddess], 3-9 exp in [Magineer], other potential rewards.
OoOoh, so mysterious. You ain¡¯t fooling me though, System! I¡¯m going to see this done. The god-king eyed the piece in Sammy¡¯s hand and then met her eyes. ¡°Even if you could reforge it somehow, I don¡¯t believe the control crystal is here. Or anywhere.¡± ¡°One thing at a time, my friend,¡± Sammy replied, then floated upward into the air. ¡°Let¡¯s see, shall we?¡± Utilizing [Deific Pneumamancy], Sammy focused on the metal piece in her hand, feeling lines of spiritual connection still existent between it and the rest of the whole, each of them having pneumanic substance and presence in that realm. She thrummed the lines to aid in locating them, then grabbed them telekinetically, pulling them to her. Numerous bits of metal and small gemstones shot toward her from all angles of the throne room, quickly orbiting her like moons. Some bits were larger and some were as small as a tack, and she had to focus to bring some from around obstructions. Inevitably, a great broken mass of corroded old gold and gemstones swirled around her, the gemstones blues of great variety¡ªsapphires, blue topazes, aquamarines, and so on. A few easily impressed guardsmen gasped. And Gabriel. The king watched her with mild curiosity if anything. Painstakingly, Sammy began to fit all the puzzle pieces together, aided in supplementation by her supernatural sense of the flows of power within. They wanted to reconnect because the artifact was not inert. It was broken salvage. Pieces were bent as she restored the frame, so she bent them back into their proper place with raw telekinetic strength. She pressed all the pieces together and fused metal to metal in midair, simultaneously reconnecting and ¡®alchemically¡¯ fusing various tethers of pneuma. With a final pulse of unseen energy, the crown was re-forged on the spot. ¡°Remarkable,¡± the god-king said, staring upward. ¡°Too-tiny particulates necessary, and yet you pulled them all together and positioned them in the precisely correct spot. Even years of this effort should not have borne such fruit, always missing some fiber of the whole. I¡¯d ensured this truth suddenly but deliberately, yet you¡¯ve made it a lie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s missing something,¡± Sammy muttered in disappointment, frowning and not looking up from the crown. ¡°This isn¡¯t enough. What a damn humpty-dumpty on my parade here.¡± ¡°Is it the control crystal?¡± Gabriel asked from below. ¡°No,¡± the god-king answered, and suddenly lifted himself into the air, floating right across from the goddess with the crown suspended in front of her. He stared at it with his face an unreadable mix of emotions. ¡°You are missing something, Heiress Apparent. A certain spark. But this is something I can provide.¡± The king raised his staff and magical energy built up around him, concentrating into the staff head. He then thrust it forward to make a conduit to the crown, beginning to chant in the casting a spell, his deep voice filling the throne room and echoing off the walls. From every direction, Sammy felt mana flowing. A grand enchantment was taking place. Mana concentrated into the crown, fueling it anew as its many gemstones began to glow. Into the pattern carved by pneuma, the natural world¡¯s magical substance flowed like plaster into a mold, like glue ready to harden. In a flash, matter, spirit, and magic became one and the artifact was complete ¡ª such as it was. It seemed to warp and melt into its final shape, becoming something truly imperfect. An antique. I suppose that suits. The god-king finished his deific spellcraft with a tired wave of his staff. Wearily, he said, ¡°Perhaps the final relevant act of the old God of Magic. You will inevitably have to take up the torch, Samantha.¡± Crown in her hands, Sammy beamed and nodded. ¡°I will. Soon.¡± He gestured with a hand out flat. ¡°Please, try it on.¡± Sammy obliged. Removing her helmet, she solemnly placed the crown on her head. Gabriel cheered and started a clap. Everyone joined in, even the king. She felt immediate new connection points through the still-incomplete artifact. The throne room was not the crown¡¯s home at all ¡ª it was meant for its tower, which it was the focusing point for. Risen, that tower would be the realignment of a mana nexus deliberated sabotaged. The crown made it clear as day, giving her a sensory vision of sorts as it was subtly drawn to its own purpose and completion. She could feel the ¡®rift¡¯ or the askew alignment without the tower and its island, pulled so far away and buried that it ruined the mana flow. That nexus needed air and water, not simply earth and stone. It needed the sky. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°I am truly sorry,¡± the god-king added. ¡°Perhaps the control crystal can be replaced. Remade. I could assist in the first rumblings of this quest, but my construction took a decade. No doubt you lack that time.¡± ¡°No doubt,¡± Sammy replied. ¡°This crown¡­ it channels the mana of an entire land, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°The greatest land. Yes. For rituals. Its primary utilization is local and requires an hour of acute alignment, concentration, and casting, for the performance of grand acts. But-¡± ¡°It requires the control crystal.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Orswyth suddenly spoke up. ¡°Its name wouldn¡¯t happen to be The Aunmodatus, would it?¡± The god-king stared down at him incredulously. ¡°Yes. How would you know that, Wiseman?¡± Orswyth grew a slow, smug grin as he glanced at Samantha. ¡°We already have this item, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Sammy exclaimed. ¡°How?!¡± ¡°Most curious and fortuitous,¡± said the king. ¡°By what means?¡± ¡°A gift from the deeps, I suppose,¡± Orswyth replied. ¡°While you were away, Goddess, the merfolk sent gifts to your order on your behalf. One such gift was a big oval gemstone about the size of that inset there in the crown, which was said to be ancient salvage from ¡®dry lands.¡¯ Only its name and the description ¡®Mana focusing crystal¡¯ were discernible with identification. Zephyr planned to delve deeper into its potential applications as it seemed to require investigation or experimentation. Evidently, the merfolk never found a use for it.¡± ¡°Merfolk ¡ª of course,¡± the king mused. ¡°They go after all of value that sinks in the ocean. A fissure outside of our cursed territory. Yes. I suppose it had a bottom after all. Or it caught on a wall. Hmph. It catches the eye, does it not? A blue diamond. Manufactured by clever means rather than natural, but from natural stock, making it undetectable.¡± Sammy laughed, half because she was quite simply in a fantastic mood. ¡°Your focal crystal is basically a cubic zirconia?¡± The king apparently didn¡¯t get a functional translation and appeared confused. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Nothing! Nevermind. An impressive feat of engineering, then.¡± ¡°Yes. The particulars aren¡¯t known to me, however, and the clever craftswoman is gone now.¡± ¡°What do I do now? Return the crystal and then what?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know precisely where to go in the waters. Raise the land, raise the tower up through the waters into the heavens and the curse will be broken instantly and forever.¡± His eyes shifted down to his guardsmen. ¡°The Sentinels that I have not already managed to release will depart with their duty entirely completed. Only a scarce remnant will persist ¡ª what souls somehow find sagacity and clarity. It will be up to you to protect the land going forward for the most part. But these here are greatly formidable, mighty, and educated. Do not think them mere warriors, for they are gifted in magical arts bent to defense and destruction, though admittedly they have narrow specialties. The spirit realm will be difficult to assail. Sadly, their influence in the material realm is far less.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll protect Itha Ranon absolutely. I promise you only my loyalists will settle in your halls or on your shores. Loyalists therefore to your heiress and throne.¡± The king nodded simply. ¡°We might have to worry about water displacement,¡± Azure commented. ¡°A massive landmass suddenly popping upward seems a bit catastrophic for Geirkos.¡± ¡°Perhaps less massive than you¡¯d think,¡± the god-king replied, ¡°but damage to nearby shores seems likely. I do not know the lay of the land, now, however.¡± ¡°Well, good thing we have a water controller around!¡± Sammy said cheerily. ¡°We¡¯ll check with our fishy allies about this. If it¡¯s too much, we can figure out a sea wall or something.