Chapter 80 The Return
Evernya flopped down on the couch in the small living room area next to two king-sized beds. She let out a groan of relief as she melted into the couch cushions. Her relaxation session only lasted for a second as an annoying poking under her lower back interrupted her. She knew she had her tail safely coiled around her waist, so she dug under her aching body with curiosity, only to pull out a certain artifact along with a chunk of foam and white fabric.
Panicked, Evernya sprung up, momentarily forgetting her soreness to check the damage. Evernya stared wide-eyed at the clean-cut through the entire coach cushion into the wooden frame. She then stared down at her artifact with confusion while simultaneously feeling her back for any cuts, finding none.
While trying her best to keep her laughter under wrap, Meira explained from her position on a recliner to Evernya’s left. “As expected by a mana-bound artifact, a simple couch cushion is no match. As for why it didn’t cut you well, that’s because it’s impossible. Mana-bound artifacts cannot hurt their owners, no matter how hard you try to cut yourself in half.”
Unable to resist her curiosity, Evernya ran the razor-sharp edge of the legs against her left palm without leaving a mark. That is so weird I can tell it’s extremely sharp, but it doesn’t cut. Evernya marveled mentally as she continued to poke her hand with the tail legs of the artifact.
After several seconds of testing the sharpness of her artifact on her own body, Evernya’s eyes re-landed on the nasty gash on the couch, bringing her back to the present. “What are we can do about the couch? Also, how am I going to avoid this in the future?”
Still smiling from the amusement of watching her kitten’s attempt at skewering herself, Meira replied, “I don’t know, but making a sheath for it would be pointless, so just keep it inside your mana core when you don’t need it. As for the couch, no big deal, I’ll leave some extra money when we leave.”
At the mention of storing her artifact, the knowledge appeared in her mind, similar to how she summoned it. Ever curious, Evernya followed the instructions by willing her mana into the brand, causing the artifact in her right hand to disappear as if it was never there.
“That is so cool! So I can summon it anytime I want?” Evernya inquired while searching for any traces of her artifact, finding none.
“I’m pretty sure you can, even in a spatial lock. As long as you have access to your mana core, I think you can do it. I can’t say for sure since I don’t have one and those that do are secretive.” Meira replied.
A moment later, Elizabeth came rushing in but stopped dead when she saw a healthy-looking Evernya chatting with Meira while lying on the uncut side of the couch.
“Why aren’t you in the tub!? Even if you look fine on the surface, you still need to soak in MEL to heal!” Elizabeth exclaimed, sprinting toward the lying girl in a panic.
Evernya gave a reassuring smile, only for her to shift her body just enough to cause a jolt of pain to shoot through her body. “Calm down, Elizabeth. I am fine now. Check for yourself.” Evernya grimaced.
Elizabeth ignored her patient’s claim as she scanned every nook and cranny with her water element healing magic, finishing with a shocked expression. “How is this possible!? I checked myself and your mana system was on the verge of collapse only ten minutes ago! Now all I see is minor inflammation, which should pass in a few hours.”
“Well, what caused my issues decided to give back and heal me,” Evernya explained, materializing her Mana Bound Artifact in front of Elizabeth.
“Is that what I think it is?” Elizabeth questioned, glancing at Meira for confirmation.
“Yes, that little artifact of hers has some nasty mana absorption, almost like a certain kitten of mine,” replied Meira, unconsciously shaking the hand that touched the artifact.
“Thomas will drool over the chance to study it. Have you seen his private study? It’s literally filled with studies, samples, and photographs of that ruin. Do you think there is a connection between the artifacts?” Elizabeth commented before shivering as she too remembered the video Thomas forced them to watch.
“I think, so the similarities are just too close. Maybe they are part of a set?” Meira theorized.
“Either way, Thomas will want to hear about this. Maybe he can pull some strings to have Evernya visit the ruin.” Elizabeth replied, eyes glued to the beautiful but deadly translucent black artifact in Evernya’s right hand.
