"My legs are numb." Lari idly commented as I leaned on her legs while Einervaene in turn leaned on mine. Our observable formation was a little triangle. With each of us each being on someone else's legs.
"Why are we doing this anyway?" the woman on my legs asked as she rolled over and pulled herself up. Her head having briefly gone down into the gap formed by my other knee.
"We are waiting, remember? A lecture about magic in a magicless environment was going to be happening today. And, well, have you looked around? Not much else we can do." I explain to her before she then went up to look around. A slow nod coming from her before she went back down to my leg, having seen the large crowd we were near. All of them impatiently waiting for the same lecture.
"Can't we do something else? I don't like waiting..." a blue-haired beauty commented afterwards with my head going up and down. It soon settling down once she stopped moving and stretching her legs.
"This is the first time one has happened for apparently months and I have too much involvement in this to just let our spaces go." I sternly told her while leaning on to her legs with stiffer resolve. All in an effort to get her to stay still while we waited in the mid-orbit halo with no cloud cover. Just like every other day up here on this mountain.
"They have a schedule up! Let's just do this another day." she complained.
"No!" was all I had to say on that before I stared at an airship going by. Its shape was oddly familiar for some reason and its appearance made everyone cheer. Right before it was all then drowned out by a sudden swarm of smaller airships zooming by.
"Oh, it's here..." Einervaene lazily said as she got back up. A hand going over her brow to block the skyward light as she followed it.
"C'mon, we might as well follow it, get a little peak." I then said to the pair before picking them both up and dashing off to a roof. A surprised yelp from one of them while the other cheered quietly. The three of us soon looking down onto an occupied square in the ground. A loading area of some description by the looks of it.
"So that's what that square is for." Lari then said as she moved to lean on a rooftop wall. Her rear swinging and bouncing about as she became more and more active. My eyes which were thankfully hidden behind a mask looking at it every now and then. But, then I properly focused on what was beyond it as it became way too familiar.
"Where have I seen these things before...?" I said to neither of the women I was up here with, confusing them both. But, I very much doubted their confusion matched mine as I stared intently at these white tube things.
"I'm gannaaa ga laak aaaraund, Paps!" someone down below said before they skipped off. Their small frame dressed in dark clothes catching my eye as they went inside. The sudden sounds of adoration also leaving the building we were on shortly after.
"What was that?" Einervaene then asked us, or, well, just Lari in this case as I had snuck off. Her confusion being the last I heard of her before I entered the building to chase after that individual. Was that who I think it was? I knew only one person who sounded like that and she was also carrying about a gun.
A rather particular gun.
"Oh, you're so cute!" I soon heard as I walked deeper into the building, soon finding myself in a small cafeteria. And at the far end of it was a small, furry thing enjoying the attention with a wide smile. But, once I was fully in the room, a certain quiet replaced all the former noise.
"Well, we hope you'll stay around!" the girls gathered around the small thing said before they rushed off. Insults and wary glances being quietly directed at me before I went up to the now lonely thing.
"Whaaats the big ideaaa? I waaas aaabaut ta get free faad!" they complained before they crossed their arms at me. My claws pulling out a chair to sit on before I then leaned back into it, my cloak falling down as I did so. A curious glint soon entering her eyes as she looked on at my limbs. A sense of caution soon replacing it.
"Heiya?" I then asked her after trying to remember her name. Several going through my head before I then remembered it by thinking of how she shot me. Twice.
"Yes...? Thaaat's my naaame." she confirmed as her little fluffy hands gripped her gun. Not that it would matter, really. She shot me before and it did not hurt me if at all. And, well, I doubt she has the kind of bullets the people at Tryhpeltzweig had.
"Does the name Nin Urtuan mean anything to you...?" I then asked her, a look of confusion being what I got immediately after. Then, a shake of her small head.
"Na, nat reaaaly. Why?"
"Alright... Let me try this a different way... Do you remember being stuck in a little camp with a smoke cloud and a small group of people? Your dad I think being injured for most of it."
