Amdirlain’s PoV - Nepal Mountains
For five days, Amdirlain constantly sang; in her lightning-fast perception, she combated the gnawing pain with music for an agonising eternity. Sarah hadn’t left once but remained standing behind Amdirlain’s floating form with arms wrapped around her midsection; the comforting touch provided a welcome anchor within the storm of torture and song. As yet another notification among the thousands flared in Amdirlain’s awareness, she brushed it aside only for it to repeat.
[Phoenix’s Rapture-Lord [G] (99->100)
Mental Hardening-Prince [G] (499->500)
Phoenix’s Rapture can evolve into Phoenix’s Symphony.
Power will combine:
- Resonance-Prince
- Phoenix’s Rapture-Lord
- Harmony
- Mental Hardening-Prince
- Pain Eater
- Time Sense
Do you wish to allow it?
Note: Please don’t ignore this again. You can restrict what you hear around you but not mute it entirely. With it, you’ll find you can filter sensations like you can tune Resonance.]
[Phoenix’s Symphony
Details: This Power makes the possessor’s awareness and body one with external and internal energies. It refines and expands all the incorporated powers and skills, with Resonance permanently running even in passive mode. All sensations are now translated through True Song.
This Power retains the same regenerative and shapeshifting powers as Phoenix’s Rapture. The aura effect radius is now controllable and can include any possessed Affinity. The retributive strike has a two-hundred-year recharge.
Note: You can control the range and degree of what you’re hearing if you’re still insisting on wandering blindly; you can’t disable this Power without that agony swamping you again.]
Yes.
The notification displayed the result of the combined powers and skills, but the surge of details as it absorbed and refined Resonance-Prince grabbed Amdirlain’s attention. An expanse of atoms over two million kilometres long shone in her mind. She could trace a spiral of helium and hydrogen gradually converging on the midpoint of the artificial gravity she’d created to restrain the mass from scattering through the void. That she’d opened the gates relative to it gave her a precise distance to gauge her expanded reach.
I had it focused on a narrow band, so that extended the range, but that jump was unexpected.
With that music shining in her mind, she took in the last tally of the Power at Grandmaster level three hundred and twenty-nine and dismissed the rest. Yet, despite its importance, another change quickly overwhelmed it. The agony in her Soul became an orchestral cascade, brushing her awareness with a deluge of music no more challenging than listening to a planet had been previously. Though it was bearable in that form, Amdirlain took Gideon at their word and tried to filter the notes. As if a switch had flicked, the varied notes became a constant beat; part of her mind counted them off.
I’m glad you provided trustworthy advice, Gideon; please don’t revert to the gaslighting.
As the torture ended, she noticed that all physical sensations had become sound mixed in with a strange semi-tactile feedback. Aware that Sarah was still holding her but in no rush to move, she observed the music running through her. She could still hear the atoms she’d created and the gravitational shifts the increased density of matter in the proto-system had caused. She pulled her awareness inwards, yet the new music remained. The warmth of Sarah’s form through their clothing was a soft run of notes caressing her mind, and it echoed oddly as her expectations translated it to her old senses.
Yet another step closer to the way Ori perceived reality.
Amdirlain shut down the gates. “That wasn’t fun.”
The ordinary act of speech was now strange. As her tongue brushed her soft palate and hard teeth, Amdirlain caught a mix of sharp and flat notes that mingled with her words.
Sarah gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Do we kill him?”
“I got a lot of upgrades,” said Amdirlain. Though tempted to bury the truth, she forced herself to continue. “Also, some weirdness, actually a lot of weirdness. All sensations are now True Song notes. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to pretend to be Human any more, though I’ve got some adjusting to do, so maybe when I’m acclimatised?”
“What?”
“There is an odd echo translating to my physical sensations, even though I understand the music,” clarified Amdirlain. “It’s more how Ori perceived reality.”
“All the sensations, and they have an extra depth to them?” asked Sarah.