¡± The god-king turned and floated back down to his throne, dropping back into it as though exhausted. As he did, the roof of the throne room slowly began to return, piece by piece. It wasn¡¯t sealing up anytime soon. ¡°I will linger for a time. My servants are of course at your disposal, though they are tied to the land and its vicinity. When it is time for me to fall away from this reality, their souls will sequester to you as the new queen. Their Afterlife should remain as it was, in service to the crown. To what additional use you find to put them is your own quest, even now.¡± He cast his eyes around the hall and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Do not think this your abode, mind you. This is a tomb, however it may look. The center of a necropolis. Put my servants back where they belong, in the open air where they can forget the unlives of degraded corpses unbefitting their honor and stature.¡± The captain once masked in silver, whom Sammy had named Boldspear, stepped toward the king and touched his heart. ¡°That the True King returns, all has been made a sky worthy of suffering and new plenty, it¡¯s beauty like many oils mixing. Our honor is forever to serve, to have served, and onward likewise, to final glory at the end.¡± The other guardsmen touched their hearts and nodded soberly in agreement. The king¡¯s face softened as he looked at them, but he said nothing. ¡°I¡¯ll be going then,¡± Sammy said. ¡°I¡­ think I know how to communicate with you remotely here.¡± ¡°I will extend full mental communion,¡± the king replied. ¡°Your realm will have all access that is possible and you may journey unmolested in any quarters of the spirit here. May none step foot on material soil, however ¡ª not until the tower rises, lest they be cursed.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°Take note the end of this Spell of Worldly Renown will be known to many across this planet. Gods, high wizards, key players of renown.¡± ¡°Oh. I see.¡± Sammy swallowed. ¡°Will they know anything more?¡± ¡°No. Not the means or the who or any such thing. Only that the world was changed and such a grand spell is no longer altering the planet. Farewell, Heiress and Goddess of Fate. May the winds of magic blow you swiftly to your aims above and below.¡±
(Vol 7) Chapter 14: Time to Depart ¡°Before we leave,¡± Azure said, ¡°I¡¯d like to ask more about¡­ her. How much more do you remember? Do you recall any details? What about where she¡¯s from, or how you met in the first place?¡± The god-king pondered this thoughtfully. ¡°Things by rote, like a curse of hatred I accepted, have not faded and remain clear. The broken body and that false face so much hers. The final hours I¡¯d seen her alive. Her smile. Things to treasure and despise at once, because the betrayal holds clearer than all else. But details of history elude, I fear. I may never have known her origin, for she kept many mysteries. Not from my own homeland, certainly. And she was fae-kin. Unique. From the north. What else I knew or suspected otherwise is lost and irrelevant to me.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Azure had a sour look on her face. She sighed and shrugged it off. ¡°Thank you.¡± With that, she turned to leave. ¡°Farewell, God of Magic!¡± Sammy said. ¡°We will speak again in the future ¡ª hopefully a brighter one.¡± The party as a whole departed. They left the realm through the same sort of transition point they entered it by, fog swallowing them up and spitting them elsewhere. With the king¡¯s blessing and aid, they bypassed the catacombs, however, popping into the upper, outer ruins with the spirit world entirely open around them. It certainly was a kind of relief to be out of the more claustrophobic catacombs below. It was interesting to see the changes in the Sentinels outside. The monstrousness was banished and they simply looked like¡­ ancient temple warriors in their elaborate getups. They were far fewer, yet even at a glance they conducted themselves in a more orderly fashion. Some were stationary, overseeing from above, while others were doing patrols. Her presence was noted, and each that looked her way bowed their heads briefly and touched their heart in respect. Her three initial allies saw them out. They bowed in unison and touched their hearts. Linguist said, ¡°Speaking for all of us, we thank you, Samantha, Orswyth Maglion, Azure, and all of your likewise supporters, for aiding us and restoring our king. Not only this, but we retain the honor of our lives. We are pleased to serve you, Heiress, one who was like a sister, now grafted in and raised up. We are pleased to serve you now and until the end comes. May this service come to relieve some of the endless debt we owe you.¡± Sammy smiled and shook her head. ¡°No debt necessary. This was a mutual goal. But I¡¯m glad we get to continue working together. You all still have much to give, and our Bright Tower will be as it was before: a place of progress, reason, learning, and research. You will have as large roles within this as you¡¯re willing to commit.¡± The three exchanged pleased glances, and Linguist nodded. ¡°To see life in truth again? This would be another wonder the Goddess of Fate conjures in the heavens. Our dreams stand aligned.¡± ¡°Good! Continue to stand ready then! And let it be known among what of your fellows are left that any who desires a new name will be granted it.¡± ¡°So we shall. Names did become unnecessary here, and difficult to keep, even dangerous in their way. There is but one Linguist and Waytaker left, but there remains more than one Stargazer. With the end so near, caution lies irrelevant now. I will encourage your message, Heiress. Also¡­ if we may extend our aid for any circles of magic within our province and influence? Conductor, the last of her ilk, can bridge even to the material world to lend power, and thereby link with others among us who still recall how to facilitate.¡± ¡°Conductor. She doesn¡¯t operate a train, does she?¡± ¡°A what?¡± ¡°Nevermind. Get with her immediately and have that ready. Hopefully, you can assist whatever we come up with for the wave-blocking crew, if necessary.¡± ¡°So we shall.¡± All three bowed again, then turned to head back down to the ruins entrance. Gabriel let out a sigh. ¡°Really thought we were going to have to fight in there.¡± Sammy smirked at her. ¡°I can¡¯t tell whether you¡¯re disappointed or relieved.¡± Gabriel blinked, a finger coming up to her lips in self-contemplation. ¡°You know, I think it¡¯s a bit of both!¡± ¡°Sorry to disappoint,¡± Orswyth said sarcastically. ¡°All part of the plan. It worked out well thanks to the god-king¡¯s inner nature. After so long buried by what ailed him, an inner light longed to escape, to recapture the sagacity he once held more dear than even his queen.¡± Azure was gazing off to the side lost in her own thoughts. Sammy eyed her as she floated over. ¡°Penny for your thoughts?¡± Azure looked up. ¡°Hmm?¡± Smiling, Sammy held out her hand, where a little shiny penny was now in the center of her palm. ¡°I will give you this shiny penny if you give me your thoughts.¡± Azure glanced at it, then met Sammy¡¯s eyes. Finally, she grinned impishly. ¡°How about a kiss instead?¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Like lightning, Sammy glomped her Blueberry, arms going around her waist firmly and planting a kiss on her lips. A surprised Azure made a very pleased sound in her throat as she leaned ¡ª and veritably melted ¡ª into the kiss. Through their mental link, her lover¡¯s responsive excitement flared. I¡¯m being aggressive for once! Ha! Mmn¡­ er, hmm¡­ maybe I shouldn¡¯t quite be doing this right now¡­ In obvious embarrassment, Gabriel cried, ¡°Oh, come on, get a room!¡± With significant effort, Sammy broke the kiss despite her lover¡¯s growl of protest. Still holding on firmly, Azure tried to plant another but Sammy forestalled her with a blocking finger. ¡°Nuh uh uh! This was a trade, remember? Out with it.¡± The Naugite glared at her. ¡°Damn you.¡± Despite her words, her lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Fine. I was thinking it''s pointless to delve any further back into the past of my prior incarnation¡¯s origins, as they don¡¯t matter. She learned magic, she grew powerful in this time, and she did something very unwise transformatively before going to that tower of horrors. I¡¯m not sure the lead-up there holds any relevance, despite my curiosity. What I can¡¯t decide is if I should go to the tower next or seek out the events after, first.¡± Sammy was close to telling her she forbade her to go but narrowly stopped herself. That might entice my lovely piece of work even more. ¡°Well¡­ I think you might want to get a better sense of if you can actually handle it. I know you¡¯ve gained confidence, but that is trauma you¡¯ve already indicated is soul-crushing.¡± ¡°I have to go eventually, Samantha. I believe I now have what I require within me to endure it.¡± ¡°You believe, but you don¡¯t know.¡± Azure cocked her head as she gazed at Sammy, a faint smile on her lips. She reached a hand to cup her goddess¡¯s cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. When the time comes. Is it the capstone of understanding or is it Stage One? I don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯m not doing it right this minute, Divine Cupcake. I wouldn¡¯t steal your thunder, after all.