~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Samara,
It’s been three months since... the accident. They have suggested that I write out my feelings in a letter. ’Survivors guilt’ they call it. I know you’ll never get to read this, but I wanted to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not being a better friend and boss.
I feel like if I hadn’t pushed you to rush that last test this might not have happened. The things we have learned since then... the gods are real Samara. Our reality, all realities, are real. We are just organic machines. We’ve always known this, but for a brief time I, and the whole world, we were able to see it all. We are information and energy, even our souls are the same. But different, I can’t explain the things I’ve known and seen for myself.
There have been riots. People are scared, and rightfully so. Everything we learned together was just the precipice of the knowledge available in this universe. For a brief, maddening moment I saw. The notes I took are growing incomprehensible as time fades. But I knew everything for that brief moment. It was beautiful, and heartbreaking.
Did you know it’s possible to bring back the dead to life? It is, and I know it. I just don’t understand it anymore. But I will. Samara, I will find a way to make this right.
Your friend,
Percy
~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’m so excited! Nobody has ever shown me how they do rune crafting! Eep!” Colette squeezed her arms together beneath her ample chest, causing a bulge of incredibly soft looking skin to swell over her plunge cut shirt.
I flushed, remembering the teasing I’d given Fabius last night. He was definitely getting more of the same later. I might have also been enjoying myself with the offered view. She might be coy, but I was a woman too. In another life at least. I wondered if it helped or hurt that I was aware of the things I’d done in the past to catch the eye of someone I was interested in. Also need to recall that I’m from a different time and she’s her own woman. We aren’t a hive mind. And I’m probably overthinking this. Like I do with every relationship. Is it even a relationship at this point? What about Fabius, is he in a relationship with me?
“Yep, today I’ll show you how I make enchantments,” Damnit Samara, get your head out of the gutter. Even if I couldn’t read her mind, my body was reacting to her thoughts as well as my own. And I knew that she knew, which made it worse.
“So what are you going to make?” The look of excitement on Colette’s face was electric.
“Well, I’m going to make a rune to provide a low level togglable refrigeration/heating field enchantment,” I couldn’t believe that I was arguing with myself over proper terminology, but such was life now.
Colette seemed unfazed by my internal struggle and focused on what I would do next... which was to remove my armor.
Undoing the leather straps on my lamellar chest piece, I pulled it away from my body and laid it on the empty table Colette had prepared for the occasion. My thin linen shirt remained but I definitely felt exposed as the alchemist’s eyes wandered over me. Turnabout is fair play as they say.
“Alright so without further ado, here’s the piece I’ll be making today. By combining the fire and frost runes with a limiter here,” I pointed to a spot just below the back neckline on my armor, “I should be able to make it so that my armor keeps me cool in the heat and warm in the cold. It might also provide some low level protection against those elements but nothing is stake my life against. This leather is good but won’t be able to stand up to intense SP discharge for long even if the Cephlyx relays hold up.”
Colette nodded her understanding and motioned for me to continue.
“First and most important is the limiter. It’s a lot more difficult to set up to accept for any user than to key it into my own specific SP signature.”
Stylus in hand, I dipped it into the viscous silver fluid Colette provided from our session yesterday. I began to draw an ever increasingly elaborate series of shapes, first simple squiggles, but then taking on harsh lines. Pick up the stylus to gather more of the... magic ink.
The lines were sloppy. The Cephlyx was stiff, but at least it wasn’t lumpy. I’d done better work in my undergrad days. But for a few brief hours, this piece would be my home.
An hour passed, then two as the array of shapes on the inside of my armor grew in size. At some point Colette brought me a glass of water for which I thanked her profusely. The sheer level of concentration required was massive.
Nearly three hours after starting, I was ready to fix the relays in place. The wasted space was unfortunate but oversized paths were necessary to ensure the impedance was low enough to actually achieve what I was aiming for. Another ten minutes were spent checking for errors, of which I found three. Probably got distracted at some point.
Satisfied as I could be with the work before me, I tentatively channeled a trickle of SP into the intake relay where it would contact my neck.
An empty hole made itself known, greedily sucking my SP reserves down. In a flash of insight, I thought the check my status to see the flow rate.
