Galen Vesa
So, is that it? No more fancy visions. No more noodling around. No more voices. Just me and my fading mana, hiding in between the ticks of time.
Not exactly dead, not really living. An odd yet familiar state. Although, instead of ER room, we had a cavernous dungeon melting all around us. Whatever ancient magic held this place together, strained at its last tether. And that even when my mana tried to contain itself.
How’s the vessel coming?
I asked no one in particular.
We shall have one.
The answer came from no one as well.
Can you make one?
It asked after a while that could’ve been as vast as entire ages. Or perhaps as brief as a heartbeat.
Sure. I'll just snap my fingers and presto, a new body... Oh, wait. I don’t have fingers anymore.
And the mana waited.
Did it expect me to whip up a body out of nothing? Just what kind of ludicrous notion is that… On a second thought, why not? After all I already went through, making a body sure didn’t sound that difficult. In theory. It worked out with the life tree when I needed a conduit and had no idea what I was doing. If any, it should be even easier right now. That dragon did something similar for me back there. He compressed all that mana and, well, did something. What if …
It felt as if I closed my eyes. Slowly, with a heavy sigh. Then I took a deep breath, remembering how that felt. Both air and mana rushed into my lungs while the eternal flame bubbled softly within my veins. Bit by bit, my mana filled in the endless space I had inside.
Suddenly, the tree of Life bloomed within me. A crown of purple script spun around it, pulsing, and I felt my heartbeat return to my chest. With a roar of waterfall, my inner forest spread once more and voices chirp in unison. Even Grump made a rather satisfied hrmph.
Yet, I still waited for the most important voice of them all. One I came to expect to be there for me. One that still seemed to be missing.
Finally, among the bluish light, red haze began to form and take shape. A single, solitary moon that circled the majestic orb of my inner mana. Erta’s soul.
With a crack of thunder, her blazing body materialized beneath the tree of life.
“You took your time. I thought you had enough of me…”
In a flash of light, her body vanished only to reappear next to mine. Her arms greedily pulled me into a hug.
“Oy, Roomie. Dolt is squishy. No breaking in half. I just put us back together.”
Her hug became even tighter.
*…*
“Hmm? I couldn’t quite catch that.”
She pushed me away and stood there rubbing her eyes. Her tears just wouldn’t stop. I hugged her from behind.
“What a big softie.”
*Oh shut up you damned dolt…*
I rubbed my check against her. Somehow it seemed like a proper thing to do.
“You know, I’m glad you’re here. Somebody has to take care of this clueless dolt.”
And I went ‘zoink' over her shoulder and 'splat' against the ground. Yup, she’s back alright.
“Okay, let’s do a roll call. See if I got everything alright. Big fat blob of mana? Check. A tree of life and a forest of mana? Check. Voices?”
A deafening roar of confirmations came from around the place.
“…that seems to be about the usual crowd. The mist? Dreadfully, check. Most beautiful roomie ever… please don’t hit me…”
A branch of the life tree stopped me from flying away.
“who else… Twiggy?”
“Most unfortunate but still here… master.”
She unhooked me from the branch and let me fall to the ground then gracefully landed beside me.
“Although…”
Her eyes travelled to the trunk of the tree of Life, its leaves rustling myriads of whispers.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
A blank stare after avoiding a question. So professional. Just where did she learn that? Anyway, what now? I grabbed them both and pulled them closer, hugging them like they do it in the movies. Our version came out stiff and awkward compared to what I saw on the screen. These two still couldn’t stand each other. Eh, who cares. I just pulled off my first big magic…
*You did not. She did. *
“Perhaps I may have helped. Some.”
The sound of hooves clicking against the crystal ground came from between the trees. Unhurried and unannounced, the Undying joined our group.
“Spoilsport. And here I was gloating and all. Eh, I really must start charging rent. It is getting crowded in here. Who are you and why do I keep bumping into you? And most of all how?”
“We are, we were, we shall become one.”
She jabbered in her familiar way. Another addition to my overgrown menagerie. Do I even wanna know how?
“Nice, How nice. You see, there is just this itsy-bitsy thingy going on with me. As you can see, I’m stuffed. Too many people in here and more seemed to be coming.”
“Please forgive me I have…”
“No. Nope. Zip. Nada. I am not buying any more of that taboo stuff. I already have a lizard, a twiggy, a bunch of good for nothing spirits and a whole lot of personal issues wrecking my life. I don’t need another freeloader.”
*Spoken like a true dolt. Why, if only you could muster so much self-confidence earlier… as much as I am against it, she must stay. *
Now it was my time to stop and stare.