As she already thought of using Thomas’s connections, Meira replied, “That may be hard since Sespina started maintaining heavy presence down there several months ago. Haven’t you heard Thomas’s rant on their blockade of independent researchers?”
“Never underestimate Thomas’s obsession with that place. He will find a way,” Elizabeth commented with certainty, having spent much more time with Thomas as colleagues.
Not liking the direction the conversation is going, Evernya jumped in despite having a neighing feeling prodding her to go. “Even if you get me access, I won’t be touching that other artifact as I would rather not die.”
“Neither would I, but I doubt you would get close enough anyway,” Meira assured.
Unconvinced Evernya added, “I doubt they will let me, a teenage shifter in there without me revealing some of my secrets.”
“It may come to that, but not if you aren’t willing to reveal them,” Elizabeth stated, trying to warn her patient, knowing Thomas will force the issue in the name of his obsession.
“Part of me wants just to reveal some of them, so I don’t have to worry about keeping so much to myself,” Evernya grumbled, despite knowing it would be a bad idea.
“It’s your decision, but you will have to live with the consequences,” Meira warned, while glaring at Elizabeth.
“Don’t worry. I will not go around spouting all my secrets. I’m not stupid enough to think people won’t take advantage of me, but some less harmful ones I won’t bother keeping secret. For example, I see no need to keep my new artifact secret or the fact I have omnilingualism. The fact I am a mage is shocking enough for most people, so a few more added on won’t make a difference.” Evernya assured.
“True, just be careful we won’t be with you at all times,” Meira warned before glancing at the clock, prompting her to turn her attention to Elizabeth, who was still kneeling on the floor beside Evernya’s couch. “Now that you’re here, how do you feel about going to the auction with us?” Meira offered.
While avoiding Meira’s piercing gaze, Elizabeth replied with a hint of uncertainty, “I have nothing to wear besides I have to work in the morning.”
“We can go shopping after we knock our kitten out with food, and I don’t think they will care if you come in a little late tomorrow. Think of all the fun. You don’t get a private booth at a high-end auction like this often.” Meira argued, refusing to let her friend escape.
“Unless you are a certain elf who has it every year but doesn’t go.” Elizabeth teased, knowing there’s no arguing with her Elven friend.
“It would be a bore to go all alone, so I don’t bother, but this year is different.” Meira defended while gazing lovingly toward her kitten, who was lying perfectly still to avoid aggravating her sore body.
After a minute of silence, refusing to give in instantly, Elizabeth relented, “Fine, I’ll come, but I don’t have enough money to buy much.”
“That’s fine, since I’m paying,” Meira replied, a smile blooming at her victory.
“I can’t pass up that offer. I know your bank accounts need some trimming after all these years of hermiting.” Elizabeth teased, already daydreaming about her new dress.
“Hey, I buy stuff! Just because I only leave my land a few times a year doesn’t mean I don’t have the internet.” Meira defended with an offended expression.
Elizabeth smiled at her friend’s childish reaction while commenting, “I don’t know how you get internet out there or how you get things delivered, but your collection of stuff has to come from somewhere.”
Despite the entertainment of watching her elf get teased, Evernya jumped in. “So am I going to take my coma nap here? Or are we getting a hotel closer?”
Still smiling from their playful conversation, Meira returned her attention to her kitten, replying, “Before all of this happened, I reserved a room only a few blocks from the auction house. After we fetch your other new toys, we will go out to eat.” She then turned to Elizabeth and inquired, “We will need a car, so could you rent us something fancy? I’ll pay you back.”
“Yeah I can, no point in waiting in line to buy a wristband just to fetch some items,” Elizabeth replied, failing to hide her excitement of tonight’s possibilities.
Evernya dematerialized her artifact and tried to force her stiff, sore muscles to stand her up. With a jerky motion, she sat up with a pained groan, but her body refused to go further. Evernya turned a pleading gaze toward her elf before asking, “Any way you could carry me there? I don’t think I can walk that far.”