"I think...? Me aaand Paps get stuck in lats af plaaaces." she explained while maintaining a thoughtful expression.
"There were two humans and a very prickly oxfuine. It was an osibindah hive we were trapped by."
"We?" she repeated while stroking her chin, her eyes widening shortly after.
"You remember?"
"I remember the prafit me aaand Paps maaade when we sald same humaaan saldiers ta the Unian."
"That all?"
"Yaaa."
I then sighed, "Would have thought being stuck in an osibindah hive would be a bit more memorable..." I grumbled quietly to her.
"Why yau caaare aaanywaaay? Yau aaaren't humaaan ar axfuine."
"I was, once." I said to her before getting up in frustration. This clearly wasn't worth the effort. But, then, I found myself stopping, not because of sudden determination or anything. But, rather, I now was being climbed on with my mask soon being taken off.
My response was at first delayed but it came, "Yau're aaa 'sib!?" she then said in shock as she fell off of me.
"I am." I sarcastically said as I put my mask back on. Her eyes staring at me intently as wide as they possibly could before she started to stutter.
"I... I think I remember naw! There waaas aaa Vaaalkinvaaar trying ta saaave aaa humaaan!"
"Yes, do you have an idea now?" I asked her once more. Signs of irritation in my voice as my face heated up. I felt like I had just been shamed publically by that mask removal. Yet, it was impressive she got it off so quickly.
"Nin Urtuaaan waaas it? Thaaat's aaa Tabaaabaaaliaaan naaame, right?" she asked as she came closer with a strange smile.
"Yes, you shot me before the Anvil-Peak."
"Waaaah... Thaaat's pretty slim-spined!" she said as she moved closer to me.
"So why are you here exactly, Heiya?" I then asked her as I sat down again. This little furry girl moving all about me as she fiddled with my limbs.
"We're maaaking aaa delivery ta the Aaacaaademy!" was my answer.
"Must be something then, it seems like our lecture depended on its arrival."
"Yeaaah... We weren't aaable ta get the laaast few in since the incident yau mentianed!" she explained.
"Osibindah problem that bad?" I then asked her with a slight shiver. Whatever happened with her is how I got into this land so if the way she came was filled with...
"Naaah, just aaa bunch af pissed aff wyverns." she clarified to me but I did not understand. What in the name of Aahtha's perfect body was a wyvern?
"Is that similar to an osibindah...?"
She looked at me as if I was stupid before then mumbling in understanding, "Na, aaa wyvern is aaan ill-bred draaagan." she explained to me, her accent or whatever it was making it hard to even understand that.
"Right." was what I then said to her as I pretended to understand what she said.
"It's why aaall thase aaairships flew an by. Ta stap thase wyverns fallawing us." she explained once more, and once more I nodded.
"Are you staying around for the lecture your delivery was for?"
"Narmaaaly, na, but Paps need ta taaalk with the Aaacaaademy, so maaaybe this time, why?"
"Want to watch it with me and my friends? They might be interested to speak with you as you were there when I was trapped in the osibindah hive. Something I have talked to them about." I then offered to her to which she began to hum. A long hum of thought coming from her before I then got a reply.
"Whaaat raaace aaare they?"
"Race...? Uh, one's water and the other lightning." I answered with a frown as I had forgotten their national names. Or maybe she meant their species?
"Ibennarracan aaand Eusarachii? Sure!" she said as she quickly figured out what I meant. Her gun soon being slung on her back as she started following me. Impatient gestures coming from her before I got up myself. A quiet trip following it as I guided her out of the building before then stopping just in front of it.
"Up we go!" I then said to her suddenly as I yanked her up and landed on the roof. Her gun going off once we had landed. Seems like she had grabbed it and tried to shoot me with the shot having garnered a lot of attention. Mostly from the ground as that is where most people were.
"Who's this?" was the first words I heard as Lari slid over to us and picked up Heiya. Her eyes and mouth wide with joy as she stroked her fur.