¡± Sammy pursed her lips, then finally sighed. ¡°I¡¯m going with you, then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pointless, love. You can¡¯t come with me for a vision. Not this kind. This is something I have to do myself. There¡¯s no danger externally.¡± Sammy looked away, feeling annoyed by her lack of control in the matter. Azure took her hand and pulled away, tugging. ¡°Come on, Samantha. Let¡¯s just forget about it for now. Raise your tower! It¡¯s high time you did.¡± Sammy let herself be tugged, sniffing in amusement. ¡°High time. Nice. Well, when you¡¯re right, you¡¯re right! Let¡¯s get this fucking control stone in and let¡¯s usher in a new era!¡± The party flew up through the fog, back to Heaven and the realm waiting for them. On the way, Sammy unraveled and dispelled her one-time hiding spot that blocked perception, where she¡¯d once conversed with Stargazer. Hiding would no longer be needed for her in that place. I basically own it now. Ha! Heiress. Authentic royalty, I guess? It shouldn¡¯t feel any greater than all else I¡¯ve achieved. I guess it doesn¡¯t. But it does feel pretty special. The Queen of Itha Ranon. I love it so much! ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Serkars¡¯srek waited until they were gone this time around, staying completely still lodged in a dimensional space like a part of the stonework. Literally everyone in that realm was highly perceptive despite their distractions, and peeking into a god¡¯s mind-space was the height of danger, even as deteriorated and warped as the old king¡¯s was. On the plus side, crammed into the pneumanic structure, a stealthed magical being was just a piece of black grit lost in the sand of a beach. Unless he shook himself loose, he¡¯d remain unnoticed. Can¡¯t believe those zombies detected my entrance. Who would think them so observant after all this time? Ridiculous. Once the party was long gone and it was just the king in there, Serkars¡¯srek slipped away. The Queen wanted to know about this particular meeting. If he was being honest, it was rather juicy with drama. He knew it was about that smelly Naugite again. He did not understand the subtleties of their interactions fully, but it seemed like she was leaving hale. It should please the Queen. Not sure why she can¡¯t just use that other vector. Eh. I don¡¯t understand it, but no point wondering over her peculiarities. Moving on. He left very carefully this time, pausing and analyzing patrols. In fact, it was easier to dodge the sentries. They¡¯d suddenly gotten more orderly, revealing a pattern, if complex and efficient. Chaos was the harder thing for him to predict, and they¡¯d apparently lost it. The greater danger was the goddess. I didn¡¯t so much as twitch, and thankfully she was plenty distracted. He hoped the Queen never asked him to try spying on the goddess¡¯s realm. He¡¯d refuse. He knew his limits. The dying god had a strange setup that anchored him to the world, allowing a structure of faith fused to magic that Serkars¡¯srek could hide in. Or did. The god had severed it, dooming himself to drift away in the acceleration of time catching up. As Serkars¡¯srek saw things, that was his prerogative. Humans. Even ascended, their instinct inevitably leads them to the grave. One way or another. The spirit snake slithered stealthily through hidden places, back once more to his queen with news of human nonsense she always ate up like a dessert. He could use some warmth again, too. That tomb of reality had been as cold as ice.
I Am Pleased to Announce...!!! A new story by Yours Truly, on RR!!! Teaser:
Given the chance to unlock System powers a decade after being dismissed as an ordinary human being, how could Jack refuse? But nothing comes without a price, and as Jack is about to discover, miracles are sky-high. Meta pitch: Intimate, slow-burn evolution of an average Joe into a badass, in a world where monsters plaguing the Earth need to die. Put on the jacket and get to work for humanity, son ¡ª we''re behind schedule. Expect: ¡ª Powers choices/tinkering/training, step by step You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡ª Slice of life, deep characterization ¡ª Unique setting of a surviving, functional, Post-Apoc civilization ¡ª System as an enhancer++ to reality, not a replacement, not omnipotent LINK
It''s definitely different from Goddess, but I hope it''s fun to read! I certainly worked hard on it. It is probably most influenced by reading Super Supportive, but overall is a unique setting and concept as far as I can deduce. Anyway, take a gander and see if you like, eh? And I do plan on writing both fics! Goddess has plenty more to go. In fact, the properly conducted Orchestration finish is aided by the success of other things because that will support all existing writing. The Amazon book series relevancy lifespan and ensuing revenue are sadly not grandiose, nor infinite. I am unable to write purely for fun these days with family depending on me. So wish me luck! I deeply appreciate all the support I''ve received to date from you all, from those who''ve been here from the beginning to those who jumped in later, whether here or from Amazon. Whatever it''s been ¡ª a year and however much change ¡ª it''s a hell of a lot of words burned through together and that makes it quite a journey. Thank you! ??????There''s no question that Sammy lived the equivalent of years through this span of time and grew. There''s still a march to make to see it through and I hope to make it with you all. Cheers! Excelsior! ?? (Vol 7) Chapter 15: The Inevitable Rise Sammy quickly organized efforts of preparation for the tower rising upon returning to her throne on Heavenpeak. The merfolk Current Changer Tenshai confirmed she had the capacity to handle the waves, and even seemed to understand the general magnitude, being familiar with the landmass that was under the water. Sammy did point out to expect a little more because the king had insinuated some parts were entirely hidden and buried in rock. Tenshai¡¯s response was something like how a crafter might smile and pat a client on the back when they tried to talk about intricate details they ultimately knew nothing about. Her confidence was absolute. What she did need was a circle of mana providers, so Sammy corralled her ritualists to the task. They otherwise waited on the Itha Ranon wraiths to come through with their provision in that regard through Conductor. She was sure there was plenty of power between those two groups for the act. Once everything no longer needed her focus, Sammy materialized in Geirkos to retrieve the stone, already waiting in her study. It was sitting on a purple pillow on a table. She walked up to it and admired the pretty new shiny acquisition with a grin. It was about the size of a small bar of soap. As soon as she neared it, she felt both the power of it and the magnetic draw it had to the crown. They cried out to each other like echoes through lines of mana, pneuma, and spirit. ¡°Who gifted this to us, by the way?¡± she asked Jeeves. ¡°Highcaller and Archmagus Telliosin Da Kaitei of the Wydeia,¡± Jeeves answered. ¡°With the additional words: ¡®The Wydeia bless you and hope for fond dealings as allies to grow closer. In honor, we return this dryland salvage of old, preserved for untold ages ¡ª magical, mysterious, forged for unknown glories. May its beauty please you and rise up ancient inspirations.¡¯ That is all.¡± Sammy narrowed her eyes. Rise up ancient inspirations? Hidden code or coincidence? ¡°Let¡¯s send a message that I look forward to speaking with¡­ her? Him? As well as growing more knowledgeable about our allies, their leaders, their culture, people, and desires for Calrenazzod.¡± ¡°So it shall be done, Madam. I don¡¯t actually know the gender. Forgive me, Madam. An oversight, but I¡¯ll check with our resident merfolk to clarify.¡± ¡°No worries, Jeeves.¡± Sammy finally took up the blue diamond in her hands. The power she¡¯d felt before magnified tenfold as a charge ran through her, as if she¡¯d become a conduit for the connection between gemstone and crown. The magnetic draw became discernable pressure pulling in her hands. Laughing, Sammy guided the diamond into its slot on the crown atop her head. The energy built to a quick crescendo as it neared, finally intensified and concentrated more and more until it imploded as the stone locked into place. Her body as a conduit ceased to be and all of the bleeding aural effects were gone in a flash. Immediately, she felt the power of the islands off the coast, a distant mystical ringing in alignment with the crown. It was entirely out of focus and harmony where she was, the mana and focusing therein unusable. She cast an Identify effect to see if new information was available now.