***
Fabius Dansin
Level 2
150/150 HP
137/150 MP
123/150 MP
114/150 MP
...
-31/150 MP
***
You have created “Lamellar Armor of Fire and Ice” (Basic): 60 XP Awarded
Finally after an eternity, the relays set into their final resting state and quit pulling. Sweat dripped from my brow and my hands shook uncontrollably. My vision failed as I collapsed on the floor.
***
I slowly came to. The room was dark and warm. And soft.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you’re okay!”
Light returned to the world as Colette got up from laying next to me on...her bed? That I was laying in.
“Oww, the light. It hurts,” I was half delirious, “Everythinghurtsobad.”
“You idiot! What were you doing overexerting yourself like that? You’ve been out for over an hour. I was worried about you!”
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“Uhh was... hoping to get in your bed... but not like this,” It slipped out before my mind could catch up with my mouth.
Another groan came out as I realized that I’d just propositioned my only source of Cephlyx.
“Uhuh, well if you’re up enough for that I’ll trust you to find your way out once you can walk. You...are alright, right?”
“I’ll live,” Assuming embarrassment wasn’t a lethal condition.
“I need to get back to the store, your armor is over there. I’ll see-you-later-bye,” She quickly turned about and left me to my growing headache.
I laid there in the bed for five or ten minutes longer.
“I’m an idiot.”
“I’m an idiot.”
“I’m the idiot for pushing too hard and landing us out of SP, you’re a moron for opening your mouth. Fantasies are fine, but just blurting that out? Come one, we can do better than that.”
“I’ve barely used SP before, how was I to know it’d knock me out like that? And the headache... I need to go apologize to Colette.”
“Oh no we don’t. You see, this right here is what gets a person in trouble. I’ve done it enough myself. What were you going to say, the first thing that came to your mind?”
“Well, yeah. I was going to apologize for saying what I did after she took care of us.”
“But are you sorry for wanting her?”
“No?”
“Then think about it. Don’t apologize with a blanket statement. Apologize for being crude and vulgar, but not for your interest. That’s assuming she’s still interested in you. Us. Whatever. Give her time to sort things out for herself, don’t go smothering her after something like that. Yes you were out of it, no that doesn’t excuse you talking like that. I know we share a body now and yeah, it’s kinda weird. Privacy doesn’t exactly work the same here. But people have boundaries that need respected.”
“A week ago I was just going about my life. All this happened and now I’m adapting as fast as I can. But I think you’re right. I need to not lose myself. And that means treating others like people... err...kin? That’s the right word?”
“Either is fine. You know, I took a lot of pleasure in teasing you last night. That definitely didn’t help the situation and might have been going too far. I’m not sure yet. It’s a learning curve for me too. So I want to help make this right.”
“We promised that little girl Nancy to look for her brother, right? Maybe a walk in the woods would be good to help calm everyone down.”
“I did want to test the enchantment we made. Let’s leave a note just in case she comes back before we return. Leaving town entirely without saying anything would be worse.”
Looking around her cozy room, I saw a writing desk. A diary looked to be buried under some loose paper, but I wasn’t about to stoop to snooping. She had helped me and I’d make it up, or leave her alone if that was her desire. I quickly located a blank sheet and an inked quill. Pen as Samara called it.
***
I’m going out to the eastern woods to locate a missing person. Will be back in town later. I want to apologize for being so tasteless after you helped me when I passed out. Thank you for that. I think I am interested in you, but I understand if you don’t reciprocate those feelings. I’d like to keep a good working relationship with you either way. Crafting with you was a lot of fun. If you want, we can move forward and act like none of this happened. As the wronged party, I’ll let you choose what happens next.
Sincerely,
Fabius Dansin
***
Taking a deep breath, I laid the note on her desk and found my way to the door. Apparently Colette lived only a few streets down from the shop. I resisted the urge to try and talk directly to her immediately. My own head was a maze of conflict and confusion, no need to inflict that on anyone else.
“Hey Fabius?”
“Yes Samara?”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. You did your piece to make it right. Best thing to do now is let her have some space.”
“I know. Doesn’t mean it’s easy.”