"See, this is haw yau treaaat aaa laaady!" Heiya said to me with a slight glare, something that led to me sniggering.
"God of Law as my witness, you are no lady." I fired back with before she threatened to actually fire something.
"Hello, I am Einervaene Bosphama, who are you?" Einervaene then greeted as she came over to us.
"Heiya, we just caaame in an the aaairship." Heiya said back to her as Lari put her down. No greeting coming from her until Einervaene's firm hand made her.
"Ow! Oh! I am Larishazza! But Ninno calls me Lari and this abuser calls me Ayi!" she then greeted while rubbing her recently pinched skin. Einervaene's nickname getting a brief stare from her.
"Hella!"
"So why did Urtuoi-kischu bring you to us?" Einervaene then asked her as she looked at me before looking down at her.
"He waaants me ta came ta the lecture yau lat aaare gaing ta!"
"I also wanted to talk to her and bring her here as she was with me at the hive when the... You know happened." the copper-haired and blue-haired women both nodding in understanding.
"What did Ninno look like as a human!?" and "What did Urtuoi-kischu look like as a human!?" both came out at once shortly after. A small smile going to Einervaene's face while Lari just laughed.
Heiya shrugged, "I dunna, smaaaller? Haaairier?" was all she then said. Two sounds of disappointment coming from the other two.
"Guess I'll just have to fantasize something then..." Einervaene commented quietly with a slight blush. The stare I gave her was clear even though it was hidden behind a mask.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
"So! So! So! So! So! How did you and Ninno meet!?"
"I shat him...?" she answered with uncertainty before her eyes looked at me again. Was she doubting I was in fact the same Nin? I mean, fair, not exactly the same shape now was I? Wasn't even the same species...
Lari looked on with confusion, "She shot me with a dart or something." I clarified to her while tapping my chest. I was sure it was a dart, I remember complaining about a sore chest on my first day at the camp. Someone said it was a knock-out drug or something, maybe Vadei? She passed a lot of comments there.
"Why would she shoot you with a dart?" Einervaene then asked as her body stiffened up slightly. A sense of mistrust having likely just been sown that very moment.
"Becaaause I'm aaa slaaaver-" Heiya began to say before a sudden wave of magic flooded the area. A bright sapphire light emanating from Lari as she kept a wide smile directed at Heiya, her eyes also being closed.
"You're a what?" she then asked as this sudden outburst from her began to concentrate around Heiya. It only stopping when I moved in to interfere with Lari going any further. This event thoroughly shocking me as I have never seen Lari this angry before.
"It's alright, it's alright, let's no-"
"Don't tell me it is alright when she is a merchant that makes her profit off of the misery of others!" Lari interrupted with a gentle but greatly intimidating tone. My large frame coming in on itself as I flinched away from the terrifying sensations she was letting off. It felt like I would drown in this magic!
"Larishazza, that is enough. If this is related to the laws of your home then remember we aren't there." Einervaene then said with a gulp. Lari's magic quickly dying down before her face twitched slightly. Her anger made all the clearer as I had only ever really seen her be happy.
"Do not act like it is okay, you two. You will soon be given reason to not trust her." Lari then told us straight before she disappeared. My eyes tracking her movements before I was left sighing in disappointment. I had no idea this was likely to happen at all. But, she had a point I suppose, Heiya was to blame for my current state. At the very least, she was related to it, even if she helped me live.
"So do you still want to come to the lecture?" I then asked Heiya once her hands had moved off of her gun. Said gun trembling in her hands as she blinked over and over again. A familiar sight for me as I have been terrified to that degree on several occasions.
"Na, thaaank yau..." she mumbled quietly before she went to the edge of the building. Her posture and actions displaying just how desperate she was to get back down.
"Alright, come on, Einervaene, lecture is going to start soon." I told her while frowning, soon picking up Heiya to take her down. And then after I did that, I took Einervaene's hand so I could help her down.