Out of nowhere, she felt a comforting warmth spread throughout her body, washing away most of the soreness. She looked down to find Elizabeth smiling up at her with her hand on her thigh.
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“Better?” Elizabeth inquired.
After stretching her arms above her head, finding only minimal discomfort, Evernya replied with a thankful expression, “Much, thank you.”
“No problem. I should have healed you right away. I figured you were fine with the soreness since you didn’t heal yourself. Besides, it’s better to leave minor inflammation to heal on its own.” Elizabeth replied, brushing off her patient’s thank you as she stood up before freezing in suspicion.
Evernya knocked herself upside the head, feeling like an idiot, “how could I forget about that.”
“Let’s get going. We don’t have much time to spare.” Meira directed, trying to divert Elizabeth’s suspicious attention away from her kitten.
Eager to move on and find her new toys, Evernya sprung to her feet, prompting the others to wander toward the door. Meira led the way while scanning the room to make sure she grabbed everything. After finding nothing, she opened the door to the hallway, holding it open for the other women.
A few minutes later, they found themselves in the lobby where Elizabeth split off to procure a vehicle for the auction. With her kitten distracted by Elizabeth’s departure, Meira snuck toward the checkout counter. Evernya turned around just in time to spot the 2150 Crystal payment displayed on the cash register.
There is no way the room costs that much! Did Meira do what I think she did? Dammit, it was my artifact that destroyed the couch. I’m the one that should pay for it! Evernya grumbled mentally, staring annoyed at the back of the head of her elf.
Meira ignored both her annoyed kitten and the shocked receptionist as she glided toward the door leading outside, followed by a glaring kitten.
Once outside, Evernya glittered in front of Meira with her hands on her hips as she ranted, “I have money now. I am responsible for paying for my mistakes!”
“Nope, you’re my kitten. I won’t let you pay for anything while I’m present.” Meira asserted before sidestepping her kitten, taking a left down the sidewalk, leaving Evernya no choice but to follow.
Five minutes later, the sidewalk thickened with people all moving toward the festival gates now visible a block away. Evernya wrapped her tail loosely around her waist to avoid a tail grab, as was her habit in dense crowds. They presented their wristbands at the first gate, allowing them immediate entry. A minute later, they arrived back in the now much packed festival grounds in front of the enormous gates blocking entry.
Without wasting time, Meira materialized their backpacks, floating Evernya’s to her kitten without breaking stride toward the gate. A quick wristband scan later, they found themselves back on the festival grounds, only to find the taxi carts packed to the brim. As they neared the taxi station, the last weapon area taxi left.
While watching the taxi rollaway disappearing into the crowds, Evernya asked, “Now what?”
“Well, unless you want to walk, I would suggest catching that taxi. With our wristbands, we get priority seating, even if it’s full.” Meira stated before taking off in a sprint aided by a tailwind of her own creation.
Evernya glanced back at the security men guarding the gate and taxi station. All low arisen stage mages paid little attention to the speeding elf before she too took off easily, catching up as the crowd parted for them.
This is so easy after running for days in the wilds. Is this Meira’s max speed? I doubt we’re going over thirty kilometers per hour. I don’t even need to boost my speed with mana. Evernya observed mentally, casually matching her pace to Meira’s.
Less than a minute later, the slow taxi came into view, prompting Meira to flip over the barricade separating the taxi lane as she burst forward. Faster than the taxi driver could perceive, Meira appeared in front of the lane, creating a gust of wind, slowing the taxi to a stop.
While ignoring the shocked driver and passengers, Meira casually floated onto the roof of the taxi and sat down. While shaking her head at Meira’s antics, Evernya also hopped onto the roof to take a seat next to her elf.
Meira dangled her platinum wristbanded wrist down in front of the taxi’s window, signaling the driver to get going. After a second delay, the driver followed her command, forced to move forward as several other taxis pull up behind them.