Daulgreum Itha Val Aunmodatus, Spellpower Tower Magnifier This crown taps into a special focal tower harnessing the mana of the specific material domain known as ¡®Itha Ranon.¡¯ The tower acts as a mana battery while active in addition to pulling from the land. It is not usable except from the focal tower point or the auxiliary tower point and requires 1 hour added to casting time. A spell may be prepared and held indefinitely in the auxiliary tower, ready to cast with a 5-second activation by any arcane spellcaster possessing a secondary control crystal. The crown aids any ritual spells you lead in the tower: add 1 caster level for every 4 bonus caster levels gained from [Ritual Cast]. You may pay the base casting cost of spells cast through the tower up to nine (# of secondary control crystals) additional times, adding an additional multiple (x2, x3, x4, etc.) to duration, range, number of targets, or area of effect for each cost multiple. The tower, as utilized by this crown, provides access to [Channel Domain] for any deity of the [Magic] domain. Despite this restriction, the deity may use any domains they have access to. If the deity pays 50 x deity caster levels for the effect in MP (in addition to FE costs), it does not drain Grant Prayer uses, and the cooldown changes to 4 hours. It is possible to fashion custom spells that require the tower¡¯s use, for enhanced effect at great amplification of base MP costs. MP Battery: 0/??? Regeneration Rate: ??? Draw Mana (24-hour): ??? Notes: Tower non-functional. Auxiliary tower destroyed. Nexus non-functional. Missing 3 of 12 secondary crystals. Landscape untenable. Special Spell Effect Condition: Structure is submerged via custom spell. Awaiting trigger activation to restore functionality. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Acronym ¡®DIVA?¡¯ Ha! Welp, guess I¡¯ll know all the mana stuff after raising the tower. Okay. Time to do this thing. Sammy Mirror Walked over the ocean as close as they dared to set up, then turned herself invisible and flew out the remaining distance. Servitors were already out ahead of her to scout from the sky, and the wizard groups were in position in between the islands and Geirkos. I wonder if the rival port of Itha Ranon was even where Geirkos is now. With the names lost, who knows? As she neared the islands, she began to feel where the focus of the crown was and sense the tower buried deep underneath, somewhere off the coast of the rocky isles nearby. The ruins were visible there, irregular dark stone structures scattered on the heights. She cast a cantrip to keep her clothes from getting soaked, then plunged into the sea. It wasn¡¯t very far down before her capable eyes caught sight of the glittering city remains. While much was preserved and typical sea life completely avoided it, it wasn¡¯t pristine anymore. It seemed to have deteriorated. Worse, she saw signs of rampant ancient damage, and could even make out big shattered rocks. In her mind¡¯s eye, she beheld terrible siege damage. War had hit it hard before it was submerged. That made sense. The god-king in his final hours was half-mad, probably bent on his final acts to the exclusion of all else. His enemies could have taken advantage. Sammy flowed through the water more like she was flying than truly swimming, through [Matter, As Spirit]. The crown largely guided her to the precise, correct spot of alignment under the water, the resonance between tower and crown getting more and more attuned. Instead of being so jarring as it was in Geirkos, the aural effects were more and more pleasant, like faint music. Far below there was only sea bottom and hints of stone at a lower level than the city, but Sammy knew what it contained: the palace and the tower. She stopped on a dime as the music in her head reached relative perfection, and she fell into a kind of gravity well or magnetic lock. Here was the place. The crown was connected to a spell trigger that had just woken up and was ready to unleash. Untether. Samantha reached out to everyone involved mentally. ¡°I¡¯m in position. Are we ready?¡± ¡°A circle of thirty-three is ready to contain,¡± Tenshai replied. ¡°Mortal and immortal, material and immaterial, I have far more power and energy than I need, Your Majesty. The waters will be as gentle as a pond outside these islands.¡± ¡°Perfect. We begin! Let Bright Tower rise again!¡± Through the crown of control, Samantha reached out to the spell trigger and activated it. A pulse shot through the water in a great radius. Everything underneath, stone and city and sandy bottoms, quivered and groaned. Samantha felt a tremendous, overwhelming strength connected between her and the structure ¡ª telekinetic strength enough to crack a mountain. She took hold of it and a greater groan began. Suddenly, she wanted her staff, so she summoned Foolmaker. Through it as a complementary focus, she lifted. She¡¯d never felt anything quite like it. A great cacophony rang as what felt like an earthquake slammed upward into her. A little bit frightened, a whole lot exhilarated, she pulled up with all the might of her will. Sand, stone, and greater things below rose into increasingly cloudy waters. Samantha rose with it, as the magnetic point changed moment by moment, remaining suspended above. Mana swirled tremendously as vast flows began to change. Her magical senses became overloaded with input. A world of magic was converging into that place from every direction at once! A new nexus, the new energy of abundant creation, the new center of the world! She did not stop. She rose faster and faster, up, up, up. Below, stone warped and morphed and shifted where the tower was contained to let it free, and all else struggled to keep up with its rise. Stone cried ¡ª screamed. It broke and fell into a new, watery grave. She knew damage was dealt to that ancient city and particularly to the outer palace which was not made to handle it, but there was nothing for it. The land had declined and changed. It had sat too long. Furthermore, she couldn¡¯t stop it. It was a runaway spell burning vast mana, it was a volcano bursting, it was a train crashing to heaven. She was simply blowing the whistle. An arrow could be seen within the cloud, though. Glowing gold, white below, untouchable, unstoppable, indestructible rising above the rest. The Bright Tower in truth. Samantha blasted up out of the water into a tumultuous sea, staff held up in one hand above her. In the distance, she saw the circle, and through her senses of magic, the intense glare of Tenshai at the center, directing flows of magic like a shroud running under the water and all the way around the islands. The water was entirely calm beyond this, tossing only inside the radius. Under her expertise, not even a merchant ship would get disturbed. Samantha rose and rose, and the spikey tower top finally crested above as if giving chase. Together, they rose and they pierced the sky, pierced the heavens like forging a new tunnel from the ground and sea to the highest realms. Like the currents below them, mana was a storm, a hurricane swirling around an eye. North, South, East, and West, the flows of magic were meeting. The goddess laughed in exaltation and victory, and the tower, humming and singing with power, made joyous sounds just the same. Together, they rose to the final peak; they soared. More and more structure became evident, spitting and cascading out with water. Rock underneath came up, enchanted stone caught in the spell holding together. Sadly, the rest of the palace structure and the walls never emerged. The greater mass of the city structure some distance away emerged, however, last to do so at a far lower level to the sea than the tower. Damaged, with much of it not making it, but some structures withstood the test admirably as water gushed out of halls, towers, and various tougher buildings. Rocky structure did connect to the existing large island with its other ruins by a narrow sliver. The final point arrived like a thunderclap as the rise finished and the spell ended, activating the tower and causing the magical equilibrium point to fall into the structure. A World Spell ended with it and a curse broke, causing an echo through the greater mana and pneumanic structure of Calrenazzod. ¡°It is finished!