GRIFFIN TUCKER VASILIAS, GREAT HOUSE SCION, REBORN LVL 5
VASILIAS COMPOUND, HELDON
Griffin awakened from a deep and dreamless sleep in sumptuous comfort on the biggest bed he’d ever seen. He was tangled in a sea of silky sheets in a room with an awe-inspiring view over churning white-water rapids in the middle of the woods. It was morning outside, though the sun was partially hidden by low grey clouds.
Griffin rubbed at his face and looked around for Kismet. She was hovering in the air in the middle of the room, legs crossed in a pose of contemplation, a look of inward focus on her face. She’d dressed herself in an elaborate set of shimmering samite robes with intricate thread-of-gold embroidery along the sleeves. He sat up, cracking his back as he stretched. He looked around the enormous room, drinking in the space once more.
When he’d been escorted to “his rooms” by a young guy who looked like maybe a hotel bellhop but in a more formal uniform, there’d been no hint that the room he’d be brought to would be…palatial. He’d been too exhausted and emotionally drained from his insane day to register his surroundings. Now that he was up and about, he began to realize the mind-numbing wealth that this room represented, and that restful feeling he’d had when he woke up quickly began to curdle.
The floors were made of beautifully parqueted wood in three tones of golden brown. They’d been individually cut and laid in intricate fractal patterns throughout the entire room. It felt like he was in a Star Trek billionaire’s room—the furniture was all of unfamiliar design and made of luxurious, natural materials.
The most noteworthy item—besides the bed—in a room full of incredible works of art was a five-meter-tall statue made entirely of precious metals and polished gems. It was a statue of August Vasilias standing in a regal pose with one hand flung out dramatically. Sunlight lit the statue’s hand in a dramatic beam and sprayed a rainbow of colors on the floor and walls.
He'd seen the statue last night, but it’d been mostly dark in the room. At the time, in the dark, he’d abstracted it as just “some big thing in the main living area.” In the light of day, it was…impressive. That was certainly one word for it.
August Vasilias looked just the same as he did when Griffin met him on Earth, except he wasn’t in an expensive suit but rather a strangely cut outfit that would’ve looked at home on a maharaja, complete with a bejeweled turban. Then again, it was hard to tell if the turban was bejeweled or just…bedazzled. With effort, he wrenched his eyes away from the enormous, gaudy statue and over to the end of the bed where some clothes had been neatly laid out for him.
He rolled over to the edge of the wide bed, stretching along the way. Kismet flitted over to him, her new robes fluttering around her in the simulation of wind. “I’m glad to see that you’re up,” she said seriously. “Our new friends have been very busy while you slept.”
Griffin looked dubiously at Kismet, then over at the clothes. They were simultaneously strange and sumptuous, like a cross between an eccentric billionaire’s pajamas and a Tibetan monk’s habit, but in a rich creamy white and deep, iridescent, royal purple. The sleeves were embroidered with silver and shimmering black thread up past the elbows.
“This is nuts,” Griffin said wonderingly. He eagerly pulled the tunic on and it felt like nothing he’d ever worn before: even smoother and softer than silk, like water woven into fabric. “Even if I look ridiculous in this, I’m wearing it. It feels like I’m wearing a shirt made of a gentle rainfall. I don’t think I’m ever going to take it off!” Then he remembered something else Kismet said and asked, “What did you mean, ‘busy’?”
“They have been consolidating their political position.” Kismet made a sweeping gesture with one hand and several holographic screens arrayed themselves behind her. She flew to one display which showed a line graph going sharply upward. “This is House Vasilias’ recent Dungeon materials purchase receipt. They’ve increased spending by about five hundred percent in the last week alone. What does that tell you?”
“That I’m big news and they’re planning the party of the century?” Griffin shrugged and pulled on the pants. They were just as amazingly comfortable as the shirt and fit him like they’d been tailored specifically for him. “How’d you find out all this stuff? The Systablo? I thought you said we couldn’t find out anything important from it. This seems like a hell of a lot more than nothing.”
Kismet explained, “Now that we’ve gotten inside their compound I’ve been able to plunder the House Vasilias System for just about everything. Your Great House Seal and Enhanced System Access are shared with me which gives me unfettered access to the House System.” She shook her head disbelievingly and said, “It’s incredible, but according to my research so far, no Imperial Reborn have willingly chosen a System Eidolon to be encoded as a racial gift since August Vasilias disappeared from Nolm ten thousand years ago. Back then, System Eidolons were extremely common. System Eidolons have always been known for our incredible utility!”
“And why aren’t they popular anymore?” Griffin slipped on the outer jacket, wondering where he could find a mirror. Then he remembered. He concentrated for a moment, then applied a little bit of tensa, and… Adaptive Conjuration came through again with a standing mirror. “I look like a kung fu Vulcan!” He turned back and forth in front of the mirror and cocked an eyebrow in his best Spock impression.
There was an elaborate logo on the chest and Griffin realized it was the same ten stars in a spiral that had been on the vehicle that had brought him here. This must be the House logo. Or is that a crest? He didn’t know. That’s gonna bug me until I figure it out, he thought absently.