After the taxi moved, Evernya turned toward Meira with a questioning expression. “Why didn’t we just run all the way there? I could’ve probably run there in a couple of minutes at most.”
Meira fished out a familiar cube, only answering after she activated it. “I doubt you would have made it more than a hundred at that pace without security stopping you. All public areas within Sespinian cities have a forty km/h foot speed limit. Without a sprinting license, security would detain us. Besides, unlike you, my body can’t handle running over one hundred km/h. Hence why I enjoy fly, but that’s also illegal for obvious reasons.”
Upon flashing back to her stop outside Venduva, Evernya asked, “So, what are the chances I’ll find my other stolen items?”
“Unlikely, but we can swing by the shops with similar items. Sometimes they try to sell their stolen goods right away.” Replied Meira honestly.
Evernya frowned at Meira’s response before commenting, “I don’t really care about the swords, but I kinda want the staff back.”
At the mention of her kitten’s purchase, Meira raised an eyebrow as she questioned, “You got a staff? Why?”
“I enjoyed swinging it around, so I bought it. I know it’s not practical for the wilds, but it was fun to play with. The shop was even from Druth, so local for us.” Evernya defended.
“Was it Lacy’s staves and woodworking?” Meira asked.
“Yeah,” Evernya replied, looking at Meira with curiosity.
Meira answered her kitten’s unasked question. “I’ve been in her shop a few times. She is very good at what she does, but unfortunately, staves don’t work well in the wilds.”
After a minute of quiet, Meira said. “It’s a shame we don’t have time to check out the rest of the festival. I’m sure there are many deals to be had even now. Though it’s late for any of the crazy deals.”
While twitching her nose, Evernya inquired unintentionally, changing the subject, “Why is the delicious smell gone?”
“Mana rich materials always sell quick,” Meira replied.
“Damn, I was looking forward to that,” Evernya grumbled, fangs threatening to descend just thinking about all the delicious mana she missed out on.
“You got to pounce on the best stuff,” Meira commented, for once thankful they missed out as even her big account couldn’t survive her kitten’s appetite.
“Getting sucked dry by some mystery weapon won’t allow me to pounce on much. How long was I out anyway?” Evernya inquired as her hand moved toward her cellphone tightly squeezed into her short shorts pockets.
“Around four hours,” Meira replied, saving her kitten the trouble of checking.
Evernya’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow, no wonder you looked so freaked out. Do we even have time for my coma nap?” Evernya inquired.
Tears formed in Meira’s eyes as her arms shot out to hug her kitten as she rambled. “It was nerve-wracking waiting for when or if you would wake up. When I got you in the tub, you didn’t even have a pulse. To my relief, your heart and breathing restarted as soon as we submerged you in the MEL, but you were absorbing the mana faster than we could replenish. We couldn’t even bring you to a real mana tank without you dying in transit. If you hadn’t woken when you did, I’m not sure we could have sustained you.”
“I didn’t realize it was that bad. I would rather avoid another near-death experience. I’ve had enough for a lifetime which is hopefully a very long time for me.” Evernya commented with a lighthearted tone, trying to calm herself down while returning her hug.
After two minutes of silent hugging, Meira disengaged and jokingly commented, “I agree. My heart can’t take another one of these.”
“Can an elf even have a heart attack?” Evernya asked, wanting to change the subject.
“Not that I know of. We stay healthy and young-looking until the last decade of our lives where we rapidly age. Even then, we are healthier than most humans until our body simply shuts down. But don’t worry, I have at least a thousand years left, maybe even two, so you aren’t getting rid of me anytime soon.” Meira replied.
“That’s good. I would hate to find another elf to hang out with.” Evernya teased with a smile.