“Yep. Hopefully, getting the sound and sensation in sync doesn’t take too long.” Amdirlain trailed a finger along the back of Sarah’s arm. She drifted within the entwined trails of music, her physical touch, the sound of Sarah’s clothing, and the warm reaction within her love.
“Are you trying to distract me? Has the agony stopped?”
“Yes and no, in that order. Though with the pain, I’ve got control over it. The same way I can filter songs, I’ve just got it as a background beat at present,” advised Amdirlain.
Sarah released a long exhalation and rested her chin on Amdirlain’s shoulder. “Bloody god playing games. I had hoped these would be different.”
“Really?”
“For your sake.”
“I can’t turn Resonance off completely anymore. Check on Phoenix’s Symphony,” advised Amdirlain. “It also sucked in my extra Mental Hardening, but it doesn’t sound like things beating against my brain are going to be an issue.”
“It could be if they overwhelm the capacity of the Power to filter things,” cautioned Sarah.
“True, inherent caveat.”
Sarah released Amdirlain, who immediately landed and returned her embrace.
“Has it continued to spread?”
“My Soul’s landscape has a metal enamel over it with all the craters filled in, the only imperfection is the connection points to my spiritual net. It’s more than a little weird.”
“Weird?” Sarah snorted. “I think we’re beyond the borders of weird. Are we continuing with this trip? You’ve had Resonance off until now.”
“It’s a self-restriction that I decided on. While I could be wrong in my interpretation, the quiet gave me the time to focus on my baggage.” Amdirlain huffed unhappily, debating on the approach to take. “I want those technique manuals and can restrict Resonance’s reach. At the moment, it’s translating my physical senses. I’ll push it out to cover my surroundings for a hundred metres. I can easily handle that and still meditate.”
I’ll need to take time out to explore all the changes.
“Okay,”
“Jinfeng and the others are up at the arena. The Senior Master ranked matches started this morning.”
Amdirlain found Jinfeng in the upper seating with no evidence of recent healing.
“She hasn’t fought yet,” advised Amdirlain. “I’m going to have to learn greater self-control. When Resonance was off, it was easy, but now the Power is on, checking on Jinfeng was an automated glance.”
“Too much knowing will impede understanding,” quipped Sarah.
Amdirlain interrupted her with a lingering kiss and cupped her face when they finally broke off. “Sorry for worrying you.”
“These things are outside our control. I take it you’re going back up?”
“Got to watch my pupil’s fights,”
“I’m coming with you,” said Sarah. A mithril pendant appeared in her hands, and she donned it. “All their bases belong to me. Is that the saying?”
“Close enough.”
“Let me change into something suitable.”
“How much trouble are they in?” Amdirlain asked.
Sarah’s clothing morphed into a red diaphanous silk top and nearly sheer pants.
“Is that all? You wore things like that at the outpost all the time.”
“I’m immune to cold, and I already tested the redirection of their wards while you were watching Jinfeng’s earlier fights. Let’s go.”
Amdirlain shrugged and teleported them to the rear of the section reserved for her use. Across the arena in the Grandmaster’s section, Nazha nodded to greet their arrival.
Cyrus paused in mid-sentence, his attention jumping between Amdirlain and Sarah. “Are you well?”
“I’ve got the pain isolated, but it’s ongoing,” admitted Amdirlain. “It’s caused some serious changes. Will you have time to spar this evening?”
“Of course.”
“Are you going to be alright, Sifu?” asked Jinfeng, turning her attention from the arena floor.
“Oh, I thrive under pressure,” Amdirlain replied drily.
I never expected that pressure to be from a sphere compressing my Soul.
Nazha’s shift in attention drew Indra Ka’s gaze to their seats and Sarah’s presence caused a surge of stunned disbelief. She returned his attention with a tight smile. ‘Your protections aren’t as strong as you believe. A decently educated Wyrm will get through them.’
Amdirlain caught Sarah’s projected thought as it echoed in the Grandmaster’s mind, but his panicked thoughts didn’t crack his composure.