¡± the goddess shouted as she thrust Foolmaker upward. ¡°The Tower of Magic rises again!¡± (Vol 7) Chapter 16: What a Feeling! In the bowels of The Capital of the Dominion, in the bowels of the Dormancidia, perhaps the bowels of reality itself, His Honor, The True Sage felt a ripple disturb him while he meditated and recharged. Though the ripple was minor enough to ignore, it was followed by the distinct impression of full alteration that signaled global manipulation. A World Spell. This awoke him. He soon realized what it was ¡ª the curse of that failure Itha Ranon ending ¡ª and felt nothing but mild derision. ¡°Of course you did.¡± But she didn¡¯t have the patience to maximize that particular strategy; if she tried, she¡¯d still lose. She was simply too late. The Sage arranged for assurances not to be disturbed by others on the subject and went back to his meditation. He¡¯d known the Southlands lost with Redberry¡¯s rescue because he wouldn¡¯t waste the energy on her. The irony of that particular failure was sharp, but the presumed source made it entirely irrelevant. He¡¯d preferred a totality of verification and had sought it out in vain. Fortunately, so many accrued bits of circumstantial evidence made things clear enough. She had arrived. The final stage was set and he was happy to be done with the worthlessness of his failed order. They could either prove themselves or burn. He¡¯d have diamonds in the fire to rebuild or nothing. The Sage of Truth, his supposed protege, the one he¡¯d deigned to save, was no different. He¡¯d have his moment of glory, disaster, or mediocrity. Probability was the latter and acceptable. Ideal. Invariably, if She were all she was promised to be, she¡¯d have to come to him to finish it. And then, in great contrast to what the Beyond had shown him of prior results, all would truly be finished indeed. ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? In a vast laboratory and warehouse full of thousands of collected alchemical substances, sectioned into dozens of experimental chambers (two of them permanently sealed), out of a work chair in front of an enchanted work table, Glaelychus jumped clean out, knocking the chair over, in supreme alarm at what he felt rippling through reality. Once he realized what it was, though, he pushed his goggles up and laughed, slapping his hands together. ¡°You woke up Itha Ranon, you little whelp? Good! Get her up and running, girl. Could make things easier. You could still be useful to me yet.¡± Grinning, wiping a chalky face on his sleeve, he pushed his goggles back down, set right the chair, and got back to work on the anti-rune. The culmination of his greatest work was coming along spectacularly. You broke so many precious bonds of mine, Sleeper. Time to return the favor. Leveraging what you broke, I¡¯ll end it once and for all. Then I¡¯ll end you for the final vengeance of so many. I¡¯ll reign supreme over all once yours! ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? The Wind Watcher yawned and tried to stay awake near the end of his shift. It was always like that after almost four hours, especially if alone. As soon as he was off, he¡¯d catnap. Inkrea was supposed to be his partner, but he was ill. Supposedly. Whatever. Tovrar never missed his duty! It was good coin. But he also couldn¡¯t sleep. If caught not looking at the mana stones, one got banned and replaced. Inkrea might get banned for missing his duty, even. Tovrar would be very upset. It was his fifth partner, and he¡¯d lasted six months. Once upon a time, the mana stones in Weriarra were connected to automatic sound devices, he¡¯d heard. He heard also that Venkal still had them working, but the city ¡ª town, really ¡ª was remote. Unconnected. Weriarra was an important head point for the alarms. So the mana stones were watched, and if they started doing glowy pattern things, the Wind Watcher rang the big bell. And then¡­ Well, it didn¡¯t matter. They never did glowy pattern things. Tovrar had mostly stayed awake for years and years and never saw it. He was really proud of mostly staying awake, and also for waking up Inkrea after sharp ear supervisor footstep detection, and never getting caught not staying awake. It was rar ¡ª rare, that is. Tovrar was attempting to sleepily play a solitaire card game when he suddenly looked up in amazement. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. The mana stones! They couldn¡¯t be, could they? He stood and walked over closer to them, staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed. The crystals were flashing in glowing patterns, over and over, all in different colors. Panic caught him up as his tail lashed around. One could be thrown in prison to ring the bells without justification! With a howl, he ran to the window and started yelling, ¡°Hey! Someone! The stones! Glowing! Come see, please come s-...¡± But he realized he was very high, and there was no one paying him any mind on the ground. Swallowing, he stared but a few moments more at the stones, then felt a combination of risen-up duty and resignation. This was his job, and he saw what he saw. People would come when he¡­ Tovrar marched over to the bell, moved the footstool over, and stood on it to reach and undo a tight tie-off and pull down the rope. He stepped down and took a deep, deep breath, saying prayers to Hin Haraki The Mystic, begging blessings for executing truth, as he stuffed bits of wool in his ears. Then he started slinging the rope, ringing the bell hard and loud. The sound was something he felt in his bones and it carried far. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Before long, he heard other bells in the distance taking up the call he¡¯d started. He kept at it diligently, eyeing the stones still flashing away. He forgot how long it was supposed to continue¡­ it was never something that was supposed to happen¡­ He started to feel an existential dread, and not for the idea of prison anymore. For what the magic stones flashing and the bells ringing meant. Could the fog really go away? What would hide us, what would protect us from the humans and demons and serpents? Would they come for us? Could there really be¡­ war? What will change? I don¡¯t like change¡­ ??¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤???¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?? Sammy flew through the air, marveling at everything that had risen up out of the sea. Water was still draining out. Everything sat very high on rocks, with anything that might¡¯ve been dock structures not making it. A great, great deal hadn¡¯t made it, actually, despite very little of it looking like it had been on an ocean bottom. They were still ruins. She still had a lot of work to do. Half if not more of this city, tower, and fortress will need to be by my creation because it''s half ruined. It feels appropriate, though. The mana of the location was¡­ immense, and continually increasing. She could feel the thickness of it in her very breathing of the air. Because she had ignored System stuff while completing the work, she checked back in.
The quest ¡°Will the Bright Tower Rise Again?¡± is complete. 50 FE gained. 5(4) exp in [Goddess] gained, 16(8) exp in [Magineer] gained. The magic crown ¡®D.I.V.A.¡¯ has been converted into a Holy Relic currently missing pieces. It does not take up a slot but lacks free options.
New Quest unlocked: ¡°Restoration of the Crown¡± ¡ª Recover the three missing secondary stones of D.I.V.A. ¡ñ Rewards: +20 FE, 5 exp in [Goddess], 5 exp credit to most relevant sub-class used during quest, artifact-level special enchantment restored.
D.I.V.A. updated after tower restoration.