“Hilarious, as for your question, I am pretty sure we will have enough time for your coma nap. From what I’ve observed, only the first two hours is a coma where your body is completely still, but after that, you shift around in your sleep like anyone else. I never tried it, but I’m guessing we could probably shake you awake once you enter that stage of sleep. Anyway, it’s around 5 pm now, so thirty minutes out here, then an hour for dinner followed by your coma nap should land us around 8:30, which will be just enough time to get ready for the auction. Technically, they say the auction starts at nine, but in reality, it’s more like 9:30 to 10. They open the doors at nine and have a red carpet-like show as people make their way inside. Worst case, we are a bit late, which isn’t a big deal for us because I have a private booth. They only give a booth away thirty minutes after the auction starts.” Meira explained, giving her kitten a quick rundown of their schedule.
“Have you been watching me in my sleep or something?” Evernya questioned, hung up on that minor fact while staring suspiciously at her elf.
“I need to know the optimal times to play dress up, so of course,” Meira replied shamelessly.
“Damn it! I told you to stop dressing me up in my sleep! Do I have to set up booby traps?” Evernya threatened fishing her platinum debit card out of her pocket to wave in front of Meira.
With her hands raised in surrender, Meira replied, “I kept my word. I haven’t done them for a while, but that doesn’t mean your sleeping habits changed.”
“You better. I have money now. I could buy some cameras.” Evernya threatened.
“True, you could, but do you really want to set up cameras just to watch yourself sleep?” Meira commented, returning to her usual self.
“Not really, but if it means no more sleeping shifter dress-up, it’s worth it.” Evernya asserted with a serious expression.
Internally terrified of losing her dress-up sessions, Meira quickly changed the subject. “Speaking of money, any idea what you will spend it on?”
After a few seconds of contemplation, Evernya replied, allowing the subject to change. “I don’t know, but I should have around 188 thousand left. How much is a motorcycle? A motorcycle will come in handy if I’m barred from sprinting around town and probably campus.”
“Anywhere from ten thousand up to several hundred thousand crystals, depending on their features and propulsion method. Usually, mana-powered is on the higher end, though.” Meira informed.
Curious, Evernya asked, “how does a mana-powered engine work? Do I feed it my mana?”
Meira smiled down at her kitten’s curiosity as she explained, “Some models have a manual powered option, but the primary form of power is MEL in a tank, powering many engine setups. Usually, in the form of a mana-driven motor similar to electric motors, but some even emulate internal combustion engines. Of course, no matter what type you get, you first need a driver’s license.”
“Wait, I’ve been drinking gas!?” Evernya exclaimed in shock.
“Mana gas kinda ya, but it’s used for more than powering mana engines. For example, people use it all the time as a cheaper mana potion, but you’re the only one who enjoys the taste. Anyway, we can schedule your driver’s license test after we get back if you are confident you can pass it.” Meira replied before shifting gears back to getting a motorcycle.
“From what I can tell from the road signs and the controls of your truck and bike, I should pass easily as long as I read a book on the traffic laws,” Evernya said with confidence.
“Good, I won’t have to ferry you around as much if you get your own transportation,” Meira commented teasingly.
“Admit it, you like going out with me.” Evernya shot back playfully.
Meira’s upbeat mood took a nosedive as her mind replayed the last several hours, commenting in a subdued tone, “Well, I have to say it’s never boring when you’re around something always happens.”
“Unfortunately, you are right on that. So why don’t you give me mana potions instead of MEL?” Evernya inquired, catching Meira’s mood swing.
While putting on a smiling face, Meira explained, “They are too expensive and won’t work for you. Unlike MEL, Mana potions don’t directly replenish mana, but put your mana system in overdrive for a short period, stimulating it to absorb more mana from your surroundings. Mana potions give an immediate boost to someone’s mana in a dire situation, but it isn’t healthy to drink too many of them back to back because of the stress it puts on your mana system. They’re pointless for you since you can absorb more mana anytime and besides, if you were that low, you have other worries. However, for those of us without little mana sucking fangs, MEL is slow and extremely inefficient, hence why most consider mana potions better and more valuable.”
Evernya leaned in, giving a quick reassuring hug as she said, “Yeah, that sounds useless.”
No longer in the mood to ask questions, they fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the trip.