I affixed the belts and clasps of the metal appendage to the frame around my bleeding leg. While it wasn't ideal, I lacked the time to adjust the new leg to align appropriately with my less-than-standard body shape. This would have to do. I'd be able to move it, even if that movement would be slightly limited. I'd be able to hide it given a few days of practice, not that I had a few days. I'd been out for longer than I anticipated, and I'd already missed the meeting time with The Hero by a whole day. I'd have to hurry to find her and apologize, but I'd have to make good on the deals I made in the past few days.
One of the deals would be much easier than the other. All I need to do is take my mask off partway to release the restraints on the aura of fear surrounding me, and give the gnomish woman before me the experience she desires. The other deal would take a bit longer, only because I must wait till I have enough mana to hold a conversation to honor that one.
"ow's i fit?" The Gnome asked me, the cadence of a craftsman slipping into her voice.
"Will do." I wrote out a short response.
"So wood tha ohtter one." She barked. "ah'm ahskin if thiis oon ill be enouf to le yu liv yur life tha sam way."
"Real leg," "too thin." "Attached," "oddly." "Will do," "for now." The process was long, but writing out the words like this was still easier than using the less refined handsign.
"Aye." She nodded in understanding while looking at how I'd attached the limb. "I coud fix thah, bu i tahkes tahm."
"Will do it," "myself," "when I," "can."
"Mm" She nodded in acquiescence.
We'd already discussed, to a degree, how the next part would play out. Despite her desire, The Gnome was not actually the type that enjoyed being frightened. With that in mind, she'd be at the other side of the room, just past the hatch, and I would remain at the bed. I would provide as quick a pulse of the aura around my body as the limitation would allow. That isn't to say she'd only feel the unnatural fear for a moment. The nature of the restrictions designed into my coat and mask meant the duration of even the shortest pulse would be at least ten seconds. That is how long it takes for the paired engraving to reseal the aura, as that is one of the last things it was designed to do.
I reached up and carefully unsnapped the six latches holding my mask to the frame around my body. At this point, the engraving was still successfully using the natural energy in the air to power itself. But, as I pulled the mask away from my face, a tangible snap marked when my aura started pouring out into the room.
I noted The Gnomes body going rigid, her muscles tightening from the sudden fear. Her pupils shook, and drops of sweat appeared on her forehead. But beyond these physical manifestations, I couldn't tell how the terror impacted her. That was something only she would know.
I reset the clasps around my head with practiced ease, affixing the mask in place. I felt the threaded engraving hum as the twin crystals behind the mask's eyeholes returned to the coats’ formation. Neither crystal powered the relevant functions, but the engraving allowed me access to the resources within them without holding the crystals in my hands. The gnomish woman across the way continued to stand ramrod straight, the fear coming from me still flooding the area. Another part of the engraving returned, which helped prevent the blending of my mind and the other who would lay claim to my body. I saw a tiny bit of blood drip from The Gnome’s hands; her hands clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Finally, the part of the pattern stitched throughout the entire coat finished resuming its job, and the part that helped hide my constitution came to life.
The Gnome almost collapsed forward as the aura of false fear vanished from the room. Stumbling forward, she placed her hands on her knees, panting heavily, doing her best to catch a breath I had failed to notice she was holding. She didn't say a word to me as she left through the hatch, not that I took any offense to this. It was better than her trying to kill me after all, like many others before her. Now I'd have Scales refill the crystals in my mask if he was capable of doing so, then provide an explanation to The Guardsmen.
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As it turned out, Scales could not refill the crystals, as he was far worse off than I in terms of mana. However, proving himself fairly intelligent and reasonably knowledgeable on this particular uncommon item, The Guardsmen knew how to refill at least one of them. He, unfortunately, didn't know about the other one, but I could deal with that one for now. Watching him grow uncomfortable at sticking his finger where my eye should have been was quite amusing, but not exceptionally so. Unfortunately, he'd been unable to fill it entirely, but that was well within expectation. The amount he provided would be more than enough for now.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
After refilling my mana crystal, he'd been quite eager to hear my explanation about the feeling that led him to the top of the tower during my spell. I was happy to provide it after everything he'd done for me.