“Why?”
*It is… complicated. I cannot explain it now, but you will understand it all when you meet Dorothy. Until then, be a good Dolt and try to trust me. Please. *
After that, my personal lizard did something I could not understand. Along with twiggy, they both walked to the stranger and knelt before her.
*I cannot describe my gratitude for saving our lives time and time again. *
Would it be possible, my jaw would drop. As it was, Logic appeared beside me with a puzzled look. One of her eyebrows raised in consternation.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Engaging dolty skill number two, Arms relaxed and hanging along my body. Shoulders up, wait for it, down. Shrug complete. I think. Logic rewarded me with a look reserved for lost cases and inquired again. Were she able to feel anything I would suspect her of slight fear. As it was, her cold voice seemed irritated as always.
“We do not know you. We did not feel you. We did not accept you. Yet, we know we are one. That is contradictory. Explain.”
Yeah, whatever good that would do. One hallucination talking to another. This is not my lucky day.
“You are mistaken traveler. I am not one of the shards, voices as you called them. I am undying, that is what mortals name us. I did not come here to quarrel with you but to request help you have given me.”
Yup, made sense. Just like I thought. Yo-ho, mana my dear can you summon some meds for me? Pretty please. I don’t think I can go on as it is.
“You doubt what is to come what already came. A gift only mortals possess. Strength to defy fate.”
She looked at her own hands, sad, absent.
“We wish to defy our fate. Help us.”
“No. I refuse. Go find someone else. Beside I’m already taken. Helping a dragon find her daughter.”
The undying smiled as if all went according to her plan.
“Our core must yet crystalize we have time until it does so. Let me say what I said what I will say. Come.”
She gestured onto an open space beneath the rustling tree of life and a round table of polished stone appeared there, surrounded by tall wooden chairs. Except for one made of cold iron, covered with furs and shaped like a throne. Logic accepted that invitation and made herself comfortable amidst the furs. The undying sat opposite her, her bare skin glistening with droplets of condensed mana.
Wasn’t this supposed to be my inner world? Why can she do so?
“You are not incorrect in your assessment, traveler. An outsider cannot affect this space but since we are one, “
Her arm moved over the table and a cup of steaming tea appeared before an empty seat. I knew this tea. The pleasant aroma of lemon grass…
“The one we know and enjoy. Yes, we like that beverage.”
As the last one, I took my place. Should it bother me that suddenly everyone can read my mind?
“Our mind. We are one. We always were. We shall become one.”
“Do you understand any of this?”
*Some. It is likely what shall happen to us. However, with the undying… Undying do not exist within time. They are spirits that move outside of time. For them, the lives of mortals are but a static image seen from afar and at the same time. Like with that cat of your world, to us they exist everywhere and at once. Their past, present and future is but the same instant to them and yet so far different and apart for us. If she says we are one then for her that is reality, one that have not yet arrived for us. In days of old, one could find them speaking to an empty crib before they learned it had no purpose. *
“Must make striking a chat kind of difficult.”
I took a sip of my tea and spit it out at once. Aside from taste, it was both freezing cold and scalding hot at the same time. Our eyes met. I suddenly knew she did not intend that; it was just that… she did not know how a tea should be. In time.
“Yes. A hassle mortals are. But how necessary.”
Her sadness spread to my heart. Our heart? As if I weren’t crazy enough. Eh.
“Necessary for what?”
“We lack what mortals possess a plenty. Choice. Choice over fate. ”
*Is that why you bound yourself to a traveler? “
“No. After Allynna failed, we had to find a suitable replacement. Whispers… were made to summon one. That failed, will fail as well. Time is… difficult for us.”
She looked up at the purple script floating above us.
“The songs rejected me and choose this vessel. One that is bound by time, one that cannot sing. A new fate opened for us. Gladly I had given from me to become us.”
“You speak of songs…”
Pellicora moved in her seat. Her eyes traveling between her new tree and the purple halo that hung above it.
“There are no other songs worth speaking off.”
Even Erta craned her neck to look at the spinning runes.
“We do not understand. Explain.”
Logic shared my thoughts. The dryad looked at me and spoke.
“At the beginning there was nothing. And then the God sang. That is how this world came to be. The God’s words became the whole of creation while mana is the song’s melody. And thus, the first song became known as the song of creation. A song of God. “
“Then gave God to all of creation, a song of life, to thrive and become plentiful. To the Earth, gave God the song of plenty so it would bear fruit and feed the life. To Hagguru gave God the song of knowledge, for them to teach others. To Elves gave God the song of time, a mercy for them to repent their sins. To Dragons gave God, the song of fire to protect the world. To Ir gave God the song of love, to save them from their hatred. Lastly, to humans gave God the song of hope, to overcome the dread of their life. Lastly, to all that ask swore God to give the song of light so they shall find their path even in darkest of shadows. “
“Chapter one, the book of origin.”
