Chapter 189: Namesake
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- Item: [Information Command: Expression] has been consumed.
-[Record] may now be used on all recognizable mediums of information.
-[Query] may now display information in all recognizable forms.
-[Note] may save information in all recognizable forms.
-[Map] may be adjusted to display alternative map forms.
-Your information and status may be fully or partially concealed from others.
-Immunity to identification and tracking effects from [Soul Legion] may be adjusted.
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The Guide nicely laid it out for her, but Information Command: Expression wasn’t something that could be entirely expressed by her Guide, ironically. From Nara’s inherent Essence User Sense of it, it allowed her to shape the way others perceived her information and the way she perceived information. The guide was a crutch to understand the world; Like modern medicine and the study of the human mind, not everything fit into a perfectly quantifiable box.
She was starting to wonder if the Fates where conspiring to mold her into an astral repository, or perhaps just the Knowledges were; it was their purpose of existence to perpetuate knowledge, and maybe that purposes extended past their own existence and their own world. Nara wasn’t really sure how their allegiance worked. Gods like Undeath and Destruction wanted to fuck their own world up, so that was no guarantee of helpfulness.
She was, however, still limited by the limits of her bronze rank perception with regards to her ability to perceive information, but that epiphany would be sequestered away on some Note somewhere until it became relevant. (If she even remembered to look at the Note. That poor Guide function was sorely neglected.)
It was a narrow shot whether the effects of Information Command: Expression could also block the divine sight of gods, although if she had to wager on it, she’d wager no. Perhaps something like Information Command: Obfuscation (theorizing on its existence) would be needed. Expression only expanded on what she could already do; as far as she could tell, granting control where she initially had none.
Her first instinct was to remove her Adventure Society badge, allowing for its tracking function to work on her. Nothing visibly showed, but she could almost imagine the corresponding plaque glow and shimmer, a dot with her name on a map. Her abductions had escalated to across dimensions in other worlds, but a pattern repeated twice was liable to repeat thrice, although Nara had the bittersweet thought that the tracking function would ultimately never prove useful to her.
She had arrived on Erras in the early in the hours of the morning. She rarely woke so early herself, and had woken at such an unholy hour thanks to divinely fraught events the day before. The brisk air dimpled her skin as she settled on the veranda, and she detachedly watched Sen in his morning routine. He’d typically tend to his garden afterwards, getting dirt under his fingernails and picking pests off his seedlings in a hands-on way he enjoyed, before the sun climbed the sky and the day had fully warmed. Sen probably would’ve made a good farmer, and would enjoy the science and strategy involved in maximizing his own harvest.
Sage had informed them of Nara’s arrival this morning to spare everyone the hullabaloo, warm hugs, and grateful tears. Sage’s bodies were efficiently laying out food for her; she hadn’t eaten her morning libations in Conchordia.
There was tea, a local variety from Kallid, eirasbeis, herbal and floral beyond the norm: a chamomile base, with notes of something like nutmeg and cinnamon. She sipped it gratefully, the warmth suffusing her and warming something long chilled. Icy tension she hadn’t realized frosted her form melted, and something akin to peace settled within her soul, rising with the temperature. Strong local flavors. Sage had chosen well.
It wasn’t like she died or anything; She preferred the peace and quiet, still contemplative of her nearly two weeks amongst ‘the enemy’ if she could call an entire system of worlds such a thing. There was a very distant sense of having cheated The Advent, born from her two decades as a proper, law-abiding authority-respecting citizen. If she ignored the initial torture, they had received her hospitably, shown her their god, enacted a new law in her name, and tried to integrate her within their culture. All she’d given them was some measly books.
…Perhaps the scale was not so unbalanced. Being proselytized wasn’t very pleasant, coming from any religion. Considering she’d made off with another divine gift, she’d consider their debts paid and slate wiped clean. If they approached as equals, she could deign to give them some time of her day and negotiate.
However, she was quite tired of having her companions used against her.
*****
Nara was expecting a visitor. The visitor she got, however, was not the visitor she expected. She had become something of a divine hostess nowadays. At this point, she should be less surprised that the wrong god had shown up.
