Tala, Rane, Terry, and their unit flew back toward Alefast.

The fount had still been twisting and reshaping when the maintenance process was complete, showing that the Sovereign’s final interference was still underway. Thus, while Tala could have kicked it into the void, they didn’t actually know that would work any better this time. Additionally, they were hesitant to come very close, even magically, given that was what had seemed to trigger the false copies the first time.

It might be overly cautious, but no one had actually objected when it was decided to take the safe route and leave the fount be until the next maintenance cycle.

They left extensive notes, and the Paragon had remained near the resealed cell to investigate the situation further and keep tabs for at least a short while.

There wasn’t any fear that anything would break free, but they still wanted to be able to provide as much information as possible for the next unit who came to perform maintenance on the cell.

And then, hopefully, they’ll be able to close it down for good.

But in either case, it was out of their hands, and wouldn’t fall on them again unless they happened to be part of the Defenders of a nearby city when it came up for maintenance.

-That will likely be in about a thousand years.-

Yeah, I hope we aren’t still Refined then.

-Yeah, that would definitely denote a rather stark slowing of our progress.-

Tala grinned at that. She had graduated three and a half years earlier. Yet, somehow, I’m not the fastest to advance in our history.

That was a bit mind blowing, but apparently, among others who’d been faster than her, there had been a young man who had discovered the Archon Star form as a student and become an Archon before even graduating the Academy.

He’d Fused in less than a half a year after graduation and took only a year to Refine afterward.

Records of him became sparse after that, and his name had been redacted. So, Tala suspected that it might even be Master Xeel or Master Grediv, but she’d never taken the time to figure it out.

Master Xeel had been incredibly cagey about his past when they’d been in the cell, dealing with the remnants of the Reality Mage’s power, so she hadn’t pressed to find out about his own journey of Advancement.

She’d used the time to shore up her general knowledge about generally restricted topics, and that had been just fine with her. She’d asked about the Black Legion—more generally about all automata—arcanes, and how they related to Reality and gated-humanity, and Reforging, among other topics.

- Maybe, we’ll be the Paragon called in?-

What? Not Reforged?

-Could be, could be.- Alat sent back the impression of a grin of amusement.

Regardless, it was nice to have the cell behind them.

With the cell behind them, however, they turned toward Master Girt.

The man was cleaning his nails with a small dagger, but he froze when one unit member after another turned his way. Only Mistress Cerna kept her eyes on where they were going.

He looked up and sighed. “So, are we going to talk about Mistress Vanga’s titanic form? Who knew about this?”

Mistress Vanga blushed at the reminder, but not as much as she had within the cell. Even so, no one took the bait.

Master Girt sighed. “Can we not talk about this?”

Master Clevnis sat down beside his friend. “It seems rather important. You are on the edge of being suicidal. You—”

Master Girt cut him off there. “No. I am fully suicidal, and reasonably so, except for the fact of my soul and who I am toward humanity. Thus, recreating me without a soul and not a defender of humanity? Anyone who was even sort of me wouldn’t see the point.”

Tala frowned. “I would think that a lack of a soul would make you less likely to want to die. Nothing after death, so avoid death. Right?”

“No soul means no reuniting with Stonia. Why would I want more time with that certain knowledge?”

That blunted the focus of the unit as a whole, but Master Clevnis began a quieter discussion with the man, and the rest of them tried not to listen in.

“Mistress Tala?” Mistress Vanga came and sat beside her as they moved through the air as quickly as magical resonance would let them do so peaceably.

“Yes?” Tala turned to orient on the woman.

“Young Kedva is expecting soon, correct?” Mistress Vanga, of course, was well aware of the due date. She was likely just using this question as a means of opening a conversation.

“Yes. I believe the due date is roughly ten days out.”

“How is she doing? How are you doing?”

“She’s fine from what I gather. Why do you ask about me?”

The older woman smiled. “Well, I’m aware that you aren’t the most… sociable person, and you’re about to have a new baby within your dimensional storage. That’s going to cause some changes.”