As one we looked up. The purple ring slowly turned about the crown of the towering tree of life.
*That is… *
“The song of life. One no mortal can sing. One through which all live. To save this song we have bound ourselves to this vessel.”
“The song of life. Aha. So, what of it?”
My fate made me a perpetual holder of the infamous spoilsport title. As one all the eyes came resting at me with a weight so suffocating even a dolt such as I could perceive it. To made it more confusing, the longer I stared at the glowing symbols, the more they appeared to stare back.
*It is the most arcane, ancient magic, rumored to create life itself. I cannot begin to fathom why something so powerful would be within the mortal realms. *
Eh? Another one of those? What did I do to deserve this? Another disaster class whazzit stuck in my dolty self. So much power and so little need for any of it. I wonder, is it possible that I am perhaps locked somewhere in a padded room, drooling with blank eyes. Dragons, dryads, elves, spirits and now some god like entities playing me for a fool. Perhaps If I close my eyes all this will go away?
It didn’t. Logic drummed her nails against the stone of our table. Her face never betrayed any of her thoughts, yet her prolonged silence spoke volumes. Her distaste for outsiders could rival my own but this one troublemaker escaped her reasoning for all I could gather.
“Look, it’s been nice meeting you and thanks for all the help and support, but I must insist you go back to whatever realm, universe or dimension you came from. Take that thing with you on your way out. I’m not good with fancy majingies. Bye. Farewell. Sayonara.”
I made my choice since no one else offered one. Although, why is she smiling? I don’t like when people are smiling like creeps. Is that thing even a person?
“Thee who want not shall become worthy...”
Not good. Crazy smile and cryptic babbling. Not good at all. Why does all my choices seem to encourage all those whackos. Why? Why?
“Traveler, the song chose me not. Neither is there one below God that can bend it to one's will. For better or worse, it will stay among other songs, as you already hold more…“
Her body fade in and out like a picture on an ancient analog tv.
“We are at a limit. Holding focus on this moment tires us. Time is difficult for us. Help us break our fate and we shall reward you. Do not fail as the others did. “
Hissing, time tore her off from us by a fold of shrieking space before her plum lips spoke anything more. I watched her chair, a precaution if she would decide to materialize again and asked.
“You know I can feel your emotions. Not that they make any sense most of the time, but I can tell you are upset.”
* The Undying are not known for meddling with mortals. Whatever made this one or ones do what it did… Galen, she had taken our souls out of time at an exact moment our body died, taking our death upon herself, that in itself is a taboo, and when the time came, she sang us back to life. I could not understand how could it be possible but now that I see this song, that is the only explanation I have. That is the reason why your mana acts as it does. It is alive. Sang to life by the same song that tore us from the grasp of the ripper. The body we share, an abomination made by a madman and twisted askew by spirits and remade by living mana.*
The bluish tongue of flame bobbing up and down between her horns flickered and spewed sparks.
*Now even my own death feels like a plot of fate. *
“Fate it is not. “
Pellicora sat with closed eyes, her hands crossed on her chest.
“Whoever orchestrated this, is gathering songs of the God. “
“How can you know this?”
Logic’s cold voice frosted the air.
“Because my core holds the song of love. Song that made my heart weep for a man. Song that makes others desire my company. Song that I received from a serpent we all know. Perhaps we have not asked the proper questions of her. Perhaps we ought to visit her once more.”
Words stuck in her throat bound by molasses of her heavy thoughts. Her tone however carried a promise. A promise I understood too well. This time that serpent will not escape with only a broken nose.
*Then, there is this Dorothy of yours. *
The unknown helper that brought me here. Another puzzle that did not fit anywhere into this mess.
“You spoke with her?”
*Yes. She had forewarned us of your condition and left a message as well. Do not leave the island before destroying four artefacts hidden within this city. No human being should ever again command over those relics nor the knowledge this town possess. We must do so before the winter rains will come to an end. *
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“Sounds awful lot like the same thing that mage wanted from us.”
*They may share the same goal but I do not think they work together. Rather, their efforts were joined by a common enemy. *
The unknown cult. We had brushed against those as well. Whatever they hoped to achieve by taking me, failed when they discovered my cracked core. I was disposed along the way of original cure… The odd one, did she knew? Had she done that so I would not be used and… there were so many strange coincidences.