“Traveler,” she greeted. Sage quietly set out a cup for him as well as some fresh snacks. She wouldn’t let a god eat her benefactor’s leftovers, should he choose to eat. “I was expecting the Knowledge priest.”
“You know what they say,” Traveler said cheerfully, settling into the chair at the small patio table. “Life is full of surprises.”
“Life is a journey,” she agreed.
“Speaking of…” He cocked a grin. “How was your trip?”
She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. Of course, the god of traveling would ask about her travels. “The trip absolute stole my attention, riveting. The whole time, I was a captive audience. And the food was positively divine.”
“My oh my,” Laugh lines upon his face crinkled with his laugh. “Three worlds now!” Traveler mused. “You’re quite the accomplished worlds traveler.”
“Personally, I prefer an in-depth exploration of the finer details. I haven’t quite finished with the first or the second,” she said a bit more seriously.
Traveler tipped the brim of his wide-brimmed hat, briefly shadowing his face in solemnity. “Any journey is a journey worth traveling.”
She side-eyed him. “And how do you feel about soul searching?”
“Well, well, well, what a question you’ve happened upon!” He leaned on his elbow, smirking conspiratorially. “You’d be surprised to know that soul searching is extremely popular at the transition from silver to gold. It’s just as much a journey as anything physical. In many many ways, there is no greater change than a change of heart.”
She recalled the snippets that she had garnered from her four mentors about the progression to higher ranks; some sort of introspective journey was necessary to rank from silver to gold. This was all adding up to something, and Traveler was kindly dropping hints.
“Clearly,” she muttered, “not one to care for spoilers.”
He crossed his arms petulantly. “Now, now, now, don’t be so unfair! I believe the journey is just as important as the goal. Foreshadowing isn’t the same as spoilers. It’s the mark of a good story!”
She nodded to concede that point. It made sense, she supposed, that a traveler could be a good storyteller. “So why are you here, in place of my expected guest?”
“Ah-ah-ah, traveling companions are not always the one you expect!” said Traveler. “But what you seek from Knowledge is not Knowledge’s to give. Travel is my domain, and my claim to fame, and so it is I, not Knowledge, who would grant your portals the ability to cross dimensions. Although it is something, reasonably, that you could develop on your own in time, through experimentation and rituals. We’ve made a bit of a deal, she and I, and here I am to give you your reward in her place. From one traveler to another.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“That’s true of a lot of things,” Nara reasoned. “Aliyah says that any ability could be made into a ritual. Amara says that too.”
“Of course, the studious magister, the seeker of all knowledge; one day, perhaps, an architect of magic! Merely a different kind of traveler,” he insisted, toying idly with his walking stick. It seemed every good traveler had a good stick, whether it be a practical one or one for fun.
“Isn’t your definition of a traveler rather loose?” Nara said wryly. “It seems like anything can be a traveler. A prisoner. A storyteller. A scientist. Are you really a god of anything if you’re a god of everything?”
“Hurtful!” he exclaimed. “But I am not a god of those who stagnate. There are many who embark on no journey and languish! It is not the physical distance that defines a journey, nor is it, even, the achievement of a goal.” Then, he grinned. “I am glad this gift won’t be unappreciated, nor undeserved, although ‘gift’ is inaccurate. It’s your due reward,” he said, and with a flourish from his traveling capes, produced an object:
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Item: [Astral Crossing Gate] (transcendent rank, legendary)
Classification: Consumable, artifact
Description: Grants portal conjurations the capability to cross astral boundaries.
Effect: Adds additional effects to an existing portal conjuration ability.
Effect: Conjure a dimension-crossing portal for an extreme mana cost and a month-long cooldown. Cooldown of dimension-crossing portal decreases at diamond rank. The egress of the dimension-crossing portal must be within portal range limits of the last portal manifested for each respective world, which will trigger the cooldown of the respective portal. Egress worlds within the same dimension and of significant physical distance will operate as if beyond the dimensional boundary.
Uses remaining: 1/1
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The ‘gate’ was bundled up in a convenient spherical shape; it seemed 3D geometric objects were the vessel of choice for magical powers. There was no ‘gate’ shape within the sphere, just an expanse of astral sky, looking much like the oversaturated, overcomplicated deep space landscape she had seen once before.