"Is she going to be alright?" Einervaene then asked me as Heiya scrambled out of my grip and disappeared. The sound of sniffles having been heard by us both just before she got out of my grip.
"I don't know, her 'Paps' is here, so he'll handle the rest most likely."
"Alright, well, hopefully, Ayi-chira is fine too. I have never seen her like that before. Is it possible that she...?" my head turning towards her as she got to the end. Thoughts of Vadei soon coming into my head as she said it.
"I don't know about her, but, Vadei, the woman with the fluffy tail in our dorm, she was a slave. Sold to my people by Heiya's 'Paps' most likely." I told her which led to her looking at the building cautiously.
"Was she likely going to go see this lecture?"
"I don't know, but, I will probably tell her about it just in case. Assuming she is not aware that is."
"I guess we are lucky she is not too great at magic then...?" Einervaene nervously laughed out before we went inside. A slight smile on my face as I tried to not get too negative with my mood.
"Yeah, I'd rather not be that close to an active aura again."
"So are you excited for this lecture, Urtuoi-kischu?"
"I am, I am hoping it will shed a little light on to why I survived the hive."
"Wouldn't a lecture on Sudden Induction Theory be better then?"
"Maybe, probably. But, ever since I watched Lari use her aura in the training building. When she had everything around her set to low magic density, it has just stuck in my head for some reason. Don't know why."
"You think it might be related to how you became...?"
"Indeed."
"Well, let us hope it sheds so much light as to blind you!" she tried to say cheerfully in an effort to keep the mood light too. But, it was clear she needed some help, and my sarcasm could do it!
"No thanks, it's bad enough seeing Quinshuu get blinded so often." a giggle being my initial response. Something that led to a smile developing on my face as Einervaene moved on to laughing.
"I'm sorry... I don't know why I laughed so much at that, it's a serious problem he has." Einervane then said as she straightened herself out.
"You laughed so much because you have experienced it." I clarify before shaking her arm to imitating its twitching. Soon taking on a more dramatic personality as I began to carry her about much to her surprise.
"W-What are you doing!?"
"Oh, Einervaene! I'm sorry! I'm sorry we didn't stop you from being so bad at using magic! I am so sorry you are now a cripple!" I dramatically cry out as I swing her body about. Her counter-reactions ruining the joke a little but she was still laughing in embarrassment anyway.
"Put me down!" I was then demanded to do with a chuckle getting stuck in my throat as I did so. A shake of Einervaene's copper-haired head being directed at me once she sorted herself out. Her hat in particular needing the most attention.
"So why do you have a hat now? You never had one before at Tryhpeltzweig or before you went shopping with Rose."
Her face went a little red, "Well... I thought yours was... I thought it looked good on you. So, I wanted one of my own..." her fingers pressing together as she explained her motives.
"First time anyone has wanted to copy me, so thanks I guess." I said with embarrassment of my own before I stroked my bandaged neck. The bandaged claw I used feeling much different than how it would if I was clothesless.
"D-Do... Do you like my hat?" she then asked me as her hands nervously clutched its sides.
"I do indeed, seems to make your outfit stand out more. Not sure why..." I said with a tilted head. My eyes looking at her high-heels at first before they moved up and across her revealing outfit. My eyes coming to a stop right at the collapsed tip of the black hat.
"I hope it sticks out for a good reason." she said with a partially hidden smile before her blush went away. The sounds of moving crowds having gotten our attention off of each other.
"Lecture seems to be starting now, we best get moving!" I say slowly at first as I lean on the corner of a wall. Soon taking Einervaene's hand so I can then drag her through the crowds. Satisfaction going through me as I bullied the bullies in order to do what I want. Felt nice to stand up for myself.
But, I did not want such behaviours getting firmly settled in me as it was still bullying. So, I started thinking about other things, like how I felt very relaxed right now. And how no one was complaining about my shoving. Einervaene even had a flat expression despite me having just taken her hand.
"Are you alright?" I asked her with an oddly flat tone.