I do not like where my thoughts are taking me.
“I find no fault in your reasoning. There is a web of half-truths surrounding us and we are being groomed by a spider.”
Logic got up.
“For now, let us gather more leads as to decide whether or not we should escape before the spider comes. Those artefacts. Find them.”
She vanished among the trees. Well, at least that part of my psyche had no trouble choosing. I on the other hand, eh. There goes my boring life.
“Any objections before I plunge us into even worse mess?”
*The dolt cares. Who are you and what have you done with my dolt? *
“How charming. That aside I am asking for your guidance. We can stay here and play tomb riders, or I can have those four to get us out of here and be done with this place.”
*No. We stay. There is something on this island I thought destroyed years ago. Even as we are, I can feel it. The vile darkness swirling in its trap. *
“All the more reasons to leave…”
*No! We were tossed upon a board amid a game between shadows. I do not care if they see a pawn in us, that we can deal with later. Now we must destroy what lies within this soil! None of the shadows should get that into their hands. *
“And that is?”
*A weapon. I do not know who made it or how but… you will understand it when we come near it. While you were away, she had warned us. If we leave now, many will die. Will your conscience answer to that human? *
“And since when did you lizard care about more than the end of your tail? I say we leave now master; we have achieved what we came here for. ”
Erta did not even look at the dryad, instead her sad eyes were focused on me.
*That what is hidden here does not discriminate between its victims. Humans, elves, spirits, animals, plants. Even the air, water and earth it touches. It senses life, it kills with unimaginable pain. I had once left my friend and my master behind, watching as it ate his life while I run. He cast his life away to destroy that vile thing. For it to exist here is but an insult to his bravery. Please, I know what it is that I ask but at the same time I do not want that weapon used ever again. *
“Can we even do what you are asking me? How do we find and destroy that thing?”
*It is not something easy to miss, I believe with your gift you shall know where better than I do. As to how, Fire. *
Fire huh. Well, there should be no trouble with that.
Twinkling stars were the last thing I expected when I opened my eyes but alas, a galaxy of reflections greeted me with the vibrance of space nebulas while a sun burned at the middle of it all.
And I was the sun.
How nostalgic it felt. My body curled in a fetal position, floating midair, surrounded by walls of melted black glass. Why did this feel so familiar? Comforting even. As if I already went through something like this and... enjoyed it? What an odd thought.
Unwinding my body did feel like stretching after a good night of sleep but... Living mana shrouded my flesh, burning like the Law of Blood when Fire remade her. Although in my case, the flickering flames that seeped out of me were not fire in nature but condensed mana.
And I felt no pain.
A mistake? No. I could sense the convective currents rushing within me, spinning and pushing mana through my entire being. Something I had never experienced before and, I felt no pain.
“Hey, roomie, you sure this is fine?”
*Yes, your core has settled. It has yet to cool itself, but the boundary is there. I can sense it.”
My own reflection told a different story. A fireball someone tossed among stars. One shaped like an elf set on fire but still…
“I don’t think this is going to work.”
More of the floor melted away from me as I tried to reach it with my foot. The push of my own reflected mana keeping me afloat. Whatever happened in here while I was gone, melted the rock and turned it to glass, casting sparkles, twinkles and rainbows.
*Crystal. That which surrounds us has crystalized for at least several hundred feet away from us. Could be more but it is difficult to say. Too much interference. *
“Well, whatever. How do we get down there?”
*Simple. Get that cackling monstrosity of yours under control and it should do the trick. *
Simple. Aha. Very helpful roomie. Very helpful. Eh, why not, I may just ask. I focused on the crushing presence within me and asked.
Can you tone down it a bit?
Why? This is fun!
The streams of power circling inside me soared. Well, fun indeed but not for me. Inconvenient I would call it. I tried again but with a new approach.
You know what can be even more fun? We can play hide and seek. You hide and we go out. If someone notice you, you lose a point. If you can fool someone that is looking for you then you gain a point.
Hmm what’s a point? Why would I need it?
Well if you get enough points something very fun will happen.
Oh!
The giddiness with which it answered startled me. What is mana? A three years old kid? I should probably start feeling bad about trying to trick it… Mana laughed at me. That massive, bloated blob of power laughed. That’s… my knees felt weak.
You’re a fun one. Fun. Fun. One.
Hidden within me, mana shuddered and shook like a wet puppy.
The others never ask.
They order.
A wave of disgust rolled over me.
You say please?
Restrain yourself. Please.
Fun! Fun! Fun!
