In one of their many, many empty rooms of gray stone, Laurel sat at a small camp table across from Adam, Annette, and Leander. Besides the table and the chairs they were sitting in, there was absolutely nothing else in the room, and those were only there because Laurel was a pack rat and kept more in storage than a reasonable person would ever need in several lifetimes. It would have been a dreary prison if not for the large windows set in the south wall, with a view looking out over the countryside.
“It's time for you three to decide if you want to join the sect.” Laurel held up her hand to forestall the objections she could see on all of their faces. “It's important to do these things right. Up to this point you’ve gone along with my ideas and agreed to join, but this affects your future and we need to make sure you’ve thought everything through. Burdens on your spirit are not something to take lightly. Especially you, Leander. I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay in order to keep learning. So we are going to go through the charter to make sure everyone understands what they are signing up for. Once your mana is imprinted, leaving becomes a challenge.” They all reluctantly agreed and Laurel picked up the paper and started to read out loud.
“Let’s start with what the sect owes you. Any full member will receive room and board, basic necessities like soap and uniforms, and a modest stipend. To be determined by sect Quartermaster but no less than 5 tael per month. We’ll have to work out a modern equivalent for that.
“They will also receive cultivation resources every summer and winter solstice, instruction in cultivation, crafting, basic academics, and physical combat as desired or appropriate. Members will receive the protection of the sect. Notable achievements and special occasions may result in additional rewards.” She continued on for a few minutes describing some of the specific details. After confirming they had no questions about what benefits sect members would receive she continued on.
“What members owe to the sect: First, each member will have duties each week to the sect. These may be in the form of official sect positions such as Quartermaster, Loremaster, Instructor, etc, chores for the maintenance of the sect or sect grounds, or tasks assigned by those holding official positions. Compensation may be increased if these duties take more than 15 hours each week. Additionally, a portion of crafting proceeds or foraged materials are owed to the sect, either in their processed or unprocessed form. Finally, you may be called upon in defense of the City or the sect, and you will be expected to give aid to any sect mates you find in need outside of sect grounds.” There were more specifics on the amounts and percentages involved, which were mostly emphasized for Leander’s benefit so he knew how many chores he would need to do if he stayed.
“Contribution points. To avoid issues with external currency fluctuations or exploitative behaviors, these will function as the internal currency for the sect. Jobs or quests beyond official duties may be performed for contribution points. These points can then be spent at the sect contribution store for additional resources, training, or services. No one may forcibly take contribution points and they will be monitored by a system determined by the acting Quartermaster.”
Understanding it was a lot to take in, Laurel paused. She took the time to ask them if there was anything in particular they would like to see in the contribution shop and tried to tease out any other questions.
Leander finally took a piece of paper and slowly wrote out ‘what are resorsays’.
“Cultivation resources can take many forms. Currently you are able to see your own mana and maybe nudge it around a bit. You could probably infuse a bit of wood or make a spark to start a fire. But it would drain you and you would find it took a while to recover. To improve you need time and practice. At your stage, there are certain plants that naturally speed up and make the flow more noticeable and easier to direct for a day or so. That is what you’ll get in a few months. It will improve your control if you cultivate during that time. In the future you will look to understand a given element or natural force, and aspected natural treasures will be useful.”
She could see his eyes glazing over. Even the most dedicated 13 year old was still a child. “It suffices to say there are useful things that help with cultivation.”
They spoke for a few more minutes, discussing questions that they had and potential ideas for when they were able to grow. They also, at Laurel’s insistence, discussed terms for leaving the sect. They would still be bound by the secrecy clauses, and if they broke them or took up arms against the sect it would mean violent retribution. The more advanced they were, the more consequences for leaving, including paying back the cost of sect cultivation resources. To no one’s surprise, they all agreed to the terms. With that Laurel led them upstairs to the rotunda and the crystal pedestal housing the Core interface. Everyone placed a hand on the crystal.
“The City Core will bind the contract terms into your spirit. Try to relax into it. The process isn’t pleasant but it will be over quickly.”
They all followed instructions and a few minutes – and a concerning amount of gagging and shuddering later– they were officially the newest members of the Eternal Archive.
They arose early the next day, the others having suffered through the less luxurious sleeping conditions of the empty sect house to be there as early as possible. They needed to make sure everything was set up to welcome potential new members. Morning cultivation practice these days was more varied but less chaotic. Now that everyone had learned some way to actively connect with their mana, they were focusing on what had resonated most with them individually. Leander and Theresa worked through classical meditations. The boy was comfortable with silence and let it wash over him to cultivate. He’d taken to it far faster than Laurel had at a similar age, though she was saving that tidbit to tell him when he reached a Master rank.
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Reynard and Reina would usually spar or run a makeshift obstacle course, Trip was tinkering, Adam was translating, and Annette was embroidering. After a couple of hours, Laurel insisted on more intense exercise routines, at least for the full members of the sect. This had evolved to include self-defense classes, which Leander had been excited to learn would eventually evolve into magic combat.
“I’m not sure when this will become relevant,” Adam grumbled during class.
“You’re the one who keeps telling us the scholars at the universities will send assassins for the books. Besides, there will be enough mana and intent flowing through your library that we might see some spontaneous paper golems or other nuisances. As Loremaster you get to fend them off.”
Adam stumbled at the revelation. Laurel dragged him back to his feet and forced him to keep running. When they finished combat training he hurried off, muttering about finding one of the bestiaries in his newly claimed office. The sect members went inside to clean up and the soldiers headed back to the fort. Theresa, unusually, stayed behind to talk with Laurel.