"Yes, thank you for getting us a good seat towards the front. We have a good view of the display in here." she explained in a flat tone as well. I wanted to raise a brow at it yet for some reason I did not do so. It was like something was preventing me and everyone else from making emotive responses. Which made it seem like everyone was bored out of their minds.
Or, rather, I guess it was like watching an unfunny joker... You just stared at them blankly, not sure what to do. But, as I was curious as to why we were all like this, I wanted to test something. So I moved a little closer to Einervaene who was already sat next to me.
"One of your nipples is showing." I whispered into her ear carefully. Yet, her response was not one of embarrassment like it usually was with her. Or, well, a woman in general. Instead, she put a hand on her breasts and felt them.
A blank expression on her face when she turned to me, "Can you sort it out?" she asked with a straight face. And instead of choking on nothing and feeling heat go to my face at this bold request. I just stared back at her.
"Sorry, I was trying to see why everyone is so unresponsive." I clarified to her with the same emotional blandness.
"That makes sense, I was wondering why I felt so calm and relaxed."
"Do other lectures do this?"
"Not to my knowledge, no."
"Alright everyone, please quieten down. Now, I understand some of you are new here and may not understand why you are like this. But, trust me, it is for your own good as students. Now, please get your tablets ready as you'll need a few notes for this." a lecturer explained as they entered the room. Their eyes not even passing twice over me like most lecturers did since my induction here. This academy they had tried so hard to keep me out of.
One thing I found funny, however, even if I just could not laugh right now. Was how despite this clearly magical in origins emotional interference... Hearing someone go on and on about theory made my mind go blank. So not only was magic making me emotionless, information overload was too!
And I was disappointed I could not laugh at it, but I was more disappointed once we got to the display. The lecturer had set off some kind of bomb in the area in front of us, a small one. Not particularly big or dangerous but it was still an explosion. Orange fire and black smoke and so on and so forth.
"Now observe what happens when this magicless object is inserted into a locale with notable magic density in comparison." and when he said that the explosion was magnified beyond belief. It went from a bush of fire and smoke into an entire hedge of it. Only this time, it had those signs of magic. Like Lari's display with all the purples, whites and blues.
Even like how that blackberry tart from Motrtha behaved...
But, I can't say I was expecting what followed that display, something bigger was brought in. One of those white tubes with the dark glass on it was soon brought in. And then, it opened up, a confused and scared human male having been released from it. And then I actually felt some emotion for I saw something about this man that shocked me...
On his ankles were a pair of rusty iron bracelets... Just like the ones I used to have, just like all lower-floor Tobaballians had... And I found myself standing up and moving closer to the display. Much to the vocalised and unemotive annoyance of those behind me.
"What's going on...?" I asked in disbelief as I looked at the lecturer. My claws moving about as I waited for a response. If this was a lecture on magic reacting to a magic-lacking thing then were they about to...? No, they wouldn't...
No one could be this cruel and heartless surely...?
"We are going to inject magic into the area and see how a species capable of using it reacts to the change." and once he said that my eyes widened and I moved towards him in an effort to stop him. A loud scream stopping me as this man suddenly began to look like he was burning up on the inside. Like a fire had been lit in him before he suddenly just exploded.
And I froze up, my eyes locked on the damning fireball that filled the area the man had once been at. Eyes that stared even harder at the strangely scorched bones that remained in the crater. Or, rather, what remained of his bones. Scorched black mostly with odd blue lines.
A growl soon erupted from my mouth as this dulling sensation I had died off as I became angrier. But, I did not lash out at the lecturer, I just smashed a fist into the glass in front of me. Charging out of the room afterwards and sliding about. My claws having to dig into the ground so I could keep on moving.
Thankfully, that strange phenomenon was isolated to just that room so now I was actually displaying my rage. And now all I had on my mind was Heiya and her gods-damned Paps! I would ensure both of them could never be found by Undwote! They had some explaining to do and I would get my answers!
I WOULD!