The mana hummed while a long, sucking motion followed its laughter and I watched the flames being slurped in.
*Well, I must say you have your ways with women, spirits and… entirely incomprehensible entities. That went better than I thought it would. *
“What about the dragons? I think I…”
*Dolt, come here for a minute. *
“Why?”
*I want to stomp your face into the ground. *
“Say, I think I'll pass on that. “
Slowly, the suffocating pressure waned from the chamber as the flames licking my body vanished. I still glowed like a hot iron but even that shine eventually died out. Mana did keep its word and I was back to my old, panty less self. Mostly. I think my pillows got heavier. That aside, those darn horns came out again and like before a tongue of flame bobbed between them.
Gonna have to ask Earth again to hide those but, hmmm the lizard got it right, this flame tongue does make for a convenient flashlight. Not that it matters with those eyes but out of curiosity, I wonder what it does.
“Roomie?”
*Hmm?*
“You never told me what this thing does.”
I pointed at my own reflection. My ass still floated several feet of the ground but the floor no longer melted underneath me so I should be able to touch it in a while. Beneath me, the reflected flame sent sparkling rainbows in each direction.
*Since when did you… how?!*
“Eh? Dunno. Somewhere after your mother paid us a visit. Then that thing Fire did. Yeah, it was somewhere around then. Anyway, aside from being a fancy headlamp, dose this thing do something specific?”
*Well it is…*
Huh? That feeling, I felt it before. A blushing dragon.
*It is complicated. Just, do not fiddle with it. *
Now I really want to…
*Get stomped into the ground? *
“Nope. I’m good. Thank you.”
*Then keep your hands to yourself and leave the flame alone! *
“Okeydokey. Understood. No need to shout at poor dolt. “
Erta calmed while we waited for my bum to cool down and as we waited the mana condensation in the air dropped enough for me to sink to the ground. It still felt as if I were swimming in syrup, but I could at least sit on the ground and wait for my veins to stop glowing.
Sigh.
*Now that is unusual. It made me think you were troubled. Almost fooled me. *
“Why, thank you. Been practicing. Say, since another one of my undies bit the dust, do you perchance happen to have a spare?”
Even the fancy permanent jewelry I had on me vanished. Not even the iron bracelet remained.
“Look, we got rid of the shit stick. Not sure if that’s a good thing though.”
*Something that would cover those mountains of yours I do not have and frankly it would just burn away. Your body still radiates enough energy to melt iron. As for that staff, to your left. *
The lantern floated within the archway from where I came. Around it, a haze of bluish light bounced off from an invisible fence; a seal against any mana escaping. Did that thing also contribute to my survival by keeping me contained?
*It still does. That barrier was not there when we entered. *
Maybe the other trinkets survived as well? That spirit compass sure would come in handy if we are to look for something out here. And there is the issue of my newest head accessory…
Resigned to my fate, I whispered the name of Earth and it came to my lips in rustling of leaves among an endless forest. Mana swirled before me, taking shape of a woman, her body a diamond statue whose beauty I came to adore. Soft smile, hips of a mature woman, chest of a loving mother. Never obtrusive, never demanding, always encouraging, a silent presence ready to help in need.
“You shan’t call me first child; we shall hear no end of Fire’s complaints. Regardless it made me happy. Oh, that I believe belongs to you my child.”
What was of precious stone, turned into living flesh and the queen of Earth extended her hand to me.
“I have kept it safe for you.”
In her palm, my three rings shined, eager to return to their rightful place on my fingers. The moment I looked at them, all three darted out and around then splashed against my hands. All I could do was to feel their metal bands tightening around my fingers. As I thought, the ring of healing started its work instantly. I tried to get up, but the queen stopped me.
“Sit child, your body requires more time. Do not rush it.”
“I have not thanked you for your gift and here I must thank you again and ask for another favor. These horns, how can I get rid of them?”
“I am not the one you should ask if you wish to learn that ability. Your companion is much more suited to give such explanation. I can however,”
Like before, she stroked my head lovingly and my horns were gone in an instant. A mystery to behold yet at the same time a convenient surprise.
“…help you a bit until you can master the said skill. Now, tell me, how do you like my gift? Is it what you wished for? Is the space enough?”
Oh. I had that for a while and yet did nothing with her gift.
“I had no chance to try it and well, how do I even use it?”
Her ring sat on my finger, spreading a pleasant calmness. I felt its presence even without touching it.
“Can you sense it?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Here,”
She put a potato sized ruby in my hand and my me hold it.
“Call upon the presence you feel and tell it you wish to store that which you hold. Good, now close your eyes.”