‘You’re having fun,’ Amdirlain shared with Sarah alone. ‘Are you going to tell him the education level is to your standards, not those of the locals?’
‘Nah! He wants to pull strings, so I’ll play him like a violin,’ returned Sarah. ‘I’m sure he knows other Tao Enchanters, and I’ve got some techniques I want to learn from them. You want anything from him?’
‘He’s all yours to take to the cleaners.’
“When is your first fight, Jinfeng?”
“The ballot draw is just before each fight commences,” advised Jinfeng. “There are ten rounds to accumulate enough wins to make it to the final.”
“I’m sorry I missed your other matches in the previous tier.”
“I took first place and Timur second, so we’ll only fight again if we both make the finals,” Jinfeng said, answering Amdirlain’s unspoken question.
“Have you told him not to rush off after my exchange with the Grandmaster?”
“He is aware.”
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Let’s watch the matches. There might be tricks you can avoid in the future.” Amdirlain turned her attention to the arena.
A panel above the doors into the inner keep displayed one hundred and four names initially split between two columns, with Jinfeng’s and Timur’s names separated. As the fights progressed, the ballots drawn determined the names from alternating columns.
Amdirlain’s attention strayed from the fighting that felt glacially slow with her heightened attention. She found herself drawn to sunlight; its sound felt like she was amidst a rainstorm. The varying particles and energies rang differing notes depending on the materials touched. As the visible spectrum splashed against materials, the radiations warbling through them chimed subtle chords.
I can hear the subatomic so clearly now.
Eventually, Sarah caught Amdirlain’s attention by brushing against their mental link. ‘You’re zoned out?’
‘I’ve been listening to electrons play,’ Amdirlain returned.
‘Jinfeng drew Indra Ka.’
The news snapped Amdirlain’s attention into focus, and she took in Jinfeng’s calmness and nodded to her reassuringly. “Make him sweat.”
Klipyl put a hand to her mouth, her gaze sparkly with mischief.
Jinfeng rolled her eyes at Klipyl’s antics before calmly saluting Amdirlain. “As you say, Sifu.”
“Relax and have fun,” cheered Klipyl.
‘Do you want me to play muse while you fight him?’ Amdirlain projected.
Jinfeng jumped from the balcony and drifted to the arena floor. ‘I doubt people will know to make an issue if my skills advance rapidly during this fight, but I’d like to see how I do where I am now.’
The Grandmaster set aside his outer robes and descended to the arena dressed in black pants and a loose shirt edged with crimson swirls.
“It is unfortunate for your final ranking that we face each other so soon, Master Lu,” Indra Ka offered.
Jinfeng shrugged. “It is fortunate for another, and I’ll happily seize an early opportunity to learn.”
A traditional polearm appeared in his right hand; the guandao was a quarterstaff-length haft with a long curved blade of black adamantine that came in a sharp point at one end and a spike at the other. He twirled it effortlessly in one hand. “Weapons or bare hands?”
“Perhaps Lady Am will educate you in unarmed techniques,” replied Jinfeng. “I shall look to further my Dao by enduring your weapon skills.”
“As you honoured Master Guang.” He saluted Jinfeng by dipping the polearm’s tip but brought it to the ready before he stepped into the circle. Jinfeng passed her scabbard to a nearby attendant before replying to his salute and progressed towards him cautiously, watching his body rather than his weapon, which was slicing figure-eights in the air.
Neither of them had activated any Ki defences.
A controlled jab from Indra Ka slid across Jinfeng’s angled blade in a hissing slither of metal. A flurry of jabs and cuts herded Jinfeng around the circle. She gave ground casually but prevented him from forcing her out.
As he spun the polearm through where she’d stood, Jinfeng hopped. The sudden movement put her rear foot atop the blade’s side and her front on the haft. He spun the weapon to dump her to the ground, but Jinfeng stepped off. She countered his next attempt to herd her with a flowing dash that put her inside his reach. He stepped back and twirled the weapon fast enough that it imitated an angry buzz saw as it ripped the air. His body gathered for a strike, but Jinfeng beat his momentum. The tip of her blade spun with his defence and cut through bone. As his little finger fell away, the polearm cleaved downwards, forcing Jinfeng to throw herself to his left side. Her hasty evasion brought time for his finger to reform.
