Looking down at the town from the train as it descended E4 guessed it spread at least 4 kilometers out from the estate in the center, which itself was maybe half a kilometer in diameter. Neither the estate nor the town around it were perfectly circular, more of an oval shape for the estate. As the train continued to descend she could see that the estate was not actually in the center of the town so much as a third of the way between the cliffs and the distant fence. From how the houses sat she guessed they had been built over time, extending further into the forest as the population grew and more space was needed. Most of the houses were made from wood, and each had a brick chimney from which thick white vapor issued forth. Each also had one or two of the odd brass or silver spinning objects. These appeared to be scooped to catch the wind. Some were silver, some were brass or bronze. The train station had several of the devices she could see as they approached.
“So, what time period were they going for here?” E4 asked as they entered the train station. She immediately noted that the place was lit through electric lights, yet there was a large fireplace on either side powered by wood, which as it burned seemed to provide light as well as heating several pipes. These pipes seemed to extend from the fireplace and up to the ceiling, where they disappeared into the next floor. Electrical cables wrapped in black rubber followed similar paths. Rather than being hidden, these seemed to be exposed for easy maintenance. Yet aside from these obvious additions the station looked like a rustic log cabin, complete with antlers on display. A few looked malformed, and two or three were pitch black. One was made from stone. There were also several stuffed animal heads, some of which E4 recognized and a few she did not. There was a board for displaying the departure time which was done in steel with bronze lettering.
“Is electricity a thing or not?”
“It definitely is, but each town seems to use it a little differently. Some use it for just about everything, some barely use it at all.” Marcus replied, approaching one of the furnaces and examining the clip board that someone had hung from a nail next to it. E4 approached and noticed it was a maintenance log. “Electric lines haven’t really caught on, and plastic is hard to come by, but since this place has a lot of wood most houses have personal steam generators. The giant electric fence might have helped.”
“That thing’s electric?”
“Yes, I was shocked when I found out too.” Marissa added.
“And that is why we’re not allowed to go sledding on the good hill.” Marcus finished, sending Marissa into a short fit of giggles. He approached the woman at the counter. “Marcus Eagle-Wood and Marissa Eagle-Wood, Tier one regulators, checking in. We are accompanied by regulator Ere’th’...,” He paused. “E4, what did you register your name as?”
“Just E4 Master Marcus.”
“Your record shall be recorded. May The Myst be merciful.” The chestnut-haired clerk said with a smile. E4 noted that, with the shadow over her eyes, she couldn’t tell if it was a genuine smile or a customer service smile.
“Ok, that’s done. Let’s hit up the standing stones for some supplies.” Marcia spoke up.
“We need to see Aunt Susan first.
“Does that mean I have to wear THAT dress?”
“Probably not. Depends on how urgent they are, and how much shame you want to put the maids through.”
“E4, how short did skirts get in your day?” Marissa asked as they exited, drawing a few looks from the nearby Myst Folk. E4 noted that thick wool or leather skirts and aprons were quite popular, mostly in muted tones. Wool caps and leather vests over cotton shirts and pants were more in favor with the men, and pipes seemed to be on the lips of both men and women. She also noticed wooden bangles decorated in gold on several individuals.
“Would you believe me if I said they went back down to ankle length, and headscarves are all the rage?” E4 blatantly lied. Marissa shot her a look that made E4’s tail twitch beneath her dress. “Nothing above the knee for me please.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“I’ve never met your parents, I want to make a good impression?” E4 replied, making Marissa pause and Marcus chuckle.
“Oh, she would never accept that. I don’t suppose you have a white dress in that wardrobe of yours?”
“They’d probably assume she was yours and be thrilled you were settling down.” Marissa replied. That made Marcus pause. “Well this is going to be fun, better go armed.”
Within five minutes E4 found herself outside the gates of a large log cabin estate. Numerous maple trees had been planted in a row just beyond the gates, which hummed with power as she approached. Two guards dressed in blue coats and pants with the Eagle-Wood heraldry stood at the open hardwood gate. Both were armed with spears made from gleaming steel and sturdy oak, though E4 did not miss the long daggers on their hips nor the three single shot pistols each carried.