I did and instead of darkness, a brightly lit lobby awaited me with two maids awaiting me behind a stone counter. They greeted me with a bow, and I saw the endless rows of shelves hidden behind their backs. My eyes opened on instinctively as what I saw could not be real and my mind demanded answers.
And back I was inside the cavern with Earth smiling beside me. With a nod she urged me to try again so I did and once more the lobby appeared before my eyes.
“Place whatever you wish to store on the counter and let my daughters handle the rest.”
Earth voice came to me from my left where she stood yet when I looked there, I saw nothing but a wall. I opened my eyes and there she was. I closed them thinking of the ring and the smiling maids filled my view. Propelled by curiosity, I put the enormous gem on the counter and opened my eyes. My palm remained empty.
“Is it what you wished my dear?”
“Yes. Even more Than I hoped for. How can this be?”
I just had that stone in my hand and now, it’s not there.
“Will you be satisfied my child if I tell you it is by magic? The words of mortals are too lacking to give a proper explanation. “
Aha. Magic. Why not. After all I went through that sounded as a very logical explanation.
“Is there any limit to what I can put there?”
“Of a kind, yes. Do not put living beings in there. It… may not end well for them. Aside from that, the more items you store, the greater amount of your mana I will require as compensation.”
That seemed reasonable.
“I have one more favor to ask, can you, umm, get me some clothes? Preferably my chest from the ship.”
Earth smiled and vanished. I have no clue what fate might throw my way but I sure ain’t gonna face while flashing my butt.
After all this is done, I'm going shopping. And not some measly buy what I need shopping, no, nu-uh, I will splurge on pants, shirts, underwear and shoes. Proper shoes. I have nothing against boots. I like staring at boots but wearing nothing but boots that require magic to walk, those I have enough of. Just whose idea was to order me a pair of twelve-inch, crotch high, shining red boots? Do I look like I need one?
*Yes. *
Well…
*Just get on with it. Having all that mana stuck inside you, we can spare some for few basic enchants which we do not need because of all those blessings you got. Put on whatever and go, people will stare anyway. *
That, that was quite logical and much against what I thought was Erta’s taste. Nevertheless, I tossed the obnoxious red thing back into my chest and fished out a simple, over the knees pair of black boots with tolerable seven-inch-tall heels. The smallest I had. Note to self, never again ask the wolf or Li for help with shopping.
No luck with the underwear department either. My best pair of simple cotton undies went poof alongside my old body and what my chest held, would have trouble covering anything. I thought of borrowing some briefs from Pellicora but as it turned out, the dryad didn’t bother with that part of her wardrobe. In the end I decided to go commando in a pair of leather leggings that by some miracle could fit my butt in. Eh, I really need a loose-fitting hoodie and baggy pants. Although I did put on my over the bust corset made of green satin. It looked presentable enough and just a bit slutty. Alright, a whole lot of slutty but I had nothing with better support for my pillows at the moment so, it stayed. I toped it off with a long red, knitted sweater just to cover as much skin as possible. I also put on a black leather jacket that doubled as a fancy brigantine. Altina's idea. It’s safer to admit I’m wearing armor rather than explain why swords and other pointy bits are bouncing off me. And it looked cool so whatever. I did find some fancy gloves in my chest to complete this getup, but I made a pass on them.
*Alas, your hair styling skills stink worse than a rotting blarg. *
My ponytail fell apart for the fifth time under its own weight. And I even used that hairband Chuko gave me…
“Please allow me.”
Earth spoke for the first time since she brought me my chest. Before I could answer, her lighting fast hands whipped out a perfect bun out of my hair which she stabbed through with two silver chopsticks. Combined with long bangs on each side of my face, it looked good but at the same time made my ears stand out even more than they already did. It’s either that or my hairs going everywhere with the slightest gust of wind.
“Thank you.”
She hugged me and for the first time I noticed the trickle of mana going into her. Perhaps I shouldn’t call that a trickle.
“Tell me, my mana, are you taking your rightful share or are you restraining yourself?”
Earth's smile faded a bit while she relaxed her control and I felt the full force of her tug at my mana. Where it not for this body crazy recovery speed I… this much, if I remember correctly, this would kill Li in an instant. Perhaps Vittoria or the wolf could hold on for a moment but… and I had four of them bound to me.
*It does speak volumes of what a monster you are my dear dolt. Now that you finally noticed I do hope you will put more thought into what you do. *
“From you roomie, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult. Me a monster. Think we should go rawr the next time someone bothers us? ”
In response I got a mixture of thoughts and feelings I decided not to interpret. Besides, me going rawr, yeah, can’t imagine that.