Absently kicking the severed digit from the circle, he studied her closely. He slightly lengthened his stance and brought the haft overhead as he dropped the tip of the guandao level with her abdomen. “A well-timed cut.”
No, she missed his thumb. Did he miss what she’d targeted or just compliment the result?
The pair sidestepped to circle each other without Jinfeng acknowledging his comment as she continued reading his posture and the shifts related to the weapon’s motions.
Indra Ka’s movements had been sharp and efficient; now, they sped up. Yet months of sparring with Amdirlain allowed Jinfeng to flow with his attacks. She adapted to his style, and Indra Ka had to continue increasing the pace. The arena echoed with the chime of the weapons ringing off each other with every exchange. Amdirlain heard Jinfeng’s evolution, and a blaze of Ki ignited along the blade to sever the guandao’s haft.
Before the light faded, Indra Ka stepped forward, pressing her Jian aside with the haft’s stub. His first kick lifted her from the ground, and a brutal follow-up sent her towards the circle’s edge. Jinfeng stopped only metres away. Four crushed ribs had her coughing up blood, but she landed with her stance restored. A flow of Ki knitted ribs back together, pulling even splinters of bone from her lungs, the only evidence of the wound was the blood staining her lips and ground.
Indra Ka spun the remains of the haft about until the spike aimed at Jinfeng as a shortened spear.
‘What did you do?’ projected Sarah.
Amdirlain smiled. ‘It wasn’t me, at least nothing deliberate. Her Immortal Spirit, Ki Strike, and Jian Skill all evolved.’
“You attack limbs,” noted Cyrus. “It seems Jinfeng has picked up on that tactic. I think he finds the game no longer to his taste.”
A violent energy rippled off Indra Ka as he coiled to strike, but Jinfeng’s stance relaxed, and she saluted him.
“I surrender,” Jinfeng said, her clear, confident tone audible throughout the silent arena. “Thank you for the lesson, Grandmaster Indra Ka.”
Indra Ka grounded the spiked end of his spear, and his gaze rested on the perfectly severed top. “It seems you have a significant insight to meditate on, Master Lu Jinfeng.”
“I do,” replied Jinfeng. “With your permission, I’ll withdraw from the tournament. I wish to see where it leads.”
Indra Ka frowned briefly but gave a magnanimous nod. “If you ever have time to attend again, we’ll include you in this tier.”
“Blooded him and broke his weapon,” murmured Cyrus. “He won’t be at all pleased.”
Aware of the weapon’s cost and the Grandmaster’s focus on maintaining the keep, Amdirlain tossed up options but ultimately shrugged them off.
‘He roped Jinfeng into his games and he won a prize for his efforts.’ noted Sarah.
‘That he tried to crush her chest when he didn’t like the cost is unattractive behaviour.’ returned Amdirlain, ‘I’m not impressed, but I’ll see how he behaves in other matches.’
Jinfeng exchanged bows with Indra Ka and collected her sheath before returning to their seating.
“It seems you picked up some dance steps,” quipped Amdirlain.
“All thanks to you, Sifu,” replied Jinfeng, her calm demeanour cracking slightly, her gaze distracted by an inward focus.
Amdirlain nodded and motioned her to sit, aware Jinfeng’s mind was racing. “Meditate, Jinfeng. I’ll ensure you’re not disturbed.”
With a grateful nod, Jinfeng sat in the back row with her blade across her lap. As she settled down, Amdirlain set a sound barrier in place and returned her attention to the arena floor where the next ballot was being drawn. The fights throughout the day contained the displays of power she’d expected. Blazing Ki strikes and blasts tore between combatants; weapons wrapped in enchantments and Ki clashed in a flurry. The light shows cast shadows among the crowd even at noon. Few battles needed to be fought to bloody submission, with most masters recognising their opponent’s higher proficiency, yet still they forced their superior to fight them to a standstill.