“I wonder if these are on.” Marissa asked, approaching and touching one. Immediately her hair stood on end and sparks began jumping from her hand. As casually as if she hadn’t just been zapped she took her hand off and wiped off the burn on a handkerchief. “Yep, seems to be working.” E4 saw the guards watching, but without being able to see their eyes she could only guess at their expression, though she was going with either confusion or resigned indifference.
“Lady Eagle-Wood is in the courtyard.” One spoke with resigned indifference while passing a single coin to the other. “Please watch out for the electric fence.”
She was not hard to find. There was a small gazebo made from white wood with three chairs and a white table laden with small pastries and a tea kettle simmering on a hot plate. What E4 did not expect was to see an elegant woman in a powdered white wig bedecked in a flowing green and brown dress throwing plumes of misty flames at a squirrel who appeared to be holding a pink frosted cupcake in its mouth.
“Now hold still you vermin!” The woman yelled, her hands making precise motions before she threw a sphere the size of a baseball at the creature, which exploded upon impact into a plume of glowing red mist. All around the ground was now barren, yet the squirrel sat in the middle unharmed. E4 could have sworn it gave the woman a gesture before it dashed off, the treat still in its mouth.
“Lady Eagle-Wood.” Marcus nodded to the woman, making a gesture with his hand as Marissa curtsied, which E4 quickly copied. As she turned E4 noticed the woman’s eyes were cloudy as if she had cataracts, yet they also glowed slightly blue, as if the same azure radiance that came from her Mistress’s eyes was hiding just beneath.
Quick as a wink Lady Eagle-Wood regained her composure. “Marcus, Marissa, good to see you.” She eyed Marissa. “And you’re even wearing a skirt, we’ll make a proper woman of you one day yet.” She eyed E4, blue eyes narrowing on her. “And who is this? The Hymn tells me her name is E4. Why have you brought your newest maid with you. I thought you were seeing your head maid. Either way, this meeting is not for you little maid. Though you could fetch some ice cream from the freezer.”
“Yes Lady Eagle-Wood.” E4 replied with a nod, as The Hymn instructed her.
“E4, hold up.” E4 paused. “You’re still connected?” Marissa asked.
“The Hymn sings loudly in my ears.” E4 winked with her right eye, out of Lady Eagle-Wood’s line of sight before heading off.
The Hymn of The Myst was surprisingly easy to read. E4 followed the directions through the house as if she had been there a hundred times. The moment she entered the door the entire layout seemed to flow into her mind, starting with the closest room and expanding outwards. She could not tell what was in each room, only that they were present and they were not what she was looking for. She was immediately struck by how large the place was, counting at least five master bedrooms and three large kitchens. She didn't bother trying to count the smaller bedrooms, bathrooms, or other rooms that filled the house. Interestingly she also noted there were tunnels beneath the house that led to other structures beyond the main mansion. None of the other maids, and there were quite a few, even bothered to ask her where she was going. They had slightly different outfits, longer skirts that almost reached the floor and had some manner of hoop to give them a bit more shape compared to the unshaped skirt which, after her recent growth spurt, reached just below E4’s knees.
“Wait, I didn’t grow that much.” E4 stopped in her tracks at the realization. “By the Fangs of Lady Mara, I bet that’s what Andrew meant.” she muttered in frustration before returning to her task. The Hymn seemed to walk her through the entire house, almost as if it was trying to show the place off. The house used electrical lighting, though the lights flickered as if they were candles rather than the LED’s they were. Each door she passed was uniform and bore the symbol of the Eagle-Wood family. Finally, she found herself standing before a large portrait of two men.