Find the stones, huh? Okay then. The tower¡­ this feeling¡­ Sammy was drawn. She floated over to the top of the tower. Just under the final spire was a tapering roof, under which were large crystalline panels like windows going all the way around. Perhaps around a third of them were smashed in, mostly those facing north. She slid inside through a gap. All the way around the windows was a raised stone platform with evenly spaced blocks, apparently there as cover. The stone was glittering white, enchanted, and pristine. Most of the inner decor was destroyed, leaving only shreds and bits of metal or stone cast around, likely from water flow. Below the outer platform was another large circle, and here the stone had elaborate carvings filled with a beautiful, multicolored stone like a filling. The marks made a magic circle ¡ª in fact, many circles, falling concentrically down to a middle point, where a huge, perfectly diamond-shaped crystal floated above a pedestal. The circles were as they were for ritual magic members to stand directly on runes. Hundreds, dozens, or three or four ¡ª there was a great variety of total members who could stand and be supported by the geometry. Three to make a triangle, four to make a cross, twelve to make a¡­ pizza? Sammy giggled. No, I think that would be eight. She quickly realized the growing mana nexus as well as the resonating power of the crown were making her giddy. The air and the charge flowing through her body were so rich and felt so good! She was immediately attracted to many things within, but the nearest was the crystalline panels. They felt¡­ supported by the rest of the structure; they were truly a part of the tower. She understood them to be primarily fashioned of pneuma and mana, and actually very strong, particularly against physical harm. Walking up to one of the whole panels, feeling an uncanny instinct, she thrust her staff out at the crystal. It went right through as if through water. She stuck her hand through, and it was the same. Then she went all the way through bodily like it was a portal. When she turned to attempt going back through it, she slammed into it with a gong of firm resistance. Giggling, Sammy flew back through a broken panel and cast a spell at the panel from the inside ¡ª Icebolt. It passed right through. ¡°One-way spell crystal!¡± Sammy exclaimed in child-like glee. ¡°Fucking awesome! I gotta fix the others¡­¡± ¡°Your Majesty,¡± came the voice of Tenshai in her head. ¡°The waves are done here and were quite easy with this circle. Would you like us to take advantage of our current synchronization to clean out any residing water, speeding up your drying process?¡± ¡°A fantastic idea!¡± Sammy replied. ¡°Yes yes yes! Do it up, Tenshai, you awesome fish-girl, you! Gods, I love you!¡± The mermaid was highly amused. ¡°I¡¯ll chalk that up to the current moment more than me personally, but your adoration is noted. You are one fit to cherish as well, Goddess.¡± Sammy laughed and did a spin in the air, full up and drunk on energy. She zipped down to the circle area and the crystal. Despite her gleefulness, she slowed and paused in front of it. The crown was certainly calling for it. Here, she could cast spells of tremendous magnitude, stacking up numerous advantages through ritual. But she felt awe as if it were too¡­ the word wasn¡¯t quite ¡®holy.¡¯ But it was too ¡®something¡¯ to touch directly. ¡°What will we do together? There¡¯s so much to do, so little time! We need to get started, hmm?¡±
(Vol 7) Chapter 17: Getting That D.I.V.A. On It was high time for Sammy to check out the updates to D.I.V.A., so she cracked it open to see what she was working with.
MP Battery: 0/3333 Regeneration Rate: 37/hr Draw Mana (24-hour): 433 Notes: Auxiliary tower destroyed. Mana level: Seething; Nexus in process of restoration (estimated time: 11 hours). Missing 3 of 12 secondary crystals (causing certain diminished effects and Draw Mana is inhibited). Landscape acceptable but non-optimal: inhibiting regen rate/Draw Mana. Daily mana growth rate: 3% (multiplying regen rate/Draw Mana values, subject to change). Draw Mana recharging.
Nice. That is a stupidly high value. I can personally recharge a lot faster in Limbo, but this massively expands my maximum output. ¡°System, can you tell me about each mana level in depth? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve even heard of ¡®Seething¡¯ for example.¡± Certainly, Director. Here is the information.
Mana Levels Every location has a mana level, far and away the most common being ¡®Normal¡¯ which has no special effects. Depending on the mana level lower or higher, magic can be more difficult or easier to cast, and MP use multiplied higher or lower. Null: Arcane magic use (or equivalent supernatural ability use) is impossible. Personal MP is immediately reduced to 0 and does not regenerate. Enchantments and arcane magic items cease to function, effectively suppressed. Some special ¡®containments¡¯ can hold and protect mana within a Null Mana zone, usually to power a limited effect. Arcane spell effects of (Evocation), (Conjuration), (Summoning), or (Illusion) are always impossible. Divine magic and certain other sources of supernatural power are not restrained. Mana-dependent beings will gradually weaken and die in a Null Zone, though it may take hours or days. Drained: Mana regeneration is quartered. All MP costs are increased by 20-70% (in multiples of 10, depending on severity, and rounded up). At 50/60/70%, all arcane caster level totals (or equivalent) are reduced by 1/2/3 Effective Levels and spell durations are halved. Unless caster level or MP use is relevant, magic items are not affected, nor are other spell effect values. Magic item creation and magic rituals are impossible. Low: Mana regeneration is halved. Magic item creation and magic rituals are impossible. Normal: No special effects. High: Mana regeneration is doubled. Some special acts of magic require a High Mana zone. Saturated: Mana regeneration is tripled. All MP costs are reduced by 10% or 20% (depending on severity and rounded down). Seething: Mana regeneration is quadrupled. All MP costs are reduced by 30 or 40% (depending on severity and rounded down) and all arcane caster level totals (or equivalent) are increased by 1 Effective Level. Nexus: Mana regeneration is x7. All MP costs are halved, rounded down, or -10, whichever is better. All arcane caster level totals (or equivalent) are increased by 2 Effective Levels and spell durations are doubled (or add x1 to existing multiples). Mana-fueled supernatural entities feel charged within and do not suffer from typical ¡®mana drain¡¯ over time, if relevant.
That¡¯s definitely going to be useful. She¡¯d only ever interacted with ¡®High¡¯ as far as she knew. The Nexus was going to be specifically the tower, she believed, and was uncertain what the surrounding area would be. At a minimum, the islands were probably a Saturated zone. She noticed a small ¡®activation¡¯ crystal embedded in the pedestal that housed the central floating crystal. It was tied to the platform and was a simple levitation protocol. She activated it remotely and the entire circle gently lifted up and became flush with the upper surrounding platform, thus giving a full range of view through the crystal panels at the ocean and landscape, from the ritual-casting center. Sammy grinned. A simple, cool-ass pleasure. Her eyes were drawn to another, lower peak of rock next to the tower. She floated over to get a better look from a window. It was some of the only surviving remains of structure to what was once part of the castle grounds of the place. So much had broken apart during the emergence. If she wanted a surrounding fortress or palace, she¡¯d have to build it herself. But there was something special to the other bedrock. Greater strength and importance. That¡¯s where the auxiliary tower was, I¡¯m sure of it. Perhaps I can figure out how to build a new one? Whatever she was about to do, she needed her mana recharged, so she dematerialized and popped into the Limbo area near Heaven to meditate for around ten minutes and recharge. Her first order of business back in the material world was to ensure ships could get to the locations and between them, which would speed further preparations. She utilized [Deific Pneumamancy: Manamaterial Synthesis] to create some piers and a small dock below the tower fortress, then some simple fortifications leading to stairs going up the stone to the tower. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Utilizing the ability¡¯s ¡®continuous creation¡¯ aspect, she then fashioned a bridge across the water to the main island and the city ruins. Every ¡®five-minute application¡¯ (in a Saturated Mana area) produced up to 48 square meters of material, but in terms of actual ground covered, it depended entirely on how thick the substance was. Rather than trying to make the Golden Gate Bridge or something, she made the material stretch more ¡ª a pontoon bridge of hollow steel floats held together by steel cables and anchored poles every so often. With much of the distance essentially bridged with air, she covered the eight hundred meters or so efficiently. On the other side, she made another dock and worked on the immediate area of the ruins, clearing and repairing roadways and a few buildings that might be desired. One well-preserved and sturdy structure appeared to have been a huge inn. She made sure to prep it for potential habitation, repairing the interior. Sammy called it quits after a few hours and a lot of MP spent. By this time, her people had already set up mirrors in numerous spots for quick transfer when needed, and ferrying with her numerous Pegasus escorts was fast enough. Geirkos was only fifty kilometers or so. When she returned to Heavenpeak and plopped on her throne, feeling a bit mentally spent, Azure soon materialized sitting on her lap. After snuggling briefly and kissing Sammy¡¯s cheek, she added, ¡°A couple of things, Darling of Divinity. One, I think I found the perfect place for your temple inside the tower. Like a cathedral, complete with awe-inspiring architecture. It is undamaged and untouched, though sadly the murals are faded to almost nothing. Archangel Dina has already asked to paint it.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Sammy exclaimed. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll have to check it out. Need to get that Consecration thing done, like, yesterday. Okay, what else?¡± Azure grinned. ¡°I believe that the tower is another waiting Transition Point.¡± Sammy gasped. ¡°Really?! Finally at home base! I¡¯m going right now!¡± Sammy shunted over to the Bridge of Edges and focused on the tower, soon feeling the draw and following it across the twisted spaces to fall into the most obvious gravity well of the realm yet. She was pulled through and spat out in front of the tower fortress¡¯s main entrance facing north. You have discovered a [Transition Point] on the Bridge of Edges, preliminary designation ¡®Point 5¡¯. Avatar position moved¡­ Anchorage and transition in-world complete. Smiling up at the tower, Sammy took a moment to review all of her Transition Points and name them for better familiarity. She went ahead and reordered them, too.