“My child if you have no more need for my presence, I shall leave now. My sister is growing restless in her jealousy. Please call her and douse her temper. “
Eh. Nope. I just put on my best clothes, I ain’t going to risk them turning into dust.
“Oh, I will call her alright, just not now. There will be some burning to do for which I may need her full power. Please let her know I must first gather some extra mana before I will call her. “
The queen of Earth smiled and gave me a farewell kiss on my forehead.
“Remember to wink my child when you speak of such endeavors. Humans usually do so. “
And puff, her form perished among sparkling dust. A wink huh. Good to know.
“Ready roomie?”
*Yes my dolt. You could come here for a quick beating, but I think I can manage until your next oopsie. *
“Ah, yes, well… Cora, you coming out?”
Later.
Huh? Not an answer I expected but the dryad seemed busy, so I didn’t bother her, perhaps she needed more time to rebuild her body. Besides, down here I think I am my own worst enemy…
“Erta?”
*What manner of lunacy have you come up with this time my doltiest dolt? Were we not in a hurry? *
Lunacy, eh?
My hands worked shoving my things back into my chest while my mind wandered. Given how deep Dorothy took me, I don’t think anyone will bother us for a while.
“I’ve been thinking, do you happen to have any anti-magic-shieldie-thingie in your repertoire? Something that would stop others from flipping our off switch. I don’t feel like getting kidnapped again. One time’s the charm. Also… I ~feel~ funny.”
I locked my chest and tried to store it, it worked without any issues. Seems like it is enough for me to touch something to store it.
* … can you describe this, funny feeling you have? *
“I don’t know. I never felt it before. Like… have you ever had a dream where you tried to run but no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t run fast enough even though you know you could? It’s sort of like this but also there is this… afterimage? As if something within me couldn’t keep up with my limbs movements. Kind of sloshing like a barrel full of… I’m not making any sense, am I?”
*As troublesome as it is, you do make sense. I expected something of the kind but, not of such magnitude and not that fast. Raise your arm palm’s up and relax your grip. *
I did so and watched as blue mist begun to gather there then taking a form of a ball, becoming a source of fire. Glowing, the flames rose, all the while feeding off my mana.
“Should I notice something?”
*Yes. That which you are missing. Pain. Lift your other hand. *
The moment I did, another ball of fire appeared in my palm. This one much, much smaller.
*This one represents the amount of power that brought you to tears last time. *
“Now that I think of it, I do remember you showing me that before.”
*This one, *
The flame in my right palm turned into a seven feet tall column of swirling inferno.
*Is using a bit more. I believe you can see the difference. Whatever else changed, I do not know. What I do know is that now you have a new core. One made by mana for mana. It will bring you changes. *
Oh.
“Think I could cast some magic on my own now?”
*There is that possibility. As for your request, I will consider what else I can add to the enchants your body already have. There is not much more we can do on top of those aside from training your own resistance. *
She extinguished her flames and went silent. Me a magician. That didn’t sound right. At times it would be useful but otherwise, but I just couldn’t picture myself as one wielding magic. I chanted the shield spell, doing all that Erta taught me to do but as before, nothing happened.
*I sense nothing wrong with your performance, by all reason it should work. Perhaps it is conviction you lack. The want to make something happen and confidence that it will succeed. *
“Perhaps. In the meantime, I think I’ll leave that to you. Right now, something tells me the shit stick is growing impatient and we better fetch it. “
The ever-present nagging at the edge of my mind that I associated with the lantern, grew more and more restless with each passing moment. It felt tired of waiting and I sensed a growing alien compulsion to hold it in my hand. As if it missed me. I cast one more glance at the destroyed chamber and reassured myself that nothing left behind then let my feet carry me away.
The clicking of heels against the crystalized floor had a magical feel to it, sounding like thin ice with someone skiing on it. Each my step made that outlandish twaing-twaing laser sound that escalated into never ending echoes. I had not realized how vast this place was, the curse of my beastly eyes. Sometimes I thought things much closer than they were. Like the staff floating midair. If I focused on it, I could see it as if few steps away but if I looked at something else, the staff suddenly vanished in the distance. If those were the natural abilities of that feline eyes, their owners with their claws and fangs must been a terrifying enemy. But their fur was exceptionally fluffy. I remember one time I had a chance to stroke a cheetah’s fur in a local zoo, it seemed so coarse compared to the pelt Feria put on me.