I should have branched out to more Ki powers, but I’ve still not learnt enough about the ones I have.
Amdirlain paid attention to the energies flowing within each practitioner and tried to determine how the powers and techniques might convert between their chakras and her spiritual net.
Timur won two rounds of fighting, aiding his progress within the senior tier. He was among the few who fought a second match. Of the winners on the board, nine names gained green jade markers beside them, the Grandmaster’s having a white jade claw.
Klipyl pointed at a green jade marker. “What do those mean?”
“They are the sitting masters. The sect traditionally has a gatekeeper challenge,” said Cyrus. “Instead of waiting for the draws, one can nominate to face the senior council. Beating even a small majority of them puts you directly in the semi-finals, and everyone else competes for the other spots.”
Klipyl cooed. “Do you think Timur will go for it?”
“What’s the downside?”
“If you take it and win none of them, you’re eliminated from the senior ranks, even if you previously held rank in the tier,” clarified Kadaklan.
“It’s a test of wisdom and discernment,” commented Cyrus. “If you are arrogant enough to believe you stand a chance and can’t meet the challenge...”
He paused meaningfully, and so Amdirlain finished for him. “They’ll set you back and make you wait to regain what you lost.”
Amdirlain caught Timur’s gaze on the board from his spot in the stands, but he clenched his fists against his thighs and bowed his head.
Jinfeng expected him to be among the senior masters. Did he lose the challenge?
“I’d think the sect would grow stagnant,” observed Sarah. “This tournament would keep all but the most talented or experienced from progressing. Once you get enough masters possessing Immortal spirit, there’d be no vacancies from deaths.”
“Like other sects that hold such competitions, it’s not unusual for experienced masters to move into the ancestral ranks. The downside is they’ll receive more limited resources from the sect after they do,” advised Cyrus. “The ancestral ranks teach the students.”
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
As the last fights ended for the day, a few delegations accompanied Indra Ka and Nazha to their section. Aware of the commitment she’d given Indra Ka to at least hear them out, Amdirlain refrained from immediately retreating. After the meet-and-greets on Qil Tris, it was simple to listen to their request with a solid facade of politeness. While some of her answers were non-committal though sympathetic, others provided information on the regions in the Outpost’s gathering trial that contained the materials their group needed for projects.
Indra Ka and Nazha lingered after the others departed.
“How is it you know so much about these trials? Have you explored them all?” asked Indra Ka.
The knowledge that I created them has remained contained to a few people it seems.
“I have a map.”
“Would this map be available for sale?”
He's looking for leverage to be involved in the trials.
“Have you tried asking the Monastery of the Western Reaches if they’ll let your members venture into the trials?”
Indra Ka regarded her suspiciously. “Why would they share access to such precious resources?”
“You had a bunch of people here asking if or where materials they needed might be sourced,” observed Amdirlain. “Did you think I just provided them information so they could send job requests to the Outpost’s Duty Pavilion?”
“Yes.”
Nazha stared at Indra Ka in disbelief. “You lot don’t know their origin?”
“Nazha,” scolded Amdirlain. “I’d appreciate you not sticking your nose in. The last time you did that netted you a headband.”
“A person’s Dao influences someone’s perception of reality,” replied Nazha.
“If that’s how they want to handle it, then the choice is yours, but you’re on thin ice with me,” Amdirlain responded drily. “I understand getting to the Outlands is difficult for immortals.”
Should I point out that the dragon stairs were used to evacuate large groups of humanity but there are ways for mortals to travel between planes? Spatial Affinity is rare, but artificers don’t require it. They need more effort to create portals, not a particular innate talent.
“I can get there,” offered Nazha. “Though I might need to stay clear of Master Livia.”
She’s not ready to smack you about it yet, but if she follows in Ebusuku’s shoes, it’ll be in an eye blink in Celestial timescales.
