Chapter 187: To Know the Unknown
Aliyah rolled the eye-sized orb in her left hand. Eye-sized…well, it was an eye, after all. The team peered as the object as it seemed to peer back, although it had no visible iris. It was glossy and black, as if carved from obsidian but with none of the unpleasantly sharp edges of obsidian weaponry that’d make this subsequent process extremely unpleasant.
Eufemia’s gaze was distrustful and tinged with mild, wary disgust. “You’re really going to go through with this?”
Aliyah held the eyeball between her fingers. Her fingers left no smudges against the object, it held itself perfectly clean, as if above mortal trivialities like oil and sweat.
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Item: [Key of the Architect] (iron rank [growth], legendary)
Classification: eye, body modification, artifact
Description: The key to seeing beyond the mortal realm. A gaze to glimpse upon the secrets of the fabric of reality and astral.
This item is unbound. Once bound, it cannot be bound to anyone else.
Effect: Perceive energy. Your ability to perceive energy in different ways expands with your increased understanding of the forms of energy.
Effect (Iron): Increased ability to perceive ritual magic and enchantments. You may project holographs of what you perceive for others to view. You may construct holographic diagrams for others to see. These will not be confused with reality and can contain no aura. These holographic constructs may be used as a basis for ritual diagrams.
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Aliyah had not found her chosen growth item within the vaults of the mausoleum. Instead, she had sorted through the Adventure Societies’ listings and traded her token for it, along with several gold coins. An expensive trade, overall, but the purpose was to benefit the lister. The adventurer in question made a living delving for artifacts, trading for tokens (or buying tokens outright) and listing what they found for sale or auction. It saved others the effort of delving into the mausoleum, and the trader bore the risk of claiming something that may not sell for many years or may not sell at all. However, when an object was sold, it sold for a high price, and they could continue the process. This particular lister was overseen by the Adventure Society and the local government in charge of mausoleum operations, so that they could not sell the artifacts to criminals, and their trades likely had lower commission fees in exchange, benefiting all involved.
Body modification artifacts in particular were thoroughly vetted, as they straddled the line of what was permissible by the Adventure Society (permanent modification, after all, was close to what the Undeath Essence did to their users. Oversight made sure the permanent change would have no undesirable effects). As a body modification artifact, it was not listed for public auction, but rather a private sale with the Adventure Society as a mediator. With Aliyah’s good standing with the Society, she was permitted to make an offer for the artifact.
The sale was already completed, of course; Even with Eufemia’s wariness, there was no returning the artifact, unless she sought to sell it again herself. It was a pointless reaffirmation, but Aliyah understood Eufemia’s apprehension.
She understood, but she did not feel the same way. Regardless, Eufemia’s own color of concern warmed her.
“I’m sure, Eufemia. This is what I want.”
Aliyah thanked Fortune, she could hardly believe her luck. Utility growth items were not particularly popular amongst adventurers, who preferred an artifact that’d prove their edge in combat.
…So maybe she could believe her luck. She was more thankful that the lister had exchanged for the token for the artifact at all, but there was some financial sense in claiming rare artifacts (and he had certainly demanded a high price for it). Not even Nara, who was decked out in growth items like it was civilian fashion, had a body modification growth item.
(With Nara’s racials, Aliyah wasn’t sure a body modification growth item would be able to work with her at all. A theory she could and would never test. What a shame.)
With a quick prick of an adequately ranked needle, a drop of blood welled upon her thumb, clinging to her skin with the same anticipation that hung within Aliyah’s chest. The whole slashing the palm for blood new adventurers liked to do was overdramatic, a needle was farm more practical. Her gaze lifted to meet Sen’s for the final time, the final time with two of her own eyes, born to her by the growing pods of Fertility. With an anticlimactic press, her blood smeared across the orb.
Unexpectedly, it immediately melted, subsuming into her palm like ink. As she tracked the path of black through her arm, she felt the liquid magic thrum through her meridians, skating just above her body matrix, although not quite; it wouldn’t alter her matrix yet. She felt the tingle across her shoulder, her neck, and finally her face, centering around her left eye. (Left hand to left eye, she duly noted. If she had used her right hand, would it have been her right eye? Or was there some other logic to its choice?)