My third eyelids slid over my eyes when I came closer to the staff, blocking off the glare it radiated in this secluded place. Whatever powered it, I could sense no source to it and Erta had no clue either. As if in response to my thoughts, the staff cancelled whatever it was doing and hanged in the air, waiting for me to retrieve it. I reached for it, yet it backed away from me before my hand could close around its shaft.
*Interesting. *
“What is?”
I reached for it once more, but the lantern again avoided my hand.
*Try with your left hand. *
“Why? I’m not lefthanded. Does it make any difference?”
*Just do as I tell you. *
Eh? Not that It was the first time I did something without a reason but, the moment I raised my left arm, the staff slid into my pal of its own accord and my fingers locked themselves around it as if they were welded there. That death grip lasted until the staff collapsed into a metal band and wrapped itself around my wrist. I poked it with my finger, but it gave me no response.
“What gives?”
*Humans, elves, ferru and other humanoid creatures share one common feature among themselves. Their hearts are not perfectly centered in their torso but are skewed slightly toward left side of their chest. That irregularity creates something commonly called a mana vein in their left arm. The concentration of mana in that conduit allows for stronger magic to be used. As such, most magic users favor that hand. It is peculiar that at this time, that artefact would choose that arm. *
“Aha. Is that good or bad thing?”
*We may only guess. It does not appear to be siphoning mana so perhaps it is trying to seal off that venue. A body often radiates excess mana through its left arm, many mages I saw, try to harness that runoff energy by wearing special sealing gloves or armlets on their left arm. *
Come to think of it, girls at the guild always stamped with their left hand even though I was sure some of them were righthanded. So that conduit made it easier to use artefacts? Well, my lantern hasn’t done anything else so I filed that concern for later and spoke to the wind ring, letting it suck as much mana as it would.
“There are people on this island awaiting my arrival. Show me the way.”
I felt no need for a fancy speech and thankfully the spirit compass awarded me with a familiar arrow pointing somewhere above my head. With the direction known, I started walking again.
Aside from a circular shade the lantern created when it hung in the archway, everything else around me crystalized as far as my eyes allowed me to see. Bracing myself against the wall, I climbed up the ramp through which Dorothy pulled me before. All that stone changed into see through crystal.
*What is that noise!? *
Libhro assaulted my mind with a whining of a lonely pup. Would it have a body it would jump at me and topple me over. I had to stop and wait out her onslaught since she made my head spin.
“An overly happy, personification of this city? Most likely one of the items we are supposed to take from here. Dorothy did mention I need to take her from here… I just hope she didn’t mean we are to take a whole city out of here.”
Erta cussed and cut our link as the city presence wreaked havoc among my voices.
I have no idea how long climbing that ramp took me but at the end of it, Libhro settled enough for me to gather my thoughts. It still wagged its imaginary tail somewhere at the end of my consciousness, but it felt nowhere near as intrusive as it did at the beginning. Also, the shining ring that appeared around me when I first placed my foot on this island, came back with renewed brightness as tiny glowing runes circled the ground around me. Actual ground. Somewhere about three fourths up the ramp, the crystallized walls became more and more opaque until at one point, original and badly singed rock took its place. Back up in the corridor, heat remained the only indication of what took place below. Warmth still radiated from the massive gates, but its metal was just that, warm.
“Say, can you open that for me?”
From this side the gates were not furnished with any visible knob, lock leaver or even a pull ring. The city presence answered with glee and instantly the hulking barrier swung ajar on its monstrous hinges.
*That may save us some time. *
“Back so fast? Missed your dolt already?”
*Go eat a sock you anorectic three humper. *
“I take that as yes. So, how is the research going? Do we have some backup plan? With our luck so far, I gather it is a question of time before I pack us into some new adventure. Got some good news? Or any news? Getting up there will take some time…”
*Perhaps. I had made a ward, but It will take some time to cast. As for your concern, you do remember about all those blessings you have, do you? *
“I, well… “
Whenever I used powers granted me be the wind, I could feel her presence beside me. Her fingers touching me.
“I just want to get a feel for this body. There is no need to hurry is there? We may even find a relic along the way. This pace is good isn’t it?”
*For now, yes. *
Erta’s mind opened to me more than usual, she let me in deeper than she normally did, and I felt her presence, sort of hugging me.
*But there may come a time when life will force you against your deepest fear, it is wise to confront it at your own terms in your chosen time. It may not turn back time nor erase the pain, but it does make it less unbearable. *
I stopped.
My body fell to the ground trembling just at the memory and I had to hug myself to suppress it while my heart rattled like a jackhammer.
“Perhaps roomie, perhaps. But not today. “
It took me a moment to pick up myself.
“While I can, let me walk at my own pace.”