“It’s not really a sphere,” Traveler said, ‘reading’ her mind. Maybe he was or wasn’t—it did always seem the mysterious bard character at the crossroads of a life knew just what to say. Traveler, perhaps, always knew what sort of journey someone was one. “But making anything portable is something of a skill of mine, be it people or objects.”
“In this case, I’m making everyone astral-portable?” Nara asked dryly.
“At least of your rank,” Traveler confirmed. “Temporarily. Although, you may find ways to get around even that. Let not a traveler be constrained by rules.”
She supposed she wasn’t entirely constrained by rules. And, if she wanted to extrapolate further, her journey to Erras had been a sequence of breaking rules. First, of crossing dimensional boundaries. Then, learning of magic, which broke the rules of reality (Aliyah and Chelsea would protest!). Then creating a new technique for a type of magic. In the old days of philosophers and astronomy, was science not about breaking the rules and the norms? Nara liked the idea of that: learning was creating and reshaping the rules. Reshaping reality.
She gave him a fondly suspicious look and unceremoniously used it, and she felt its power trickle through her soul, touching upon her Cosmic Path ability and slightly modifying it, the delicate touch of a god embroidering new features upon her soul. She observed its alterations, and found nothing amiss, only a new sense of additional capability that Cosmic Path had not before.
“What if I didn’t have a portal power?” she asked, curious, as the power had modified her portal ability specifically.
“There are artifacts,” Traveler said, “much like your friend Chelsea’s creations. An alteration to an existing power is easier to create than shaping an artifact from scratch. One last thing, my dear traveler.”
Nara turned to him to give him the attention he was due.
“I play the messenger today, for Knowledge: Remember the other half of your deal. Deliver what needs to be communicated to the priest of undeath. She says, ‘I’ll take care of what’s left behind.’”
“I suppose I’ll know it when it happens,” Nara confirmed, although she couldn’t help the ominous clench of her gut.
What would be left behind?
She could only hope she wasn’t a piece Knowledge would casually discard, not after this. But she didn’t think sunk cost of divine investment was enough to deter gods.
*****
Nara wasn’t expecting a tearful reunion, but within hours the team welcomed her back into their fold, comforting hands, teasing smiles, and words of welcome. It had been early morning when Nara returned to Erras, and only Sen was disciplined enough to maintain an early morning schedule, even on his days of rest. Insane and teacher’s pet as it was, his discipline was restful to him, and Nara knew him well enough that he maintained a healthy balance of rest and exertion. Doctors and therapists would cry with joy over his healthy habits.
Just then, a perpetually morning-rumpled runic made her way downstairs.
“Nara!”
“Aliyah!”
They embraced, Nara pressing in to feel the warmth of her friend. She stepped back to study Aliyah’s face, observing her new odd eye, a change that she had been informed of through Sage.
“Well, ain’t that sexy!” She crooned, unable to help herself. Aliyah had always been beautiful, even more so with the refinement of bronze; her beautiful dark skin contrasted with her honey-gold runic patterns, her luxurious and wavy dark brown hair that framed the elegant contours of her face, her straight nose, full lips, and strong eyebrows. Now, full lashes framed two captivating eyes, one of sunlight and one of sunset.
“If you all say so, this may be more advantageous than I had imagined,” Aliyah said, amused, no doubt thinking of all the lesbians she could flirt with. “It’s a relief to see you safe and unharmed, as far as I can tell.” Her eye seemed to glow. “Was your mission a success?”
“I think it was. I got my thing from Traveler.”
“From Traveler?”
“Long story.”
“It doesn’t seem a particularly long story,” she rejected. “It couldn’t have happened anywhere else but here, and you haven’t been back for long. Although, speaking of long stories,” Aliyah began with an unconvincing cheer, “we…have a team name!”
The cheer was indeed, distinctively false.
“What?” said Sen, who had joined them in the dining room.
“What?” said Nara, who was still there.
Aliyah’s smile grew strained: her smile was doing its best to maintain a façade of comfort. “Our team name has been bestowed upon us by the graciousness of Her Majesty Queen Tyranel.”
“Fortune have mercy,” someone said in a near whisper. Encio, perhaps, although he rarely invoked the gods. What did he know?