The pressure built, a steady thrum of magic. It was not painful, but increasingly uncomfortable as the magic built within her eye. It was like a searing light—not direct pain, but energy and pressure and intensity. She felt the magic of the artifact reach out to her, to her body matrix. It twinned around, performing a delicate operation like a master surgeon with a scalpel, prick, prick, pricking her matrix, working it and altering it and shifting it to suit its purposes.
Aliyah could see why Nara would hate something like this.
It was invasive, but all Aliyah could do was grit her teeth and let it continue. She could no longer see with her left eye, the mass of magic overwhelming her visual perception into a noisy fuzz. The body matrix was an advanced field, usually the realm of gold ranked study, and the iron rank artifact could only do what it could, slowly, with her consent. If she were any higher ranked, she wasn’t sure it’d be possible at all, with an iron rank growth item. This one, unfortunately, could only be ranked up after it was bound.
(She wondered if she could make a ritual to simultaneously rank up and bind an artifact. It was niche use, but Aliyah suddenly found she had more motivation for such a ritual.)
Finally, the pressure abated, and Aliyah felt one final sweeping tingle as the magic fully integrated with her eye, connections and pathways smoothing as the eye integrated with the rest of her matrix, an altered combination of what was into what will now be. There was still the discomfort of an iron rank body part with a bronze rank body, one Aliyah would immediately rectify with a quick ritual complete with all the necessary materials. The need to settle the disconnect was overwhelming, and she did so before her team could get any words in, with single-minded focus to fix what was wrong.
She had heard rumors of what happened when a discharged priest lost a divine essence and one of their attributes de-ranked, unbalancing their body. She wondered if the sensation was similar.
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Item: [Key of the Architect] (bronze rank [growth], legendary)
Classification: eye, body modification, artifact
Description: The key to seeing beyond the mortal realm. A gaze to glimpse upon the secrets of the fabric of reality and astral.
Effect: Perceive energy. Your ability to perceive energy in different ways expands with your increased understanding of the forms of energy.
Effect (Iron): Increased ability to perceive ritual magic and enchantments. You may project holographs of what you perceive for others to view. You may construct holographic diagrams for others to see. These will not be confused with reality and can contain no aura. These holographic constructs may be used as a basis for ritual diagrams. Ritual diagrams must be drawn, and cannot be instantaneously projected, if they are to be activated and not just projected.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Effect (Bronze): Manipulate lines of ritual magic.
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Finally, Aliyah could breathe a sigh of relief as the magic fully settled into her matrix, in complete balance like a well-tuned instrument.
“Are you alright now?” John asked, peering at her face, searching for any further discomfort. His bronze rank perception scanned over here, searching for any further knots in her magic. Because of his training, he was more adept at evaluating the magic of the body rather than of external ritual magic like Aliyah.
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Ability: [Vision of Life]
Perception
Cost: None
Cooldown: None
Effect (Iron): Perceive the vulnerabilities of others.
Effect (Bronze): Perceive the flows of Magic.
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“My first impression is that I feel fine, but I am an unreliable observer, in this matter.” Aliyah meditated, breathing calmly to restabilize her aura and pulse after the discomfort. “How does it look to you?”
Eufemia’s mirror slid conveniently to Aliyah’s side. While it was a combat implement, it still served as a mirror.
Aliyah peered into her reflection as it peered back at her, equal in intensity. Her runic eyes originally had softly glowing gold irises, a honey gold light that matched the runic marks upon her skin. Her mother would always say that she was her ‘little sun shine’.
The left eye had shifted, no longer sun light but eclipse light, red-gold against inky black. Her sclera was completely black, and her iris a corona of gold light ringing the black moon of her pupil. Every so often, gold light sparkled in a pulsing wave through infinitesimally small runes, too quick to read. Aliyah had a feeling those runes continually shifted and changed. There would be no reading them for some time.
“I may not be the most eye-catching person in this team anymore,” Eufemia said, eying her with something like approval.
