That evening, when they returned to their suite, Pax had a plan that had been forming in his mind all day of what they needed to get done despite the resistance of people like Merchant Nightblade. He gathered everyone in the cozy living area at the center of their suite.
“First, a quick thanks to Vitur that the rest of the Team Tribal groups arrived today.” He gave them a wry shrug. “Even Kurt survived.”
As the others chimed in their happy agreement. Pax turned to Incedis. “Any updates on how they're doing?”
“I don’t think we’ll see them until later tomorrow.” Incedis gave a slight shake of his head, but didn’t look too worried. “Everyone who arrived today got a quick tour, food, a chance to clean up and then assignments to their new quarters. Then they all crashed in their new beds. They looked pretty ragged, but nothing a bit of rest and food won’t fix.”
Mage Eldan held up a finger. “Except for the handful who need time to get over healing potion toxicity and possibly visit our healers. Not all of them fared as well as we did during the trip across the Wilds.”
“They’ll all be fine eventually, though.” Incedis hurried to reassure them before aiming an irritated look at Eldan that she ignored.
Pax gave them a nod before turning back to the others. “Then I’d like to get a reasonable plan organized before we go to bed. We all know that time is short, and we didn’t get off to the best start today.”
Pax hesitated and looked at Incedis and Eldan, who stood over by the kitchen counter, deliberately not stepping in to take over. Incedis waved for him to go ahead.
Pax turned back to his friends and pulled a case out of his inventory before carefully removing Magesecond Fenix’s and Solani 2-nine’s crystals.
The others quieted down. Rin arched a brow in question.
Pax shrugged as he placed the crystals gently on the coffee table in front of him. “If we’re planning what to do here in the new base, who better to help advise us than Solani 2-nine. And if we bring her out, it’s not fair to keep Fenix in the dark about finally arriving, right?”
Rin nodded, but scooted her armchair back a bit to give her more space from the two crystals.
“What?” Pax asked when the others followed her example.
Amil shrugged. “We weren’t the ones to leave the old coot in there for a full day after we arrived.”
“Old?” Incedis made a sound of protest. “Coot?”
Amil flinched and muttered a quick apology before turning back to Pax and waving a hand to encompass the modest living room. “You know this isn’t the new lab that you promised him. How do you think he’s going to react?”
Pax swallowed, but didn’t stop his preparations. “Hopefully, he won’t take it too badly. Besides, we didn’t see Solani 4-five when we came in, so that’s another reason to check in.” With a practiced motion, he powered the two crystals. He hesitated a moment before scooting his chair back a few inches, too.
Dahni snickered, and Tasar smiled with a small shake of his head.
Solani 2-nine’s head appeared a moment before Fenix’s. After a quick glance around, a slow smile spread across her face. She mouthed what looked like the word home before turning to Pax. “You brought us back safely. How can I thank you—”
“This isn’t a new workshop.” Fenix’s angry words cut off Solani and drew everyone’s attention. “Where are we? Is this some backwater inn or something?”
“This is a wing in the light headquarters—” Pax tried to explain.
“Nonsense. Like I wouldn’t recognize my own headquarters. No self-respecting light mage would live like this, these bare walls, the common furnishings, and the complete lack of style. Now, tell me the truth. Where are we? Tell me now or I’ll—”
“Magesecond Fenix!” Solani 2-nine’s sharp tone stopped the old mage mid rant.
He looked at her with a lot more patience than he had Pax.
“This is the light headquarters.”
He looked startled and immediately turned to glance around the room again. A crestfallen expression settled over him.
“I know it’s disappointing when we have the vision of the past’s grandeur still so fresh in our minds. But believe me, this is an improvement from the neglected shambles it was when your students found it.”
“But—” Fenix spluttered, looking unhappy and flustered at the same time.
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“Be patient. I’ve reconnected with my sister and the other Fenix. They tell me that the rebels have made tremendous progress in the almost six weeks since we left.”
“This is progress?” Fenix sounded very grouchy, but pursed his lips and subsided.
“We’ll be checking in with the rebel leaders here to find a suitable spot in the cleared areas for you to set up your workshop.” Pax did his best to soothe Fenix’s ruffled feathers. “For now, we have a big place they’ve set up for us to work with a sweet crafting area that only Tyrodon is currently using. He could probably use some advice and help while we find the perfect place for you.”
Tyrodon didn’t look very excited about Fenix’s sudden attention, but he summoned courage and spoke. “We’ve got a lot of crafting equipment, benches, enchanting supplies and more. I could really use some help to build things that will help with our work. I just designed some stronger nets and ropes for us to use capturing beasts for Taming. I’ve made friends with the supply clerk and all he wants is a Taming slot once we’ve had some practice with our trapping gear.”
Pax exchanged an impressed look with Rin at Tyrodon speaking up.