“Lord Marcus Eagle-Wood and Lord Mason Eagle-Wood. Founders of our house. Arrived 300 Greyfog era. Vanished 410 Greyfog era. To them do we swear our eternal loyalty, for one day they shall return. None escape The Myst.” E4 looked at the two men and couldn’t help but notice how much Lord Marcus looked like her Master Marcus. They had the same facial structures, same eyes, the only difference was that Lord Marcus had a well trimmed beard and mustache. She eyed the portrait of Mason Eagle-Wood. The man looked very similar to his brother, though a big more feminine. He bore a simple mustache and longer raven black hair. While his brother looked serious, Mason’s visage bore a humorous smirk, as if he found something amusing about his portrait. E4’s eyes locked on his azure eyes that seemed to gleam despite the flickering lights and for just a moment she saw Marissa wearing a fake mustache before the illusion passed. E4 listened for The Hymn, yet it seemed to lead her here. She looked from one portrait to the next, waiting for something to happen. “Am I supposed to do something here?”
“You are here to swear loyalty.” E4 looked to see a maid approaching from around a corner. She had two bottles of some liquid, which she opened and placed on a table beneath the portraits. The bottles began to fizz and a sweet scent swiftly filled the room. “You are E4, Master Marcus and Mistress Marissa’s newest maid, and a recent addition to our group. While you may have a contract between yourself and them, the light of their Aether binding you to their will, this is but a temporary thing and easily broken.” The woman paused, eyeing her from behind round glasses that seemed to catch every flickering of the light and hiding if she was Myst Folk or not. From her dress she drew a dagger in a sheath, before drawing it and pointing the blade at E4. E4 eyed the object, the handle was made from dark wood while the pommel was made from some manner of steel and bore the Eagle-Wood crest. The blade however shone faintly, the pattern beneath flowing even as the blade was still. “We must rectify that. Do you swear to serve House Eagle-Wood faithfully until you are released from their service? Shed your blood upon this rail steel blade, swear yourself to the Eagle-Wood house, and you shall be granted greater autonomy than The Myst would ever allow. You shall blur the line between puppet of The Myst and free will, you shall gain a freedom surpassed only by the Blessed themselves. In time, you may even obtain that which we all desire, a chance to swallow a soul.”
E4 eyed the woman. The Hymn sounded in discord, both telling her to run and to accept. Yet E4 made her own choice. “I shall follow Master Marcus and Mistress Melissa loyally until the day released or that loyalty is violated.” As she spoke she felt her hair stand on end, as if a charge had built in the room.
The maid’s eyes flashed dangerously. “That’s not the proper oath.” E4 noticed the woman reaching into her pocket for something, and picked up the smell of gunpowder on the air.
“I will not swear blindly to an organization I do not know. For today an organization gives freely to the sick, and tomorrow it gathers them into hospitals. Within a week the hospitals become camps, and in a month physician and patient are upon the pyre. I shall not wear a gleaming mask to spare myself the smoke and the shame.” A chittering sound echoed in her ear. “In blood and by bone do I write my oath. In the name of My Lady I shall serve my employers faithfully until I am discharged or betrayed.” E4’s eye itched, and the muscles beneath her skin seemed to bulge and shift. In less than a quarter second she repeated her oath in chittering resonant. The head maid paused, then stepped back just before the sound of thunder echoed from above.
“What was that?” She asked, the shift from serious and possibly murderous maid to curious young lady nearly gave E4 whiplash. She holstered the blade carefully, and E4 suddenly realized she probably was not actually much of a fighter. “Are you already sworn to someone, wait, you’re Aether Blessed aren’t you?”
“Um, yes, I swallowed a soul about a week ago.” E4 paused. “You can’t tell, with the eyes,”
“I see. The cursed, and we half cursed, cannot tell a Blessed from the common folk, only the blessed can do that.” She returned the knife to its sheath, “Most fortunate are you, who have obtained so easily what we desire. Come, I will show you to the freezer.”
It took less than a minute for the maid, E4 assumed she was the head maid, to show her to a hidden staircase. It was narrow, but well lit and well marked. In 30 seconds flat E4 was in the basement. Looking around she found the basement was made from stone rather than wood. She easily found the door to the freezer, a thick and sturdy metal door with strange runes running across it. E4 eyed the runes, before her right eye translated them from what might have been Norse to English. “May the contents remain cold.” The runes seemed to be affecting the Myst that made up the door, causing it to absorb heat and shunt it into some kind of radiator system.