“My analysis is ongoing, but I have some suspicions. As a precaution, I’ve been trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Did you not wonder why I barely participated in conversations?”
“I thought you were just shy or something.” Griffin chuckled. “I know that doesn’t make sense, but I guess I just didn’t think about it.”
Kismet shook her head, the motion making her samite outfit shimmer in the sunlight. “You need to start thinking about things like that. You need to notice what is happening around you.” She stared at him for a moment to drive the point home, then continued. “I’ve taken the opportunity to learn as much as I can about local Imperial politics and history. We know House Vasilias now is a shadow of what it once was—”
“House Vasilias,” a reedy, nasally voice cut in from the doorway to the bedroom, “may not shine as brightly as it did when last we allowed a System Eidolon to be engraved upon our etherhearts, but we hold to the guiding principles of the House. We prevail even in our fallen state.” It was the ginpaari Botanimeister that had been with Xander’s party.
“Uh. Clearly,” Griffin gestured to the sumptuous rooms. “I never said anything about shadows! So… what’s next? Do I get a tour?” Something wicked occurred to him and he couldn’t help but ask, “Hang on, as a Great House Scion, does that make me like, your boss?” He grinned. “Am I your boss?”
The ginpaari froze. When he did, he looked like nothing so much as a coincidentally man-shaped tangle of woody weeds with improbably large flowers, but Griffin could sense his irritation even through his alien physiology. “It would be valuable to establish your role and, thus, your future. It is good that you dressed yourself. Walk with me.” He left the room without another word.
“What was his name…” Griffin muttered, hurrying after him. Kismet hung in the air for a moment, hovering amidst her various data screens before dismissing them and zipping after them. “Sa… Sal… Is your name Sal? I mean, I know it’s not Sal, but am I close?”
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“My name is Salyyb.”
“So I was pretty close!”
They were walking down a wide corridor with large windows on either side. The windows showed more dramatic views of the forest. Griffin had been too tired the night before to pay attention, so seeing it in the light of day was like seeing it brand new. The natural beauty of the area stood in stark contrast to the sumptuous wealth on display in the Vasilias compound.
Salyyb continued, “Your role is quite simple. You are the Great House Scion, so your existence is the guarantee of our House’s ascension. For now. So what this means is that you must live.”
“I can’t argue with that,” Griffin said, hurrying a bit to keep up with Salyyb’s surprisingly long strides. “I like living.”
“Perhaps.” They walked in silence for a long while. They took several turns down halls, through conference rooms with long tables, and other offices. It was all eerily empty. Griffin could see that there were personal items at various desks. What the hell do they do in an office in a fantasy world?! Griffin thought. And what the hell kind of answer is ‘perhaps’?
Kismet stayed close, hovering near his shoulder as they passed through the empty office building. The only thing that separated this office building from any office park back on Earth was the quality of the furnishings. The carpets were thick and luxurious; the desks were large and made of dark wood with multiple drawers and a large writing surface; even the conference room looked like a
“Where is everyone?” Griffin asked as they passed through the third large empty room that looked like a classroom or theater. People’s bags and tablets were still out and everything. It felt haunted.
“The compound has been cleared for your evaluation.” Salyyb led the way through another set of doors that led outside.
The compound looked like a square office building along with several outdoor areas and smaller outbuildings. To him, it looked like a fancy health club for billionaires—like the YMCA but someone spent billions on it—with associated athletic buildings. He could see a running track, an outdoor obstacle course, and free weights in an outdoor gym, all shaded by black or yellow awnings. It would have looked incredibly futuristic and fancy if there were any other people there, but empty, the place was vaguely creepy.
No runes or flashing magical lights were in evidence anywhere and Griffin held back a sigh of disappointment. This was all aggressively mundane. The only thing even slightly fantastic was the towering presence of Mt. Discovery, the lone mountain looming over them and looking tall enough to scratch the sky. Just a little ways away were the rooftops and buildings of Heldon. Finally, the last thing that Salyyb had said clicked into place and Griffin felt a wave of panic.
“Evaluation?” He tried to ask it casually, but his voice squeaked a bit at the end like a teenager. He cleared his throat hurriedly and said, “I mean, yeah, sure. An evaluation. Totes. Um… What… Are, um… What are you evaluating? About me?” He laughed nervously, “If it’s a test, I didn’t study!” The joke was painfully bad, making even Kismet wince, and he laughed louder to cover it.
The plant-man was silent for a long time, long enough that Griffin hoped the ground would open up and swallow him. Finally, Salyyb said, “You are a completely unknown quantity Griffin Vasilias. You are a Reborn with clearly…undisciplined…absorption practices. That stops now, by the way. You’ll stop absorbing every ethershard you happen to stumble across. From the grafts you’ve already displayed, I can’t even imagine what your base Class is going to be.” Salyyb suddenly stopped, whirling around with his headflower furled tightly and his vinelike arms grabbing a handful of Griffin’s robe at the shoulder and pulling him in slowly but inexorably. Griffin noticed he smelled like honeysuckle. “Your life is no longer your own. You now represent House Vasilias—in a way, you will become the face of House Vasilias; after all, you have the Great House Seal. We have Class Trainers here but the damage may already be done. If you obtain a Unique Class…” His vinelike hand tightened for a second, then he let go and spun back around, leading the way once more.