“We are hearing more reports of monsters or confusing plant life popping up around the country. The rest of the council and I have decided that being able to stabilize Lanport the way you’ve worked on Verilia is a top priority. That city is about one third of the size of this one, how soon do you think I can be ready?”
Laurel thought for a minute before replying. “You’ve made remarkable progress in the last six months. I would say if you gave it another month and spent some of that time studying the local Core and how to manipulate it, you would be ready to shape the flows enough to keep manifestations from occurring within the city.” She hesitated and then continued “It would still be dangerous, but I believe you’d be able to do it. Leaving it any later and the danger increases more than the extra experience will overcome. You would also have to stay there for a time, and then visit regularly to maintain things, unless you have other cultivators in mind to take over for you.”
“There are a couple that might be able to do the maintenance, and be willing to work with us, but not many are strong enough to establish the Core themselves,” Theresa grimaced. “There are a few other cities similar in size to Lanport, and of course all of the towns and villages in between. While we train some more people up, I’ll probably be flying place to place doing the basics. The maintenance will be impossible, but at least their gardens won’t turn aggressive overnight.”
Laurel understood, though her traditional side balked at such a slapdash method. “That’s probably the best plan. Eventually more sects will appear and they will demand similar deals to ours, where they make certain concessions and promises to the kingdom in exchange for cultivating with the City Core.”
After a few more minutes of chatting Theresa left with the promise of coming specifically to observe the city core and the work Laurel did each morning from now until she had to leave.
That afternoon the sect members sat in the rather grand entryway with the doors propped open and waited for applicants to show up.
And waited.
And waited some more.
After about an hour of sitting around, Adam cleared his throat. “No one’s coming.” he said with some chagrin. “People are still cowards at heart. It might take a while for people to decide to join, or we might need to actively recruit people.”
They agreed and tossed around ideas. Laurel was concerned about accidentally restricting their candidate pool too far if they recruited from universities or military prep schools. On the other hand, Flats residents were generally too savvy to believe sect membership was anything other than a scam. Towards the evening a stout, middle-aged woman with a no-nonsense expression walked up holding the hand of a thin girl of about ten. Both were neat and tidy, though their clothes betrayed signs of repeated mending.
“Come in!” Laurel said, “we’ve just brewed some tea, come have some and tell us about yourself.” The woman looked off-kilter at the enthusiasm, but joined in willingly enough, introducing herself as Esther and the little girl as her daughter Lucy. She took a deep breath and launched into an obviously rehearsed explanation.
“I’m a decent cook and a housekeeper. This big building and all the fancy folks you’ll fill it with will be too busy to do their own cooking and cleaning. Lucy here can help clean as well, or fetch and carry, as needed. In exchange I would need a place to stay, and time to send Lucy to some lessons.”
Having confirmed her position as Quartermaster the night before, Annette eagerly leapt at her first official duty. She began a standard set of interview questions she had prepared weeks ago, after their supplies had all been ordered. After a polite half an hour, with Lucy piping up to ask them about the pretty lights she had seen, Annette and Laurel stepped away.
“I’m inclined to give her a trial,” Annette said. She was fidgeting and nervous.
“Eh, you and Adam are the only people I’ve ever ‘hired’ in any capacity, and you both more or less fell into things,” Laurel replied honestly. “I’ll trust your judgment here.”
They returned to the group. “We’d like to hire you on for a two week trial period” Annette announced. “If all goes well we’ll move to something permanent. You’re welcome to take quarters here, but as you can see, furnishings are fairly bare bones at the moment. Lucy, of course, can go to lessons when needed, or can join Leander in working with the tutor who will be starting next week. The salary is 15 silver per week if you live here, including board, and 20 if you choose to live elsewhere. Take some time to think about it and then let us know your decision.”
Esther responded immediately. “I don’t need to think about it, I accept and I can start now. We’d be grateful for the rooms as well.” Annette was thrown but went along with it. “Let me show you to your quarters. We can take a little tour of the rest of the building on the way. Lucy, you're welcome to join us or stay here or play with Leander.” Lucy settled back and the two women were off, with Annette listing out what each room would eventually be.
That evening, they sat down to their first meal cooked by Esther. The new cook bustled into the room with a steaming, golden brown pie and set it in the center of the table. They were eating in the same entryway they had spent the day in while waiting for the rest of their furniture. Lucy followed her mother, very carefully carrying a large bowl filled with a fresh salad, while Leander brought up the rear with a stack of plates. It all went on the small dining set Laurel produced from nowhere.
The only sound for several minutes was the clinking of silverware until Adam piped up, “Well I certainly hope you stick around Esther because this might be the best thing I’ve ever eaten”.
The others started heaping similar praise on the flushed woman and conversation opened back up as they chatted about their day and what they expected. Leander would join in when he could write something fast enough but the boy was clearly frustrated at not being able to participate. Laurel made a point to look up advanced sound crystals that evening. She knew there were versions that allowed the users to actively manipulate the sound that came out, and she should be able to make one in a few days. Learning to use it might even be a good lesson in fine control for the boy.
The rest of the week was more of the same. They added a Mr. Nicholas Mercer to their ranks as a groundskeeper, and a 17 year old named Rebecca that had previously come to the clinic repeatedly to heal bruising joined them on a partial basis as a cultivator -in -training. She wasn’t yet a full sect member, but she was committed to training, and announced her intention to join the as a member just as soon as she reached novice rank.