[[Myst Runes identified. Further research required. Establishing Resonant link]] E4 blinked at the notification. She hadn’t seen one in a few days. [[Error: Connection to Mara cannot be established due to interference. Establish local research node.]] E4 felt her eye begin to tear up, and then a tiny isopod crawled from her tear duct.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Really Mara,” E4 shivered at the sensation of the creature crawling down her face as she raised a hand to move it to her shoulder. “10 years and that’s still as creepy as it ever was. Can’t think of a better way?” Rather than move as she wanted, the isopod crawled onto her wrist and bit down, the numbing sensation of ravager toxin preventing her from feeling any pain. E4 noticed Myst gathering around the creature as it grew, sipping both on her blood as well as the gathering Myst. “That’s new.”
Within a few moments she had a wristband on her left wrist. It appeared to be made from bone and bore an odd inscription of an M. What initially looked like a gem made from amber was in fact an eye. E4 held the device up to the door for a few moments before it vibrated. “Ok, that’s out of the way, find the ice cream.”
The room was cold, the walls made from stone with pipes strewn throughout. Beyond was a second door, this one also made from metal and marked “Keep Closed: Freezer.” E4 approached and pulled on the door.
Immediately a wave of fear rolled over her. The Hymn warned her not to continue, to return to her mistress. E4 promptly disregarded it and opened it, only for a young maid to fall onto her as she opened the door.
“Bleeding Havoc!” She exclaimed, catching the woman as she fell. She had short black hair and wore the uniform of a maid. “We have a man down, secure the area, I will render assistance.” She chittered, before remembering she was likely the only person who would understand resonant. To a non-ravager it would have sounded like an odd warbling chirp or series of clicks lasting less than a second. Another ravager would have heard her crystal clear, even if they had been a mile away. Regardless E4 felt for the woman’s pulse, hoping that a Myst Folk would have one. From her books on anatomy she figured they would, but since they were beings of Myst the rules tended to be more along the lines of strong suggestions. She placed the woman on the ground and felt for a pulse again, but again felt nothing. She put her ear to the woman’s mouth, but heard nothing. “Ok, chest compressions, maybe,” E4 paused as she noticed a short dagger sticking out of the woman’s stomach. “Um, that’s not good. Maybe I can just,” As she prepared to do compression the woman opened her eyes. “Good, you’re alive.” E4 lifted the woman with ease. “We’d better get you up.”
Suddenly the woman went from being still to fighting like a wet cat. Long nails, more like claws, slashed for E4’s face. With a most undignified move she threw the woman as if she were an angry badger. The maid landed hard on the knife, and E4 heard something crack, but regardless of the pain the maid was on her feet in moments.
“Hey, easy, you’re going to be ok?” E4 spoke soothingly. The maid glared at her, glassy dead eyes staring back. E4 noticed that her pupils were fully dilated, then noticed she lacked the shadows of normal Myst folk or the gleam of an Aether Blessed. “What are you?”
The maid’s movements were jerky and discordant, arms reaching even as she stumbled forwards on legs that were hesitant to obey. A seemingly half hearted swipe tore a strip out of E4’s dress and took with it a chunk of flesh. A strange coldness, far different from the numbing nature of ravager toxin, seemed to spread through E4’s chest.
[[Caution: Unknown paralytic detected. Creating countermeasure.]] E4 felt her body fighting back against the poison. The maid continued swinging with unrelenting fury, neither breathing nor making any sound aside from that of her shoes against the floor.
E4 ducked under another swing, stabbing with her own claws twice before the other maid could react. E4 sensed the ravager toxin enter the woman, but if she felt it she made no sign. The maid made a wild tackle for E4, which she nimbly ducked beneath while leaving a deep cut on the woman’s arm.
“Stop, your arm’s done. If you move it,” E4 watched as the maid reached for her and what little muscle remained intact snapped under the strain “That will happen.” The maid’s arm seemed to bulge, and in defiance of E4’s understanding of anatomy it twisted the wrong way around as she likewise twisted her shoulder far beyond what should have been possible. “What the, How? I can’t even regenerate that fast." The maid fixed her eyes on E4 and crouched. “Oh no, don’t you do it.” With neither a breath nor even a twitch of the eye to give it away the maid charged, claws out, ready to plunge them into E4’s heart.