“We’re you ever the most eye-catching team member?” Encio grinned, his challenge clear.
Eufemia scowled right back. She gently grasped Aliyah’s chin, tilting her head every which way. Aliyah let her, humoring her inspection. “A little imposing, a little mysterious, a little dangerous,” was her final evaluation. “If you wanted men and woman to throw themselves at your feet to present themselves for your mercy, you’d have them now.”
Aliyah preferred being on the receiving end of a powerful, self-confident woman, but she could work from the other side. She appreciated the full breadth of experience. “Thank you, Eufemia,” she said, amused.
*****
“We’ve continued to monitor the activity of the Church of Undeath,” the adventure society liaison in the meeting said. He was one chosen for his professionality; he was in the presence of many high rankers. “Our observations have so far remained undetected, and the Church’s actions have remained a constant.”
“No acceleration to their plans?”
“Not so far as we have detected.”
The diamond ranker, Queen Tyranel Kallid of the aptly named Kingdom of Kallid, lounged on a chair, silent as she observed the proceedings. She waved hand to indicate permission to move onto the next topic.
“We have detected Church of Undeath activities at the far edges of the territory of Kalid, although we are unsure of there purpose. Any hidden bases, if there are any, have remained undetected.”
“The Magic Society has been investigating alternative countermeasures to the impending failure of the black ice sealing artifact. We have not found a method to repair the artifact as of yet. An alternative plan is the investigation of temporary and portable dampeners, which, while not able to completely seal the Svartrsoelis, it may buy time for evacuation as a worst-case scenario.”
“Very well,” Tyranel approved. “Continue.”
Another Adventure Society official spoke. “Our spies in Nekroz detected the movement of Kazimir Sorrokin in Konnoch. We speculate that the Vampire of Sorrow may be related to the situation at large.”
“Hm, debatable,” Tyranel said, once again offering her opinion into the discussion (which was unusual, as she usually left it up to her dukes.) “Savva isn’t known for his interference, rather the opposite. Kazimir…he’s not one for external affairs either. He’s preoccupied with the absolute rot pile his home nation is.”
The official nodded. “That is our consensus, although the timing is coincidental.”
Tyranel waved a hand, dismissing. “Sometimes, coincidence can just be coincidence.” Something glittered in her eye. “Speaking of, how is little Nara’s and Knowledge’s project?”
“Little Nara?” someone questioned. This wasn’t on the meeting agenda.
Aliyah sat up straighter. She had missed her chance to respond. She hadn’t really been expected to be relevant again after she had already delivered her updates. She really had been getting too comfortable being around diamond rankers, if she was getting distracted in a meeting with one.
“From team…Huh. I don’t recall. What is your team name?” This time, Tyranel spoke directly to her.
“Um,” Aliyah hesitated. It was unlike her to speak with fillers, but Aliyah found value in stalling. “We have not decided on one yet.”
“Ah, well! This is a good time then!”
Is it?? Some part of Aliyah’s brain protested, but she didn’t voice it. Several dukes looked away, as if to stifle groans. Others met her eyes with expressions of pity. Some with expressions of bemusement.
Aliyah did not like their reactions. It did not bode well for her or for her team.
“Well, have you any ideas?”
“Well,” Aliyah said faintly, unsure of how this had become a topic of a meeting with a diamond rank queen, several gold rank dukes, various high ranking society liaisons, and a smattering of other kingdom officials and specialty researchers.
“I’ve read in your file that you all have soul crests? How unique,” Tyranel crooned cheerfully. She smiled pleasantly at Aliyah.
Aliyah started to sweat. She could hardly turn down a team name from a diamond ranker. I’m sorry Sen, she preemptively apologized. There was nothing she could do to stop this impending crisis. “We’re rather known for our…variety,” Aliyah hedged, “and our ability to navigate a crisis.”
“Well, how about…Team Kallid?”
Several mouths of the dukes twitched, as if refraining from speaking out, although some were clearly enjoying this.
Aliyah felt faint. “Your Majesty, none of us are from Kallid. We are a visiting team.”