Griffin lagged behind for a few seconds, stunned at the sudden shift in attitude. Why had he become so hostile? He’d been pleasant enough the day before. Was it something he said? Griffin followed the ginpaari slowly, his imagination working overtime as he tried to keep his cool and not let his anxiety make him run screaming in the opposite direction. A test? They were going to give him a test?!
They cut through another office complex filled with more empty desks and turned off lights in silence as Griffin’s trepidation mounted. When they exited the office building, they came out into a large courtyard that looked for all the world like a Hollywood studio lot, complete with huge studio buildings with rolling double doors.
Salyyb led them toward one of the studios. Griffin started thinking of it as Studio 2 since it was in the middle of a row of three large rectangular buildings. Beside the set of large double doors in the middle of the exterior were a pair of smaller, person-sized doors on either side. Salyyb led the way to one of the side doors and opened it, waiting for Griffin to enter before him. Hesitantly, Griffin walked through the doorway, having no idea what to expect.
Whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t what he saw. The doorway opened into what was distinctly an office kitchen. There was a refrigerator in one corner, a sink against the opposite wall, and a couple of small tables with artsy-looking metal chairs arranged haphazardly around it.
Lounging in the chairs around one of the small tables were Xander, Jessaline, Culvis, and another person. A draakan with black scales and dark crimson stripes down her skink-like face. The draakan was sipping something hot from a tall, narrow mug. Oddly, the beautiful musician woman who had been so hostile to Griffin wasn’t here, but he didn’t comment on it.
“Griffin!” Xander said, “I’d invite you to sit, but honestly, you’re not going to have the time. Meet Loris. She’s our local Class Trainer.” He gave her a short bow. “She’s one of the very best in the province—and therefore the Empire,” he said when Loris flicked her tongue out sharply, “and has been training House Vasilias’ Reborn for the last forty years. Out here in the middle of nowhere!” He laughed disbelievingly.
“We all make our sacrifices, my Lord Vasilias,” Loris murmured. Her voice was soft and rich with a clipped military edge.
Griffin frowned. Sarah would have punched someone by now, he thought, feeling a bit of irritation. Loris was looking him up and down, and Griffin was no expert on reptilian facial expressions, but he didn’t think she approved of what she saw. Maybe I should do some punching? He made a fist experimentally, seeing how it felt. He clenched his jaw, bringing to mind the uncomfortable ride in the truck last night and the insane attack he’d just escaped…and then relaxed. The situation was irritating, but he couldn’t just haul off for no reason. Griffin sat down and Xander frowned, opening his mouth to say something.
“Nope. I’m gonna stop you right there, Xander,” Griffin said. He’d decided to take control of the situation. See if these people would see reason. “Look. I’m really grateful to you guys for saving my life. Truly. If you guys hadn’t come when you did…Well. I was doing fine, but y’know. It would’ve taken longer maybe.” Kismet hovered nearby and Griffin was strangely comforted by her presence. “So I’m gonna level with you. I’m just a guy. An IT guy. I fix people’s computer problems. Well, I did. Before…before. Never mind. The point is this: whatever it is you think I am, I’m not that. I’m not your Scion, I’m not the answer to any of your problems, and I’m not the Chosen One.”
Loris waited for a couple of beats to see if he was done, then, in a dry tone, said, “You are a human-alien from another planet,” she flicked her tongue out in between some of the words, “one in a low-tensa zone. Or maybe even a dead zone—though we’d always thought that was impossible. You, along with your monogamy-promised female human companion were hand-picked by August Vasilias to be Reborn who gave you an etherheart that granted you an heirloom graft and the status of Great House Scion.” She blinked and her tongue flicked out again. “Have I been misinformed?”
“Uh,” Griffin said, taken off guard.
“Griffin Vasilias, you are not who you think you are,” Loris said. She leaned forward, putting her mug on the table carefully and staring into Griffin’s eyes. “That person died when August Vasilias cut his heart out and threw it away. Who was Reborn in that person’s place…I think that very much has yet to be decided.”
Griffin shifted in his chair uncomfortably. She was saying things that he’d been avoiding thinking about for the past several weeks. It was easier to lose himself in training than to think about things like that. “I just want to find Sarah—”
“Your female is beyond your reach; forget her for now,” Loris cut in. Xander winced, and Jessaline looked away. Culvis huffed a breath out that Griffin chose to interpret as a muffled laugh.
He felt his face get hot as the anger he’d tried to find earlier came to him easily now. He breathed. In. Out. “She’s somewhere north of here. I mean, I know she’s far away, but I tracked her to some big mountains. I’m sure you guys know where they are, and if you could like magic portal me there or give me a flying carpet and some instructions about how to get there, I’ll just nip on up there, grab her, and come right back. I’ll come right back.” He held up his right hand, “I swear!”