"You, like a fair few others across the world, hold what is a mostly unique ability, outside of the ones provided by the system." I started my explanation, and he listened with rapt attention. "While I, unfortunately, cannot tell you the details of how yours works, I can hazard a guess. I imagine it has to do with danger of some kind in the area around you, or a situation you can help with, should you follow that feeling." I continued. "While up on the tower, I assumed it was the former. However, after you proved vital to me surviving my spell, I'm leaning more to the latter," I wrote, trying my best to be concise with my explanation. "Unfortunately, I cannot provide any advice to you in figuring out the specifics of your ability, nor could I for any others I've encountered. But now that you know what to look for, you should gain the necessary experience for its use more rapidly." I wrote out a closing statement, indicating that I had no more to say, so he could ask any questions if he had any.
"So I'll encounter that feeling again?" He asked, unease in his voice.
"Almost assuredly. And my advice, for now, would be to follow it cautiously." I replied.
He didn't say anything further, only nodding slowly to indicate he understood, but probably wasn't completely confident in following my advice.
Regardless of how he felt about my advice, I had honored my end of the deal and needed to hurry to find The Hero. So, I bid my farewells, thanked the two of them for the assistance they'd provided me, and began my search of the town.
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"Where have you been?" The Hero asked, a tiny bit of concern mixed in a fair bit of hurt, betrayal, and anger laced her voice. "We had our meeting yesterday; we were supposed to leave yesterday as well, which you'd have known if you'd been there." She continued, clearly more upset the longer she spoke.
Finding her had not been difficult; in fact, I found her in the first place I checked. I'd decided to start where I was supposed to meet them yesterday. Right at the table I'd sat at several times, she sat with the worst expression I'd seen on her face to date. I didn’t even have the opportunity to write out anything before she spotted me and dragged me to a more private locale, where she began berating me for my absence. I couldn't blame her. From her perspective, I'd simply not shown up after claiming I was low on funds the day prior.
"I hope, I really hope, you have a good explanation for vanishing like that. I mean, no one could find you, you didn't give any warning. Some of the others wanted to leave without you. Should I have let them?" The longer she talked, the more I felt that this was not entirely to do with myself. Yet I could do nothing with that feeling, so I pushed it aside for the moment.
I prepared to tell a lie, to create some entirely false reason as to why I'd been unable to make the meeting yesterday. However, a slight pull at the back of my mind stopped me. With how subtle the web of fate was, whatever it did to help achieve my goal could be as subtle as a pebble landing at someone's feet. However, it could also be as grand as spontaneous combustion at the right time. That pull on my mind suggested that at least a portion of the truth was needed here, else the web of fate would no longer assist in my current goal.
So with the hope that I was interpreting that feeling correctly, I lifted my pants' leg, revealing the false limb beneath.
"Uhh," The Hero paused, clearly not interpreting any meaning from the replaced limb, but that was fine: I was always good at spinning a story in situations like this.
"I apologize that it took so long, but I had to get this adjusted before we left. Recent events left my leg a little worse for wear, so it needed repairs. That took much longer than initially anticipated." I wrote out an approximation of the truth. I hadn't lied, only obscured the details. If those missing details lead The Hero to believe I had this prosthetic before we met, then all the better.
"What happened?" The Hero asked, the darker emotions draining from her voice, replaced with almost pure compassion.
"The consequences of a gamble." Again, I avoided lying, or at least I only lied by omission.
"Why didn't you say anything?" She asked, that compassion tainted ever so slightly with betrayal.
"We all have our secrets, our pasts; I'd hoped to keep this one to myself." I evaded her question, cautious that I might dig a deep pit for myself if I revealed too much.
"I…." She started, clearly unsure how to proceed. "I don't know what to say." She confessed.
"Need you say anything?" I asked, taking the opportunity to steer her away from this topic. "I apologize for missing the meeting, and I will do my utmost to prevent something like this from happening again." I truly did mean what I said; I wouldn't be taking a risk like this again any time soon. "If you would deem it prudent to forgive me, I would be more than grateful, but I would also like to keep this hidden from the others, if possible." Again, I entirely meant what I wrote; the time for falsehoods had passed, and now was the time to appease the girl in front of me.
I could see the argument ensuing in her mind; it shined in her eyes. I'd never claim to understand what occurred in the minds of the summoned, nor would I ever prevent whatever it was. After all, it kept them all safe in a way I never could. I had learned over the years that whatever occurred when the eyes of a summoned twinkled with false light, it helped them choose a way forward. So I waited without adding to my request for her to decide what she wished to do.