“Shame.” She sighed, “How about this? Are any of you interested in marriage? I have several grandchildren. Then you will be a part of Kallid!”
“We all would prefer to focus on our rank before marriage,” Aliyah refused, feeling all kinds of odd for turning down royalty’s hand in marriage on behalf of her team. “We were discussing team names?” She hated to bring the topic back to the accursed Team Name, but this was a fate better than discussing marriage.
Aliyah was now unsurprised that no dukes tried to stop her. A safer topic indeed.
“Little Theodore has been getting along with your team recently. I had been so worried about him. It’s good to see that he’s back on his feet and hammering back at life!”
“I am not involved much with young master Theodore,” Aliyah said, unsure of where this was going, “but he is a skilled craftsman.”
“If he was on your team, you’d have a person from Kallid.”
“Um,” Aliyah prevaricated, “I believe young master Theodore is still unwilling to leave Kallid. We, rather, are seeking paths across the dimensional plane.”
“Oh indeed! You all are such globetrotters! It’s very inspiring and leaves me quite assured of this generation of adventurers. I can imagine you all are making so many connections with so many others across the world.”
“Indeed, your Majesty,” Aliyah said, feeling somewhat as if she’s escaped danger, “and to see what the world has to offer.”
“Our crystalline forest is quite beautiful. Perhaps, a good location for a wedding?”
Aliyah froze. “It is very beautiful,” she said slowly. “A gem and natural wonder of Kallid.”
“Haha! I’m just joking. Don’t look so caught out!” She leaned against the table, posture entirely rude for a meeting but nobody particularly cared in her case. “I’ll tell you a secret—I was much older than you are now when I got married.”
“Right,” Aliyah said, for lack of anything else to say, because it wasn’t really a surprise, and it wasn’t really a secret.
Tyranel leaned back, still eying Aliyah with a humorous expression on her face. Her tail flickered in merriment, although nobody else quite seemed to be in on the joke.
“Team Crest?”
“We’ve thought of that. We thought it would be…prohibitive with later additions.”
“No good then? Let me think…”
Aliyah was hoping it wouldn’t get worse.
“Team Rainbow? I imagine you all look quite spectacular with your crests.”
Well. It was rather bad but perhaps it was a step up from Team Crest.
But Tyranel did not seem satisfied, so her musings continued.
“Team Worlds Walkers?”
That was almost good. A spark of hope lit up in Aliyah’s chest. Premature, perhaps, but she could not stop herself from seeing the light.
“Team Wanderers?”
It was…worse, Aliyah reasoned. Not terribly worse, but not any better.
Tyranel suddenly smiled, smugly satisfied. Aliyah did not like her smile. (That was false; Aliyah would love her smile in many other contexts, preferably in the bedroom, but in this particular context Aliyah found no enjoyment.)
“Would you say you are walkers of the worlds, seekers of the unseen, to become knowers of the unknown?”
It felt like a trap. “Yes…?” Aliyah hesitantly supplied. Her eyes were wild, however, attempting desperately to have anyone stop Tyranel. Her nobles turned away or were suppressing laughs. Abandoned! Had she not been their comrade through this disaster!? Had they no respect for her as a researcher!?
“Of course,” Tyranel said confidently, “your team’s name should reflect your spirit of adventure—Team Unknown.” She declared definitively, sounding out like the bang of a gavel. “What do you think? There should be no objection on accounts of inclusion?”
“None!”
“No objections, your Majesty! A wonderful name! I’m sure Ms. Sahar’s team will be grateful for your generosity and personal attention!”
The nobles dogpiled, all suddenly agreeing with Her Majesty Tyranel Kallid. How could they??
A noble mouthed to Aliyah with wild eyes, ‘It could be worse’.
Could it?? What other team had the Queen named??
“No, but—” Aliyah made a valiant effort to defend the future reputation of her team. Alas…
“Then It’s decided!” Tyranel declared, standing up in a flash, by sovereign’s command completely over and done with the meeting. Clearly, all important topics had been adequately covered. “Meeting adjourned!”
There was no stopping a diamond ranker.