Fenix’s features actually softened a bit before he let out a harrumph. “I guess I can help the younglings while you work on finding me the best workshop space in the place. I’d recommend checking out the fourth floor. Slader had a place up there that cost more than I’d earned in a decade of work.”
“Fourth floor?” Pax asked, pulling out a notebook and deliberately making a note in it. “I’ll check on that.”
“Fine.” Fenix grunted. “Then put me away until you take care of that, or when it’s time to help this young crafter with his workshop.”
Pax cleared his throat. “Actually, would you mind sticking around for a quick planning session? We could use advice from both of you on our best path forward. These are dangerous times, and we don’t have a lot of time.”
Fenix looked pleased to be asked, but gave a grouchy assent.
“Of course,” 2-nine said. “I’d be happy to assist. I can’t believe how much everyone has already accomplished getting the headquarters restored and powered. It’s amazing.”
Pax gave them both a nod of thanks before turning back to the others. “So, since we found out today that the rebels have their own share of officious flicks, I think we need to have a clear plan going forward. What did everyone figure out today, and what is most important for us to do next? We’ve got Incedis and Eldan campaigning for us with the base leadership. But it’s obvious, after our run-in with Nightblade, that everything won’t go easily for us.”
“We could just kick the committee out after explaining that we’d do a better job and should be in charge.” Amil kept a straight face as if he were giving a reasonable suggestion.
Dahni spluttered a laugh, and the others chuckled. Fenix frowned, but stayed silent.
The idea made Pax smile too, but something about it pricked at him. What if there were a time in the future when they were that powerful? Strong enough to step in and take over so they could ensure things went the way they should? The idea meshed well with his long-time goal of becoming so strong that no one could hurt him or the people he cared about again.
He’d originally wanted to have nothing to do with the greater world around him. Political maneuvering and the rebel cause had both seemed part of something that had nothing to do with his day-to-day life. And yet, now he found himself in the middle of a revolution, arguably a critical part of making the entire thing succeed.
It was a lesson he’d been reluctant to learn. What happened at those higher levels impacted his life and future, as well as the lives and futures of his friends. He couldn’t just hide in his little corner if he wanted them all to have a future.
Rin cleared her throat. “Since Amil’s suggestion isn’t very practical, how about we focus on the few things that are most important, starting with making everyone in the base stronger as quickly as possible? You know there will be a fast rotation with new recruits arriving daily and the trained ones heading off to take more cities or reinforce the ones we’ve already won.”
“Things went well with the mages today.” Pax nodded. “I’m pretty sure once they show off their new elements and prove it’s not just a crazy rumor, my schedule for unlocking more will fill up pretty quickly.”
“Same thing for the handful of beasts we helped Tame today.” Bryn looked thoughtful. “At least we had enough mages show up to claim the few beasts we had there. But they were babies and juveniles, not the adults the rebels need. At least word of their successes will spread quickly through the base. I expect it won’t be long before the committee won’t be able to say no to us. The big test is to see what happens tomorrow with Pax’s plan to take candidates out into the Wilds. We really need that to work out because, without beasts to Tame, the rest of us don’t have a lot to do.”
“True. Which is why I’d recommend Rin, Dahni and Amil join in on the minor element unlocking. If the interest booms, like I expect—” Incedis gave them a shrug when they turned to him. “Pax won’t be able to get to them all. So, the rest of you mages can at least get those in line started. It’s a painful and slow process. But a few weeks of hard work is still nothing compared to the benefit of gaining an additional element along with a spell slot.”
Amil, Rin and Dahni looked agreeable to the idea while Bryn and Tasar exchanged a look.
“Tasar and I could join some of the warrior training,” Bryn said. “I can guarantee when they see how well Onyx and Warden fight by our sides, they’ll be interested and push at the leadership to help get a real Taming enterprise up and running.”
“And I’m already making good contacts among the crafters.” An excited grin bloomed on Tyrodon’s face. “The only rules for the crafters here are to move fast and make useful stuff everyone needs. It’s perfect. We’re free to do what all of us have always wanted to do. You won’t find much resistance to new ideas from our section of the rebels.”
“Aren’t we forgetting something?” Dahni held up a hand to get everyone’s attention. “What about the elemental training rooms? I don’t know about the rest of you, but the sooner Pax levels his secondary elements, the sooner we can all unlock ours, right?”
The immediate sounds of agreement from Rin and Amil made Dahni grin.
Pax nodded and then sighed. “That’s not the only thing we still need to add to our list. I’ve got to see if I can get an Awakening to work with one of the teenagers here.” He shot a hopeful look at Incedis. “Any chance you’ve heard news about the rebels successfully stealing an Awakening artifact?”
Incedis shook his head. “Not yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. And with most recruits coming here first, we should get the first shot at it.”
“Then maybe that’s one thing we can move to the bottom of the list for a bit?”
Incedis gave him a reluctant nod, and Pax moved back to their more pressing plans.