The days pass by as I answer questions, so far they are more banal. How my society works, what sort of ranks there are, who’s in charge of what. I keep my eyes open to what’s going on around me but i don’t see much. My life is contained to two rooms and the hallways that connect them. Today was another banal start.
[Aldressan] “hmmm so you we’re made a penitent. And the punishment was for your mistake alone?”
“yes, there would be no good in punishing me for being a new soul”
[Aldressan] “a what? Please elaborate on what you mean by new soul”
“a new soul, as in this is my first life. I’ve not reincarnated from a past life”
[Aldressan] “so, we know that the enemies we fought would sometimes come back but… if it’s notable that you’re a new soul then how often do your peoples souls inhabit new bodies?”
“all the time, since the invasion it’s been the same souls returning until the latest success from what the old souls have told me”
[Aldressan] “A-all of them? From, what’s the invasion? When was that?”
I shrug “it’s when your kind and the great scaled warriors of the sky invaded our world. Killed countless first born, the second born and third born before our souls started coming back as a gift from the great mother”
[Aldressan] “that’s, wow that’s a hell of a claim… that must be pre-history. No way any records remain
to corroborate your story but… hmmm
[Al] “being a little too giving there”
“can I take a break for a meal?”
[Aldressan] “hmm? Oh yes yes, let’s all get our bellies filled with food and I’ll think on this info”
[Al] “a good first step, next you need to be a little more evasive with your responses”
I nod and walk, moving to my room. Aldressan doesn’t follow, instead heading off his own way while no other mage follows. After a bit it take a turn off the usual path.
[morgan] “what are you doing?”
“getting a look around this place. I’ve been in one of two rooms the whole time and neither is that interesting”
[morgan] “they already said it can be dangerous to wander off on your own.”
“well they haven’t given me much incentive not to risk some danger. Not a single book or anything.”
[morgan] “you know if it wasn’t for them you’d be dead already.”
“doesn’t change the situation now. Besides I doubt they’d make their hallways dangerous to traverse”
I made a turn and had to stop myself before holding an arm out to make sure she didn’t bump into me. There was no wind beforehand no indication but here I was standing at too great a height above the city and one step away from getting to the ground too rapidly.
[morgan] whistles “you were saying?”
“yes, but why?! There isn’t even a sound of wind. Did they enchant it that way? And what’s the point of having an open doorway into the air like this? Let’s just go back a bit alright?”
she nods and soon I can walk down other hallways… slower and more carefully.
[morgan] “so you’re just really bored, so much that you’ll risk falling to your death?”
“well at least I get something that isn’t monotonous. Anyways I know to be more careful about it now”
[morgan] “if you say so. I’m thinking I’m going to head off back for some food”
“what you don’t want to explore with me?”
wait… why was I trying to get her to stay? I shouldn’t, I’d be able to explore more freely without her.
[morgan] “yeah I’m going you have fun getting yourself killed”
[Al] “were you going for reverse psychology?”
I moved a bit before replying to al.
“reverse what? What is psyke olo gee?”
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[Al] “said another way, were you trying to make sure she went away by asking here to stay?”
“what? How would that even work?”
[Al] “no then. Odd, I thought you hated all soft-skins”
“look you want to focus on me getting out of here?”
[Al] “well that door looks promising”
I stop and open the door, inside is a stone room with what look like book shelves except more subdivided. Rolled scrolls in each little nook.
[Al] “hhmmm, you could probably only hide two of these”
“why would I take two?”
[Al] “well do you know what a spell scroll is?”
“yeah the sof- oohhh, can you read the names?”
[Al] “yes, would you be unable to read a book they give you?”
“does it matter? Scrolls”
[Al] “alright go to the back edge, up two, no not that far. Down one, yes that one. And then other shelf. Right three spaces, down one, there. Good. Invisibility, and expedient speed. Those should do nicely. Now lets go, back to your room”
“why not look around more? Actually, is there one that would let me fall from great heights?”
[Al] “ok, well yes there is. Oh, a definite way to go. You want to swap one out?”
“yeah lets put the speed back and taking our falling one. Then return to that little room”
soon I was out, two scrolls folded and tucked away for later. I returned to my assigned room, coming up behind the attendant that had brought my food. When he realized I was behind him he freaked out nearly spilling the water. Took the tray and gave a slight bow of my head.
[attendant] “o-ok, uh. Where were you? … right, uh. Enjoy the meal I guess”
he shuffled off and I had something to think about as I ate my meat, overcooked to my taste. There was no blood in it to savor. Still the soft-skin had put a good question, what would I say to account for my time gone… best to be truthful, well at least partially. The reason I gave morgan would have to suffice.
Long after I had finished my meal they finally came with morgan and I was brought into the questioning room.
[Aldressan] “alright, before anything else I’m now aware that you didn’t go straight back for your meal. Why did you wander?”
“boredom, finally had something other than talking that I could do”
[Aldressan] “you realize that there are things that can be dangerous in this tower?”
“yeah, nearly fell out. But aside from that your hallways are pretty dull.”
[Aldressan] “so you grew bored of our halls and went back to your room?”
“more double backed on it by accident and I was hungry.”
[Adressan] “alright then. So before you were telling us how new souls for your people is a recent change and that the old ones oppress new souls”
“they don’t oppress us”
[Aldressan] “didn’t you say that they wouldn’t inflict heavy punishment just because you were a new soul?”
“yes, we had to fail our people severely for major punishment”
[Aldressan] “and what of minor punishment?”
“I… I mean we’re new souls, we don’t have the experience they do so of course we’ll make more mistakes”
[Aldressan] “maybe, so the old souls are entirely just. They don’t have any issues with new souls being in the mix?”
“yes, new souls are from the great mother”
[Aldressan] “ah I see. So I take it all the old souls have been reincarnated”
“no, there’s a lot of them yet to return”
[Aldressan] “so the old souls have no problem losing out on experienced and valuable members?”
“no… they do”
[Aldressan] “and yet they aren’t bitter? Vindictive? Cruel? Unjust to new souls in any way?”
“NO, no of course not… we just make mistakes”
[Aldressan] “ah. Well then let’s move on. You’ve mentioned this, great mother… what is the great mother?”
“...really? You stand on her, dig into her, use her blood for magic and have no clue as to what the great mother is?”
[Aldressan] “that’s, interesting. Much like those world soul believers… well I guess it has good credence after those blasts. My my that’s… you said your kind are her first born?”
“yes, we are the first intelligent people she gave birth to”
[Aldressan] “and the other two peoples are?…”
“gone… as far as I know. By your kind, your murderous people”
[Aldressan] “well moonshadow this is… it’s quite the news to receive in full, helps put a lot of pieces we had into a more cohesive picture”
“so what now?”
[Aldressan] “now I would like to cover more of the practical topics. This history you’ve given is valuable and will take a bit of time to settle properly”
The rest of the talking was dull, questions on everyday activities and the like. Once I was taken back to my room at night I focused on using my gifted abilities, focusing power. I’d found two abilities, limited in use but definitely ones that could be useful… well one for sure could, being able to walk over a vertical surface would help, the other would… move air around me, and protect me from arrows I think. Anyways it wouldn’t hurt to use. For now I focused on the magic sight and took one last look at the enchantments as I waited, soon I’d grab morgan and leave.