Materialization Transition Points
  1. Itha Ranon ¡ª Island tower 50 km from Geirkos. Home base.
  2. Sun Temple ¡ª Jungle area 75 km southeast of Yura, 30 km from the bay.
  3. Dramines Ruins ¡ª Forest of the West, 100 km north of Greenway.
  4. Eleks Obelisk ¡ª Middle of Dominion forest far/directly east of Rivermount.
  5. Bay of Mengior ¡ª North coast of the Land of Naug, near Sovar Ska.
The only bad thing is I have to use these personally. I can Maze people to transport them, though, and apparently dodge otherwise high costs for teleportation by other means. An FE or two per person is nothing comparatively. Next, she wanted to find something close to Caneboro, but it wasn¡¯t a huge priority right then, and she did have an Avatar there for quick access if needed. When she returned to her throne again, Azure had already disappeared to oversee this or that. Suddenly, a familiar presence reached out and connected to Sammy ¡ª bees swarming over a hive, vines and moss slowly growing over old stones, and something unseen tickling the reeds over a pond. Also: a bat. ¡°Redberry!¡± Sammy exclaimed in elation back at that presence before the sister goddess could say anything. ¡°Moth,¡± Redberry replied in greeting. ¡°Congratulations on your tower and the breaking of an ancient curse. I¡¯d suggest settling and claiming every blade of grass on those islands as soon as possible. Without the curse, that land is incredibly rich and fruitful.¡± ¡°I will! I¡¯ve noticed the same. The mana concentration is absurd.¡± ¡°So the tales ever persisted of those who braved the islands and tasted the delight of its fruits, dismissive of curses already working into their bones. They never got the taste from their mouths even so. Even literally. What is grown there is sweeter. There are legends about Ranonian wine, also called Oblinin. Supposedly the most delightful and expensive drink ever made, lost aeons ago for obvious reasons.¡± ¡°Huh. I guess grapes are grown here?¡± ¡°No. Obles. Fat, spherical yellow berries on giant bushes that only grow there. Among the legends are fae that shape change to birds to steal without setting foot on the soil. A dangerous, forbidden act. The pooka Ciaran gorged on so many he grew fat and fell to the ground, cursing himself. So the tale of Mad Ciaran began, who ran with coyotes and broke into the Keskiri Vault.¡± ¡°Yeah, but who hasn¡¯t?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Nevermind. I will take heed and perhaps have these berries harvested.¡± ¡°I believe they¡¯d be green this time of year. In some weeks you¡¯ll see yellow. I¡¯d suggest some for wine, both immediate and aged. It would be priceless and bring you great fame in Geirkos.¡± ¡°Fame for Madam Dark Helm and the Hidden Hand, anyway.¡± A pause, a weighing consideration. ¡°Perhaps you should consider going public soon. Suspicions will only mount from here, and the Dominion must already suspect a new deity. They just can¡¯t do anything about it efficiently here, and they know I am your ally.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let the suspicions grow naturally. I will consider it when the war pushes further and denial no longer serves a purpose. I haven¡¯t even defended Merrington yet.¡± ¡°We. By the way¡­ I will be there.¡± ¡°Are you sure? After what you¡¯ve been through¡­¡± ¡°It won¡¯t happen in Merrington, Samantha. It doesn¡¯t matter what I¡¯ve been through. I will fight and they will see my fangs again. I will crush them again. Under Nature¡¯s foot, they go ¡ª where they belong.¡± Sammy grinned. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it, Red.¡±
(Vol 7) Chapter 18: Affairs of the Heart In a sudden outburst to Redberry, Sammy added, ¡°I love you so much!¡± Redberry had a mixed bundle of emotions to this, but exasperation rose strongest. ¡°Alright, but let¡¯s not get carried away.¡± Sammy giggled. ¡°This has been such a wonderful day! It can¡¯t get any better, really.¡± ¡°Your mother is also ready to return to you.¡± ¡°Whaaat?! Get out! Oh Em Geee!¡± ¡°Before you get too excited ¡ª though I know it¡¯s too late for that ¡ª we¡¯ve already conferred with your realm and decided on tomorrow, assuming this ¡®clandestine operation¡¯ I¡¯ve been somewhat informed on is conducted today or tonight. Apparently involving ¡®Ash,¡¯ a former Dominion operative?¡± ¡°Oh. Yes, that¡¯s my next priority. Tying up a loose end. But anyway, how is Marjorie? How did things go?¡± ¡°She is quite well and she did excellently. She¡¯d be much better off with a man to sex up on a daily basis, but she won¡¯t want to possess the first one she sees or the like. She has cemented her will and will most likely abide like a human maiden ready for courtship. Though I think she is in denial about this. Regardless, she¡¯ll be judicious enough.¡± Sammy did a slow blink. ¡°Right. I¡­ forgot about¡­ that whole thing being why she was sequestered.¡± ¡°Part of the reason, Samantha. But yes, lust is a problem. We¡¯re nymphs, despite how separate we¡¯ve made ourselves over time. It takes reprogramming and a little enchantment assistance to get our nature under control.¡± ¡°So¡­ I should matchmake, you think?¡± ¡°You can do what you want and so can she. But frustration will mount over time without a partner. I don¡¯t think she has the capacity to ¡®nun up¡¯ long-term. There is a certain crossroads of the corporeal and mental meeting where that is feasible. She is parallel on both counts to the opposite now, however she thought about things before.¡± Redberry¡¯s words took a minute to unravel. She¡¯s saying Momma is a horny person, I think. Sammy recalled that Marjorie¡¯s first custom spell was an aphrodisiac of some kind, and she was an ardent romance novel reader. ¡°Yeah, I think I get the picture.¡± ¡°Good. Otherwise, she¡¯s adjusted well and is thrilled with her new body and life. She is looking forward to serving in your organization and has an ironclad motivation to help.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so stoked it¡¯s not even funny!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so sure. Most of your antics are funny, Moth.¡± ¡°Well, you got me there!¡± She quite suddenly remembered something else she wanted to speak to Redberry about and felt a bubble of anxiety. ¡°Speaking of courtships¡­ oof¡­¡± ¡°Out with it, then.¡± ¡°Another thing for the itinerary¡­ um¡­ Blueberry. Azure. I- we¡­ need- er, want to marry. Yup! I just¡­ have no clue how to go about this and¡­ well, I wanted your advice.¡± ¡°I see. I will perform the ceremony as a Southlander wedding. So what stage are you at exactly? Has either of you broached the subject to the other?¡± ¡°Yeah! See, this is what I want to ask about! She mentioned she¡¯d be my wife ¡®someday soon¡¯ and it kind of took me by surprise. So.¡± ¡°And what did you say?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°So you verbally agreed to her proposal.¡± ¡°I did?¡± ¡°Well, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Um. Yes. Definitely. But-¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± ¡°Thanks, but, er, now what?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know? Anywhere in the known world, as far as I know, your agreement equates to you broaching three or more days later to arrange a formal betrothal. Otherwise, you¡¯d have someone go to them on your behalf to cancel or re-negotiate, and then they could eventually arrange the betrothal.¡± ¡°Oh. So¡­ Now I go to her and just say ¡®Let¡¯s get hitched,¡¯ at this point? Or is there more?¡± ¡°In the Southlands, you give them some article of your clothing, classically a ribbon but always something obvious and public so your close friends and family can see and ask where it is. That¡¯s why nearly all Southlander women wear ribbons in their hair. Your love might wear what you give them or keep it hidden but generally on their person. It¡¯s a symbol of your acceptance, though still not technically formal. Most will show it off in some fashion.¡± ¡°Neat. Do I get a ribbon, too?¡± ¡°No. You were the one asked, and thus courted. You give the article as acceptance.