Tala shrugged. “I suppose. I could just let you talk to Kedva. Irondale is along for the trip, and Kedva has just finished making lunch, I believe.”

That made Mistress Vanga frown. “You’re watching her?”

“Hmm? No. But when you asked after her, I looked in on the front of their house and heard her call Brandon for lunch.”

“Oh.” The healer paused at that. “I suppose that makes sense.”

Tala sighed. “Every person within Irondale knows that I am constantly monitoring everything, even if just subconsciously. Well, at least when I’m nearby—though, I didn’t make that distinction because then people would start caring to know exactly where I was, and I wasn’t willing to deal with that.”

Mistress Vanga smiled slightly. “So, you told them it was ‘always,’ because how could someone complain about being watched less than they’d expected in a situation like this?”

“Exactly.”

“Well, that is between you all, I suppose.” She tapped her fingers a bit, then shook her head. “I would like to visit, but I want Anna along for the check in. We’ll drop through later today. When will the gate to Irondale be open?”

“It’s always open now, at least when I’m in Alefast. My first stop when I get back will be to place the gate in its place.”

“That is kind of you and rather convenient for those inside.”

“I do try.” Tala smiled playfully, before the expression shifted to a more natural one. “They’re currently in negotiations with the administrators of Bandfast. That way when we go there for Rane’s updated inscriptions in a few weeks, we’ll have a place to set the gateway while I’m in that city.”

“Well, it seems that you’re becoming a regular moving city.”

She grinned at that. “Those are rather amazing structures. Have you seen one?”

“I haven’t myself, no, but my mother actually immigrated from one a few hundred years ago.”

That surprised Tala. “Really? I didn’t know people came to the gated human cities from there.”

“It’s exceedingly rare, but they can petition for citizenship here, and it is sometimes granted in exceptional cases. My mother was an unusually gifted healer. She met my father here, in the gated human cities.” Mistress Vanga considered for a moment. “You know, you should probably figure out some details before you go back to the moving cities.”

“Oh?”

“Well, of course. Since you’ll likely allow your residents freedom to come and go, you’ll be faced with the issue of others wanting to join your little settlement and others might want to stay in the moving cities. Will you force them to come back with you?”

Tala nodded slowly. “And some might just be trying to find a way to get into the gated human cities… Those are important things to know beforehand.”

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“Exactly.”

That… she hadn’t considered that.

True, she hadn’t actually sat down and planned a trip back out to the moving settlements, but it was something that was obvious enough that she should have thought to inquire about it.

The moving city that she’d seen had been a towering work of magical engineering, housing the many gated citizenry of the city, with massive dimensional storages, reworked into a gateless city with humans and arcanes living together in harmony.

She’d also been told that Howlton was one of the smaller settlements, something they called a village. Their true cities… she couldn’t even imagine. Truthfully, she didn’t want to imagine them. She wanted to see them for herself.

“Thank you, Mistress Vanga. I will definitely do that.”

The Healer smiled. “Well, I’m glad to be of service. I suppose I won’t really see you when I go to check on Kedva… are you planning on being nearby for the birth?”

Tala shrugged a bit uncomfortably. “Not really? I helped my step-mother with some of her later births—before I left for the Academy—but it’s not something where I have specific skills that would be useful.”

Mistress Vanga cocked an eyebrow. “That’s funny coming from a woman who has her own biology so memorized. While babies are very different from adults, if you know to look for what differences there are you can still be helpful at need. And as for the mother’s? Kedva’s biology will match yours as closely as any human can.” She huffed a laugh. “Better than any mundane woman ever could. She’s borne a chunk of your magics for more than a year.”

“I suppose so…”

“Please consider being there—or at least nearby—your authority within Irondale could prove invaluable even without anything else.”

After a long moment, Tala nodded. “Alright. Sure. I’ll be there.”

After all, it can’t be that much different from my siblings’ births.

* * *

Tala felt her cheek twitch as Kedva knelt on all fours, breathing in a rhythmic cadence.