E4 dropped into a well practiced stance and with a swift move she had practiced far more than she cared to think about shoved the claws of her left hand into the maid’s chest and with a firm grip on her ribs threw the woman over her shoulder and into the ground. There was a low snap as the maid fell, likely breaking at least one vertebrae. “I’m sorry miss, but when it comes to claws never bet against a ravager.” She turned, to find that even with a snapped neck the woman was still snapping her jaw at her. Her body twitched, and black mist seemed to form around her neck. Her body continued to twitch, its form contorting into a spidery like shape “Bleeding Havoc!” She shot a glance towards the wristband on her arm. “I don’t suppose you know how to strike a chord on the Hymn of The Myst to call for the guards?” The wristband remained silent. “Marissa!” She yelled, running up the stairs. She cast a final glance down the steps just as the thing began crawling up the stairs at high speed. She slammed the door and with a burst of telekinesis jammed the latch. “MARISSA!”
Almost as soon as she called out something hit the door with impossible strength.
“Maid, what is going on?” A guard asked, running around the corner even as he drew his pistol. E4 quickly noted it was a single shot device that resembled a flintlock.
“I think it was a maid,” A loud THUNK hit the door, causing it to budge even with her trying to hold it shut. “I think it’s dead,” another loud THUNK that actually left a crack in the five centimeter hardwood door. “But it’s still moving.”
“Are you on the fumes?” The guard asked, shoving E4 aside and opening the door. “There’s nothing,” In an instant the maid had her jaws around his throat. In a last desperate effort the man fired his gun into the creature’s chest. E4 shrieked, and made a blind slash at the creature’s head. In its fervor for flesh the creature did not move, and its head went soaring.
E4 took a breath, then another. She watched the maid’s body go limp. She held up the device and scanned the body. [[Error: Body is inconsistent with Myst folk biology]]. Immediately the body rose up and lashed out at her. E4 felt the thing’s claws tear through her sleeve and draw blood. Immediately her limbs went numb and locked.
“What’s going on,” Another two guards came barreling down the corridor to see the still animated body swiping blindly for prey as its head snapped its jaws for more flesh. E4 lay on the ground, her muscles locked in rictus.
[[Error: Host has been afflicted by a paralytic toxin. Releasing in 6 seconds.]]
The guards immediately had their weapons out, drawing them with well trained speed and firing three times despite having single shot weapons. One shot the thing’s body placing three holes in a perfect triangle. The other shot the head, sending it flying further with each shot.
“Told you the three bean dip was a good purchase.” One said casually.
“G12 this is serious, we just shot a maid.” The other replied, reloading his pistol.
“No way that’s a maid, changeling definitely.” He eyed E4 just as she took a deep gasp, her paralysis finally wearing off. “What about that one, shoot her to be safe?”
“Please don’t, my mistress will be quite mad at me if I ruin this dress.” The Hymn whispered in her ear of how maids often treated things given to them by their superiors with great care. E4 didn’t think she had anything in particular.
“Stand down, that’s a maid.” E4 rolled back and with a quick jump was on her feet. “I think. Are you one of the CM series?” E4 gave the man a confused look. “The combat maids. If you don’t know I guess not,” He raised his firearm, “Which goes back to who are you?”
“My name is E4, one of Master Marcus and Mistress Marissa’s personal maids.”
E4 watched as they seemed to listen to something. Both guards shot one another a look. “What do we do?” One asked.
“Lady Eagle-Wood is in the pavilion with her guests, it’s easy enough to check out. Raises the question why she’s in the freezer though.”
“Lady Eagle-Wood wanted ice cream, and I found her,” She gestured to the body, which was already getting back up… “How is she still moving?”
Both guards raised their firearms, firing three shots each into the body. It went still. “That’s a tough creature of The Myst.” One muttered. He kicked it onto its back and noticed the blade stuck in its chest. He ripped it out with a viscous slurping sound that left an odd black tar behind. “Yuck, what is this stuff?”
E4 held out her arm to scan it.