Because if I was understanding this correctly, then what I just saw was one of my countrymen... A countryman they must have brought here as he was in their shipment earlier... The very same types of packaging as we had at that camp in the mountains! This was all their fault!
My death! My time in that damned hive! Me having to put up with all this shit from the past year! All of it!
"I'LL KILL YOU!" I roared at them just before I smashed through the doors of the building. The wave of shock travelling far faster than the splinters I made shower from the immediate sky. And once I was outside I was turning about sharply and quickly. Intent on finding those little things and choking them for all they were worth...
But I did not know where they might be, had they already left the Academy...? Better yet, should I not be hunting down the staff of this place!? They were the ones buying my countrymen so they could be turned into bombs! It was them displaying my people as mere curiosities.
"DAMMIT!" I then roared out in frustration before slamming a foot down into the pathway, cratering it as a result. A snarl leaving me in response to the complaints being directed at me. Yet, I did not focus on them, I just ran off to my dorm while damaging as much as I could on the way back. One final roar of anger leaving me just after I slam the door to our dorm shut.
The sounds of someone being spooked being heard just before they marched out in frustration, "What's going on out here!? Keep it down!" Vadei snapped before she noticed it was me. Her posture losing some of its assertive edge just like that.
"Vadei..." I muttered as I remembered why she was here too. What she had been through before we got here.
"What do you want?" I was asked by her just before she started fidgeting. Something that would not stop until I let go of her after grabbing her shoulders.
"How much do you know about Heiya and this place? Her connection to this place!?" I asked her with a dangerous stare that saw my eyes open wide. The blood that pumped through them becoming more pronounced as my anger grew again.
"Heiya...? The slaver? What about her?"
"She just delivered a shipment of my people here to be MASSACRED IN A LECTURE!" I began somewhat quietly at first before I yelled in fury. Vadei, however, seemed to revel in it a little. Something that would not benefit her if she kept it up...
"Ah, such a shame, your people are being sold as slaves. Pity." was all I got from her before she tried to leave. At least, until I went right up to her and sent a fist right past her ear and into the wall in front.
"Don't you walk away from me...!" I growled into that very same ear as her hair stood up. Her ears going down shortly after before she turned around. Her body moving as far back as it could while my shadow coloured it.
"L-Look... Nin... There's nothing I can tell you."
"Then how about this then?" I asked as my tone took on a higher pitch, "You help me as we are in the same boat and you help me hurt them bad..."
But she disappointed me, "We can't... The Academy would just come after me, us! And we would just endanger everyone around us!"
"We can deal with them another time, for now... For now we just stop them getting what they want and stop them from taking my people here to die!"
"And how would you do that!? The moment they hear of this they are out of here and we get a jail cell!"
"Then we go now... We go find those two and we stop them!"
"They'll just find new slavers to take their place, they aren't even the only ones!"
"Then we get them to take us to Tobaballe and make it clear they are to never go near there again..." I tell her as my anger pulsated. The mere thought of my home being so openly explored infuriating me to no end.
"No... We are just doing this for your home!" I was then told by a crying Vadei as she slinked back.
"Of course, why would I do it for someone else's? I am here because you have a history with them!"
"No! I am not helping you unless we also help my people enslaved at your home!" I was nearly shouted back at with. But, my presence and magic just made it too intimidating a prospect for Vadei. I then sighed deeply, she was right.
What right did I have to demand help from her to solve a problem my home had... Only to ignore how that problem affects her too?
"Fine then, Vadei. I would like you to help me find those two, we will then have them take us to Tobaballe as they clearly know the way. And, once there, we will do two things. Free your people and sever mine from the grasp of this godsless Academy!" I reclarified to her. Having shuffled around what we or I would do.
A small smile formed on her lips now, a slight sign of psychopathy too, "Good, I'll help you then if you keep your word." she told me with bared teeth.
"Remind me, how good is that nose of yours? I remember it being very sensitive."
"Let me show you." she said before she went out the door.