They were in a back room of Kedva and Brandon’s house within Irondale, and Tala had lowered the ambient zeme to match Alefast outside nearly four hours ago, when Anna contacted her and requested such, the birth being imminent.

Anna was beside the birthing woman, rubbing her hand on the small of her back. “Good, breathe, push when you can. Act like you're blowing your nose, but keep all the air inside. Compress. Yes! Just like that. You’re doing so well. You can do this. You aren’t alone. We’re here with you.”

She… didn’t stop.

On the positive side, Kedva seemed to either take comfort in the constant stream of words or in the presence of the familiar woman, herself.

Brandon was on Kedva’s other side, providing a stable body to lean against at need. He looked both excited and decidedly uncertain about what he should be doing. They’d already had to reassure him multiple times that he was right where he needed to be, doing exactly what he should be doing.

Mistress Vanga was in place to receive the baby, now that it was time. Magics were sweeping through mother and child almost constantly, monitoring both, even as they allowed the natural processes to take place.

Kedva’s body contracted as if she were screaming to the stars above, but she kept the air contained, compressing and bearing down with everything she had.

Tala was both fascinated and a bit put off by being able to watch the whole thing through her threefold sight.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

After three good pushes, Mistress Vanga had the baby in a pre-prepared blanket in her arms, magics whirling around the little boy, checking him thoroughly and cleaning him up.

Oh… it’s a baby… Tala felt very foolish as soon as she had the thought. She knew it was a baby. She saw him before he even left his mother’s womb, but for some reason, seeing him with her eyes was entirely different.

She felt a small smile pull at her lips as she regarded him.

One.

Two more pushes and the rest came out with Anna’s assistance. At that point, Kedva crumpled over to lean against Brandon fully, her husband wrapping her in pre-warmed blankets and holding her close.

When her threefold sight noticed something, Tala almost called out, after all, the boy’s airways were filled, but Mistress Vanga was already turning him over and working his back manually. That allowed the little one to cough out much of the gunk before sucking in a deep breath.

His little cry was one of triumph, and Tala couldn’t help but put words to it, very much as she did when Terry chirped or trilled at her.

This little boy was announcing, ‘I’ve arrived! We did it!’ And he was screaming that to everyone who could hear.

Speaking of Terry, the terror bird had been on Tala’s shoulder through most of the birth, but he now flickered over to inspect the new little life.

Mistress Vanga hesitated for only a moment before presenting the little one for Terry to look over.

After a brief examination, he seemed rather satisfied, bobbing his head once before giving a trilling coo.

That caused the baby’s cry to hitch, and the little eyes blinked as he was trying to focus on the avian before him.

He didn’t seem to succeed before Terry flickered away, back to Tala’s shoulder.

Tala felt like she’d been entirely unnecessary throughout this whole process, but she understood how her being there, being ready, had likely been a boon. Often times knowing a safety net was there allowed a person to be more confident and actually need the net less.

Tala was happy to be a safety net as it didn’t really cost her anything but a little time.

Mistress Vanga walked over to the parents after preparing the boy. “Here is your son.”

Kedva indicated Brandon, and Brandon took him for a bit, cradling the tiny child. “Hello, little one.”

The couple shared a look before their eyes lifted to meet Tala’s gaze.

She froze, uncertain what was going on. “Yes?”

Kedva chuckled. “We were hoping…”

Brandon continued, “If you’re willing that is…”

She smiled. “Yes, if you’re willing. We’d like to name him Talax.”

Terry turned to look at Tala, tilting his head inquiringly even as he let out a little, questioning chirp.

Tala didn’t remember moving, but she was standing much closer to the couple and the new little one than she had been.

She reached out her hand and brushed the flushed little cheek. “Talax, eh?”

The two shared another look before smiling and nodding.

Brandon was smiling proudly, Kedva exhaustedly. Brandon spoke for both of them. “You’ve done so much for us, and we wanted to honor that in some small way. I think you know that I was named after Brand for a similar reason. So, it only seems fitting.” He shrugged, suddenly seeming self-conscious. “Keep the family tradition alive, I suppose. Would that be okay?”