[[Error: Body inconsistent with Myst Folk Biology. Note: Dagger is exhibiting unknown form of energy inconsistent with Aether or Myst. Object appears to be attracting Myst through unknown means.]] As the guard held the dagger some of the black stuff hit the floor and let out a loud Hiss.
“Woah, that’s acid.” The guard said. “Who just leaves an acidic dagger in a maid’s chest.”
“I don’t think that’s a maid, I’m pretty sure that’s a changeling.” The other said. “Someone must have stabbed it and left it down there. Should have told us so we could have cleaned it up.” He turned to E4. “Well, better get that ice cream, Lady Eagle-Wood will be waiting.”
E4 eyed the two. “So we’re just going to ignore the fact a maid was in the freezer with a knife in her chest?”
“Wasn’t a maid, it was some kind of Myst creature that mimicked a maid. Someone killed it and stashed it in the freezer for some reason. Myst doesn’t dissipate very well in the cold, so if you’re going to preserve an intruder to reveal later that’s the best way. We’ll have to tighten security again, figure out how it got in. That’s our job. Your job, is get ice cream.” He flashed a smile. “The Hymn of The Myst won’t steer us wrong.”
E4 returned to the pavilion to find Lady Eagle-Wood discussing something with Marissa and Marcus. The fact another maid was there, and holding a rather fancy green dress with brown accents and tan lace didn’t bode well.
“Oh come on, give it a try.”
“It looks hard to move in. I’d probably ruin it in a single day.” Marissa replied. She looked over at E4. “You’re back. What happened, did you get lost?” She froze at the sight of E4’s blood soaking her dress. No one, not one of the guards nor one of the other maids had mentioned it. E4 heard the Hymn whispering to her to hurry, and the others not to get in her way. “What happened to you?”
E4 placed the bucket of ice cream, a large metal bucket within an insulated wooden bucket and bearing a matching lid on the table. She paused, before another maid that seemed to appear from thin air arrived to supply bowls and spoons. To E4 she handed the scoop. “There was a complication.” She began serving, as The Hymn directed. “A creature of The Myst got into the freezer and attacked me when I opened the door. It is gone now, but it killed one of the guards and required two additional guards to put down.”
“What?” Marcus exclaimed, while Marissa and Lady Eagle-Wood gasped. Regaining his composure he drew his elixir canteen and handed it to E4 who took a small sip, before drinking several gulps. Immediately the sting of the cut faded, as excess Myst seemed to rise from the wound before vanishing without a trace.
“In my house?” Lady Eagle-Wood grimaced. “The guards will be pulling double shifts for a week over this.” She took a deep breath and eyed the ice cream. “I think I’ve lost my appetite for sweets. Marcus, Marissa, you know your tasks. I believe that’s everything for today.”
“You don’t want us to stick around, find out how this thing got inside?” Marcus asked.
“My guards will do that, it’s what I pay them for. This is something I need a regulator for.” She stood. “If there’s nothing else, it was lovely to see you again Marcus, Marissa.”
“And you too Aunt Susan.” Marcus replied.
“Bye Mom.” Marissa replied, and E4 thought she noticed a hint of a smile on Lady Eagle-Wood’s face.”
As they left E4 felt a twinge of nerves, as if she was making a mistake. She took a deep breath and suppressed it.
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Marissa asked. As they were escorted out. E4 looked over at her, then at her dress. The creature had torn a big hole in it and while she was not bleeding anymore her apron was definitely not going to be white anymore. “Forget about the dress, are you ok? No burning, no stabbing pains, any itching?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine. I’ve always been a fast healer and it was just a bad scratch. I’m more worried about that thing that got inside.” E4 replied. “That and how nonchalant everyone was about it. This thing killed someone, and once it was dead the guards just acted like they found a rat in the cupboard. A guard actually died, and the thing looked human. I’m pretty sure it used to be a maid.”
“Humanoid creatures of The Myst can be pretty scary. One minute you think they’re another person, and the next they’ve sprouted horns or claws or a tail and they’re murdering people.” E4 winced. “Don’t tell me that matched what you saw, I just made that up.”