“Most immortals don’t have the means to traverse the planes, and the dragon stairs take time,” said Amdirlain. “But consider what assumptions you’re making on behalf of others.”
“Mortals can use gates or portals, but the problem is finding a Wizard or Artificer who knows how to create them,” offered Cyrus. “The Monastery of the Western Reaches uses the stairs because we have access to neither.”
“I offered to provide them for a fee,” said Amdirlain. “The masters spent too long discussing it, and I left before you decided.”
Indra Ka’s gaze narrowed at their banter. “What kind of fee?”
“That’s beside the point. I didn’t set up the Gate, and you’re just sending a request there,” observed Amdirlain.
“How would you handle requesting cooperation from them?”
He knows Livia is my adopted daughter, though technically, I’m the one that keeps getting adopted.
“I’d start by saying hi and then asking if you might place contingents at the outpost to risk the trials. My levy applies to resources gathered, but it’s nominal,” said Amdirlain before she motioned to Master Cyrus. “There is even someone from the Western Reaches to speak for them. Fancy that!”
“Your levy?”
It saves me from continually creating more materials for projects to help others. I’ll use those materials to fund the micro-loan scheme.
“Of course. I’ve projects that need resources,” said Amdirlain. “Like my loan scheme, which your sect will oversee locally.”
“You didn’t say it would reach outside our borders,” Indra Ka stated.
“I’m sure you don’t want your clerks caught up running it throughout the West Wind’s Kingdom,” Amdirlain laughed cynically. “Or did you see it entirely as a little profit centre for the keep? A growing one, depending on how closely I watch over what you charged for the clerk’s time?”
“Corruption is a choice,” said Cyrus.
“I’m not in the business of choices anymore,” replied Amdirlain. “I’m trying to focus on creating.”
Cyrus smiled. “How is this creation?”
“Opening up opportunities is creation,” rebuffed Amdirlain. “I just want to ensure that people don’t gorge themselves on my opportunities at the expense of others.”
Nazha laughed gleefully. “Have you got a set of rules you’ll impose on him?”
“Those rules were to ensure the souls got their opportunity for a fresh start,” said Amdirlain. “You can give up our agreement anytime you like, Nazha. As long as you’re prepared to take on a more unpleasant task.”
“That’s alright, I think I’ll stick with it.”
Amdirlain regarded Indra Ka silently before turning to Cyrus. “Sifu, would you head this off? Protections are in place, and no one is taking those keys off Livia without the trials ejecting everyone and closing up shop.”
“There are possibilities,” Cyrus rose. “Let us speak, Grandmaster Indra Ka.”
As the two of them departed, Amdirlain regarded Nazha. “Why did you stick around?”
“You’re not worried about talking to deities, are you?”
“Have you gone to check on Atonement? The key will deliver you near the towers that hold the currently populated facilities.”
He smiled sheepishly at Amdirlain. “You look fine now. Is my debt clear already?”
“Appearances are deceiving,” said Amdirlain. “The debt is clear when I return the headband and not before, Nazha.”
“Cyrus said you were doing some closed-door meditation.”
“I needed time to focus until I could think past the pain without it inciting rash action.”
“Rash actions? The evocation of an Aspect isn’t a rash action?” Nazha pointed at his headband.
“That was a bluff. I didn’t expect Eleftherios to contribute, and certainly not in such a dramatic fashion,” explained Amdirlain. “I’m happy he witnessed the agreement.”
Nazha eyed Amdirlain speculatively. “Perhaps your former lover doesn’t see the relationship entirely in the past.”
“You don’t know the full scope of things, so I’d suggest you drop it,” said Amdirlain. “We’re not friends and never will be. You’ve seen to that, Nazha.”
Ultimately, being a rebound girl hurt Ori far more than it helped Eleftherios. I’ll work on my dust cloud until the senior-tier fights are over. Anyone else that Indra Ka has lured here with news of me can see me at the inn.
Amdirlain moved them to the suite, leaving Nazha behind.