The little one—baby Talax—began rooting around, and Kedva cleared her throat. “The little one needs to eat. Names can be settled after that.”

What the Rust? Why would they want to name him after me?

-They just told you, Tala.-

Yes, I know, that’s not what I meant.

-You mean, why would two people whose lives you’ve utterly changed want to honor you for that dramatic improvement?-

…yes.

-Do you really need me to answer, or will you do the right thing and accept the gift in the spirit in which it is being offered?-

No…

Tala stepped back and gave a deep bow. “If it is your wish to name him Talax, I would be honored.”

Both parents seemed to relax quite a bit, even as joy was evident across their features. Kedva spoke for them this time, “It is our wish, yes.”

She received baby Talax and got him situated.

“Welcome to Irondale, my little Talax.” She brushed her son’s cheek as he began his first meal.

Anna stepped forward. “Oh, that’s a wonderful latch he has there.”

As the parents settled down with the hungry little one—and the mageling gave some last information and instructions—Tala, Terry, and Mistress Vanga departed.

As the front door closed behind them, and the two Refined stood on the couple's front porch, Tala turned to Mistress Vanga who was taking in the vistas around them. “Don’t you need to be in there?”

“Not at all. Anna has helped deliver nearly fifty children in the last year and a half. She knows her stuff. The midwives are rather taken with her. If she weren’t on the path to be a Mage, they’d be happy to have her apprenticed to them in truth. If any magic is needed, Anna will come for me, but I’ve verified the health of the babe, and I left a monitoring magic within him. It will fade after a couple of weeks, but until then, I will know if his health turns.” She glanced Tala’s way. “I would be appreciative if you’d wait for your trip to Bandfast at least that long. If you cannot, I will need to send Anna with you, or come myself. That is possible, but it wouldn’t be ideal.”

Tala nodded. “I’m happy to delay, and I think Rane would be as well.”

“Where is Master Rane?” Mistress Vanga looked about in curiosity. “I haven’t seen you two apart much of late.”

Tala felt herself smiling involuntarily. “I think he’s getting some sparring practice against members of some of the other units before our shift this afternoon.”

“Hmm… So? Are you… telling anyone?” The older woman gave a half smile.

Tala’s smile shifted to be a bit hesitant. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to those with eyes, Mistress Tala.”

Tala found herself laughing at that. “Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.”

“Most things do in hindsight.” Mistress Vanga then patted Tala’s shoulder. “I mean, you two literally discussed going on a date the day Rane was accepted into our unit.”

“Oh… right. I wasn’t thinking about that.”

“Clearly.” She smiled then changed the subject. “The couple have decided on rebirth.”

Tala slowly nodded. “They did.”

“You agreed?” Mistress Vanga almost sounded surprised.

“He is their child, and nothing we’ve found indicates that it will do him harm.”

The Healer nodded slowly. “So, it will happen tomorrow, then. The first human baby we know of to be reborn in the arcane style.”

“It has to be done in the moving cities… right?”

“I’m really not sure, but if so, my mother never mentioned it.”

Tala frowned. “Well, it will be quite interesting, regardless.”

Mistress Vanga nodded slowly. “That it will. I’ll be taking lots of notes and measurements, that’s for sure.”

Tala shared a smile with her unit-mate. “Fair enough.”

“Well, would you take me out of here? I have a few things that I’d like to get done. I could walk to the gate, but if you’re willing…?”

“I can probably do that. Would you prefer closer to your home or your office?”

“My home please.”

“Of course. Thank you, Mistress Vanga.”

“You are most welcome, Mistress Tala. Thank you for being nearby in case there was a need.”

“Certainly.”

With an act of will, Tala sent Mistress Vanga to the superficial, as far as she could place her in the direction of her home.

That done, Tala found herself simply watching the few passersby, waving when they greeted her.

Irondale was growing, and it had now gained its first native resident in the traditional manner.

She took in a long breath, then breathed it out. “Well, we’re in it now.”

And they’d really be in new territory the following day.