¡± ¡°Shucks.¡± Despite this, Sammy grinned. There were nice butterflies in her stomach. ¡°Okay. Will do. I can¡¯t wait!¡± ¡°The timeframe for the betrothal should be, once again, three or more days. There¡¯s no specific habit here. Some fast track, some have a long period to help prepare for the wedding to come. A wedding is more of a celebration because the betrothal is considered binding by¡­ well, me. I supposedly am the officiator of every betrothal, with the actual official standing in my stead. Even those corners of the Southlands wiped of my acknowledgment say, ¡®May the Ancient Trees bear witness above all and approve of these vines binding.¡¯ That refers to my dryads and me.¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Sammy listened intently, fascinated. ¡°So, what happens during a betrothal compared to a wedding? Ooh, do you do the handfasting binding thing?!¡± ¡°I am not familiar with that term, but each is to separately bring a symbol of their binding of the other. Classically, this is a new, red ribbon ¡ª and I should note the first ribbon you give should thus not be red. Another common item is a certain reddish vine. Whatever it is, you tie it around each other¡¯s wrists into a bow. For the wedding, you place a ring of some kind, usually wood, bone, or metal, and then remove the wrist binding without undoing the bow. Most hang them on the marriage bed posts. You might notice most have screwed-in rounded tops. ¡°It is considered bad luck and doom for the marriage to have the bow come undone, so most glue the knot, and possibly even glue them to the posts. But you can¡¯t glue the knot while it¡¯s on the wrist. Not a good idea to begin with. Some will protect it under a clasp to keep it from being damaged or undone through the betrothal period.¡± ¡°This is just incredible! And extremely specific.¡± Redberry shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t come up with it. That¡¯s entirely elven and then human convolution. I think? I don¡¯t remember exactly. My invocation in the rituals is probably a replacement for other gods.¡± Sammy didn¡¯t point out how ¡®bindings¡¯ were entirely appropriate themes for anything tied to Redberry. I mean, what are the odds she didn¡¯t influence this in some way? Denial much, Red? ¡°What about Naugite?¡± Sammy asked instead. ¡°Trust me, Samantha. I at least know Azure well enough to understand she¡¯d be a complete sap for all of this. The Land of Naug is not ornate about such things, nor very focused on dedication. The only contract they get into has to do with the division of property and inheritance, complicated depending on the clan, but I would classify them all as poisonously pragmatic. In any case, Azure would vastly prefer to act as a proper suitor in the more romantic Southlands tradition.¡± ¡°Hmm! Well, okay then, I just have to give her a ribbon first off. Blue! It should be blue.¡± ¡°Sure. You¡¯ll need three official witnesses for the official betrothal, including me; one is supposed to be of your family, and one of hers. I suppose you¡¯ll need stand-ins. More can come if you want. It is usually done outdoors next to a significant tree.¡± Sammy frowned. Family. We don¡¯t have any available. My adoptive mother for me is more than fine, but what about Azure? Damn. Could we find someone? Couldn¡¯t hurt to ask. Redberry continued, ¡°I believe that¡¯s all, Moth? I have some knots of my own to untie. Keep me a breast and let me know as soon as you do in regards to the betrothal. Good luck with the operation.¡± Sammy narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the way Redberry said ¡®a breast,¡¯ unsure if it was misheard, intentional, or Freudian. ¡°Thanks again, Red. I will.¡± Before she could even think about getting around to final Dominion Operation prep work, Sammy zipped back to the Geirkos hideout, materializing and diving into her honestly quite modest closet of Actual, Physical clothes. She really didn¡¯t have much of anything that fit the bill of something cloth that everyone would notice was gone. Hmm. Something more than a random piece. Come on¡­ what¡¯s a memorable ensemble? Something from when we first met¡­ or maybe a first date? Hypothetically, the first was eating at Brackenhome in the inn, right before shit hit the fan with the Meritosi Brothers. But she hadn¡¯t been wearing anything special. Then there was the big meeting in Geirkos where Azure had first sat by her and even fed food from her own hand. Sammy smiled faintly in memory. She¡¯d got totally sprung by that. Everyone else present knew they were ¡®together.¡¯ Everyone besides Dumbo Samantha! It was right after their dragon ride on Dart, where Azure had her arms around her waist. Sammy had stopped her when she almost pulled away¡­ Neither of us could help ourselves. She switched over to her [Birdy Dress] outfit half in reminiscence. It wasn¡¯t exactly unfamiliar ¡ª she wore it often. She had been wearing it the first time they were being cute together, possibly on their first date. It fortunately had a sky blue sash as part of the outfit. Much larger than a ribbon, but, hey, she was a goddess! A little extra was expected! It might also be noticeable without the sash. It was hard to say. She felt like people wouldn¡¯t bother mentioning such a subtlety. As she removed the sash, her eyes were drawn to the colorful bird imprints of the dress. All the birds of her order on display, from sparrow to¡­ Sammy gasped as an idea came to her. The phoenix! It represents the high priestess, who first was Azure. She cast a simple customization/alteration spell to modify her clothes, removing the phoenix imprint from the dress and putting it on the sash. ¡°Haha! Now that¡¯s what I call noticeable!¡± Sammy quickly sent an urgent mental message to Azure, faking sudden emotional alarm. ¡°Blueberry! Oh no! Drop what you¡¯re doing and come to me quickly and immediately! Hurry!¡± ¡°What? What is it?!¡± Azure exclaimed, but a more physical response could soon be felt. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Azure bodily spawned like liquid turning into crystal. She spun around, her wicked dagger Deathsting already in hand and looking for someone to stab. Then she noticed where she was and the dagger lowered. ¡°Wait-¡± Grinning, Samantha held out her sash with both hands, the golden-red phoenix plainly visible and presented. ¡°My gorgeous suitor, I present to you a symbol of my acceptance of your proposal for betrothal and marriage. I am yours, darling.¡± Azure went wide-eyed and gasped in shock. She even dropped Deathsting as her hands shot to cover her face. The dagger didn¡¯t hit the floor, of course. With a faint ¡°Hmph,¡± it returned smoothly to its sheath. Azure did not even notice. She stared at the sash with tunnel vision. ¡°Surrendering an article,¡± Azure whispered reverently as her hands slowly lowered. Her eyes shone with wetness. ¡°Like out of the stories¡­ I¡¯ve fantasized about this¡­ once, to be the one surrendering, and then later, to be the receiver. Woman and woman. You can thank Southland novels for putting such notions in my head¡­¡± Samantha chuckled as she continued holding out the sash. ¡°I am thankful for that, Azure. I definitely am.¡± Azure had the spell over her break a bit as she glanced over the sash at Samantha. Her cheeks went a bit purple! She fell to a knee and very reverently and solemnly took the sash lightly in her hands, gently from underneath. Locking eyes with Samantha, she declared, ¡°I will cherish this forever, and you far more, my love, my goddess, my Chestnut. Samantha, we will be bound together and wedded soon, with much glory and beauty owed to you, though nothing could ever fully equal what you deserve; nor could anything of matter express what you mean to me.¡± Whatever power Samantha had within her to respond elegantly was crippled by the girl within her ¡ª a girl overcome. All she could do was burst into tears of raw emotion. She released the sash ¡ª Azure took it and rose quickly to embrace her. Clinging to her Blueberry and sobby, Sammy managed, ¡°I love you!¡± ¡°I love you, too.¡±