E4 noted they were not headed back to the train station, but instead towards the standing stones. “No, it had claws, but it looked like a maid.” She adjusted her wig, ensuring her horns were still small enough to be covered, then adjusted her dress, still bloody where she had been cut. “But there was some manner of paralytic. It felt like every muscle in my body went cold and stiff.
“Cold and stiff?” Marissa reached out and with a gesture a spark shot through the blood stain, reducing the blood to Myst and turning it to Aether in a puff of white fog. Now there was just a rip in her dress a quarter meter long and half that wide. E4 noticed Marcus stop mid stride before he remembered himself. “And it looked like a maid? Sounds like something we read about a few days ago.” She smiled. “Now think, what was that thing?” She dropped her voice to a quiet whisper and ran her finger along the rip, “or do I need to strap you into the thinking chair again?”
“Marissa, your deviance is showing.” Marcus replied, though E4 saw his eyes wandering again.
“You didn’t even hear that.”
E4 thought for a moment. “A body snatcher, they have a paralytic in their claws.”
“Exactly.” Marissa replied as they arrived at the standing stones. This formation appeared to be made from solid marble, and was decorated with intricate wooden carvings, though E4 got a feeling it wasn’t normal wood. For one, it was of the blackest ebony and even at a distance she could smell an odd minty cold coming from it. “Body snatchers find someone alone, hit them with their claws, and hollow them out before stealing their skin. They actually melt into the victim’s spinal column, the image in the book is what they look like after they’ve been in the body too long.” She took her position. “Ready when you are.”
“They can still hear The Hymn, which makes them hard to spot.” Marcus added as he went towards his place. “But this can be turned against them. They are HIGHLY territorial, so a broadcast from a Myst Cursed like Aunt Susan of a weaker creature of The Myst draws them there immediately. They can also sense other creatures of The Myst. So if there were two of them, their first matter of business would be to fight to the death. If you killed one, there won’t be another.” He paused. “Ok, I’m ready.” He looked up, and E4 took her position. “Hold up, look at that.”
E4 looked up, to see a funnel forming above the standing stones. “What’s that?”
“These stones haven’t been tapped in a while, which is odd. Normally there are enough regulators to tap this place every day, or at least once a week. This is going on two weeks.” He cracked his knuckles. “This might get a bit hairy, especially if there is an Aetheric cascade. Anything you’re hoping for, say it now.”
“I’d like some Aetheric salt, and maybe some 100 charge limes.” Marissa chimed in. “How about you?”
“I could go for some 100 charge everpopping corn.” Marcus replied. “What about you E4?”
“Um, is this a ritual?” E4 asked.
“Yep, before you tap the standing stones you speak something you want, and sometimes The Myst will give it to you. The chances are greater if it’s something consumable like food, occasionally a material, rarely a weapon. If you present your weapon it will sometimes be improved, but that automatically makes it a bargain and we don’t have time to do one right now.”
“Now that you mention it, I could use some Blood Wood for my rifle.” Marissa added. “Something to give the stock a bit of extra force.”
E4 thought. “I guess, maybe some kind of leather.” She tugged on her dress, which still bore a large hole in it. “Another few centimeters, and this could have been pretty bad. Or maybe something that lets me heal faster. Maybe a medical kit that lets me actually heal wounds.”
Marissa and Marcus eyed E4. “Um, E4, you regrew an arm in a day.” Marissa pointed out.
“While I agree having a Myst provided healing kit would be nice, especially since it would provide consumables every time we tapped the standing stones, I vote armor. Your regeneration is already on par with an Empowered Aether Blessed, I don’t think it’s going to get any higher.”
All three held out a hand and E4 closed her eyes in concentration. Every hair began to stand on end, the sensation far stronger than last time. She reached out, feeling the pull, yet a sudden jolt caused her hand to jerk.
Immediately lightning fell from the sky into the standing stones. E4 felt her ravager isopod swell along her nerves, drinking deep from the power. Her arms and legs tingled, and she felt the flesh beginning to burn and flake off. The pain took hold for only a minute before the symbiote kicked in, endorphins and adrenaline shielding her from the pain. She was thrown back, slamming into a building with enough force she felt the wood shift.