Nara felt like she was missing context. What was so bad about Tyranel? Was she not a beloved ruler of the Kallidian people? Everyone she had met in Kallid seemed to like Tyranel very much, and the kingdom seemed to delight in her oddities and her origin as a former commoner who had made punching nobles a pastime.
Sen crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, as if to prepare for a mortal blow. John was just as confused as she, standing awkwardly in the room, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Eufemia pressed her forehead against a wall, staring at nothing, as if blocking her vision would block the impending news. Encio sat, listless in a chair, head tilted back, eyes seeing nothing but their own doom.
“Right…what is it?”
“Unknown.”
“It’s…what?”
A laborious, pained sigh. “…Team Unknown.”
A sympathetic cringe rippled through the group.
“We can…get through this,” said Sen with great effort. “This isn’t the end. I will not give up on us.”
“It’s not that terrible. It’s funny?” she offered. “Can you imagine: ‘Oh, what team helped us?’ ‘Team Unknown’. ‘What’? ‘The team is Unknown’. ‘Surely, somebody knows’?”
“Gods. It’s terrible,” Eufemia despaired. “We should split now.”
“There were other suggestions.” Aliyah tried valiantly to dampen the near-mortal blow to morale. “…Team Kallid, Team Rainbow, Team Crest. Team Worlds Walkers.”
Sen stoically held his eyes open, eyes red from repressed pain.
“What would’ve been the best?”
“To answer is to lose, Nara.”
Wise, albeit useless wisdom, in this instance.
“Worlds Walkers could’ve been decent,” John commented, unintentionally digging in the dagger. “Team Rainbow would’ve been…inclusive?”
Nara crossed her arms. “Well, I think it’s funny. If it’s so terrible, can’t we change it?”
“We can, I suppose. Technically.” hedged Aliayah. “But we would have to reject the name bestowed upon us by a diamond ranker. It’s not…the worst name, and a bestowment by a diamond ranker is worth…something. It’ll be in the Adventurer’s Record, at least,” she added as a participation prize (which they sorely needed).
That got Sen’s attention, and he straightened, finding some sort of momentum to carry him through this damaging revelation. “Naming aside, that has value.”
It seemed if he focused on its quantifiable advantages, he could power through the pain.
“I’ve heard worse,” Encio added. He listed some off: “Team Blood and Gore—just tasteless, Team Domination—they were very mediocre, Team Titan Fell—a party member died to a tidal troll, Team Dragon’s Kin—they kept getting regularly challenged by draconids.” He tsked and shook his head. “They can never take any challenge to their claimed heritage. If you ever want to bait a fight from one—”
“At least there’s no expectations,” Eufemia lips twisted up, a dry smile. “If we’re mediocre, ‘unknown’ suits us just fine. If we’re not, everyone will know our names anyway. Unknown will never be unknown.”
“To surpass our namesake.” Sen nodded resolutely. “To shape history.”
“To seek the unknown,” Aliyah echoed, remembering Tyranel’s words, “to understand it.”
“To be wary in our ventures,” Encio said solemnly, “so that we may survive them.”
“To be knowing,” said John, “to be the masters of our crafts.”
“To be the unknown,” Eufemia said, smile sharp, “and keep our enemies guessing.”
“To have a sense of humor,” said Nara, because she didn’t have any other wisdom to offer that hadn’t already been covered, “to laugh in the face of danger.”
“We may survive this tribulation after all,” Sen said, posture relaxing from battle-readiness.
“Sure,” agreed Eufemia, as she turned away from the wall. “Sound confident and you can pass anything off as wisdom. Do it just like that. Take it from me: you can convince almost anyone of complete and utter nonsense if you speak with confidence and poise.”
Encio grinned. “I’ve always thought you spoke nonsense. Complete boloshit. Heidel waste.”
Eufemia tossed her hair and glared. “I’m saying that I can convince anyone of anything I want. You, meanwhile, rely on your background to make your sense for you.”
“Just another skill of mine,” he said to be infuriating. It was an indisputable advantage.
“I wouldn’t be so proud of that! Or are you saying you have no other skill at all!”
The team agreed to leave the name be, to take the inherent fame of a name granted by a diamond ranker. In time, they may all appreciate the humor in the name.
After all, all adventurers were a little bit crazy.