“It never is, my friend.”
Even if it didn’t work out with my crush, because that’s exactly what she was, I was becoming more appreciative of Samara. She was a lot closer to me than any other person ever had been. I might even grow to like it. Even if I still wasn’t wholly convinced that this was the longest dream ever dreamt.
“So, you ready to see what we got out of all that work?”
“Yeah, lets see what we have here.”
I picked up the chest piece and marveled at the intricate lines engraved on the inner layer of leather. Flexible, but as brilliant as honed steel.
Donning my gear, I felt the cool contact point resting on the base of my neck. Another message popped into the upper left-hand corner of my vision.
Lamellar Armor of Fire and Ice (Basic)
Utilizing ideas from separate words to join in harmony, this armor will provide minimal protection against heat and cold.
Class 2 Magitech Device
Constant Effect: 20 SP/Hour (10)
Experience extremes of heat or cold at 15% reduced intensity.
Trigger Effect: 80 SP/Activation (40)
Double Resistance Values for 30 Seconds
As I finished tying the clasps together, the difference was immediate in both temperature and the energy drain. It almost felt like a heavy weight had been placed on my mind. Probably not the smartest move given my headache, but the almost cool breeze was enough to make it worthwhile.
“I’m glad we took the [Magitech Interface] skill. Otherwise this thing would drain us dry trying to activate.”
“Is it... dangerous?” My recent and only experience with this advanced tech left me a little leery of passing out under the strain of a life sucking machination.
“No, the limiter is set to automatically shut off if we go below 10% of our reserves. It’s all part of the standard design. Lots and lots of safety.”
“So why did we pass out then?”
“Crafting above our skill level.”
“Which means?”
“It’ll be awhile till we can operate anything complex. I had a pinky ring that did the same thing as this whole suit back home. Also, I think more investment in Mind and Soul is necessary so we can avoid this situation again. More efficient crafting would help too.”
“No argument from me. And I see what you meant about the temperature. What did you call it again?”
“Air conditioning.”
“I could get used to this ’air conditioning’.”
***
Stopping back by the tavern, I caught up to Harry just as the lunch crowd was dispersing and he was clearing away the used dishes.
“Any sign of him yet?” I asked.
The tavern keep sighed, “Nothing. The watch says they’ll organize a search party if he’s not back tonight. Kid has earned himself a reputation but this is unusual even for him.”
“Reputation?”
“Skirt chaser. He might be nineteen, but he’s still my little boy. Thinks he knows everything he needs to. Probably does, tried to teach him well. Just not enough experience to temper his emotions.”
“I can relate. Nancy said she thinks they went out to the eastern woods?”
“That’s the best guess,” He handed me a small satchel. “Here, take this out with you if you’re going. Probably got lost and is hungry. Let him know that I’m not angry...I might have said some unkind words to him before he disappeared.”
Not pressing further, I accepted the small bag and stashed it away in my pack. A rich peppery scent nearly made me sneeze, but I was able to hold it back. Nancy stole a look at me from the kitchen entryway, before ducking back in after seeing she’d been spotted.
“I’ll see what I can find.”
I made my way to the barn where Nancy had spotted the two the day before, hoping to find some clue as to their whereabouts.
Sure enough, there was a pile of straw laying crumpled in a corner. Somehow I managed to spot a small patch of short amber colored hair on one of the boards of the nearby open window. I was no detective, but common sense told me that Bella was probably the original owner of this hair if she and Jacob had tried to run when they were caught by his little sister.
Beyond that though, my skills were limited. The forest lay to the east and was a straight shot from where I was looking out. Making note of the local landmarks, I made the decision to delve forward, marking my path in with broken tree limbs and walking perpendicular to the sun. A low hill rose above the surrounding greenery a few kilometers in the distance.
If I was a couple teenagers trying to get it on, that’s the way I’d have gone.
Luckily, I was able to successfully navigate through the thin understory. Sight lines were clear for the most part, and I had bent over enough saplings to keep a straight line on my route forward even if the overhead trees blocked my view of the distant hill.
“Jacob!”
“Bella?”
We called every few minutes, waiting for a response but none ever came. We were still too far away if they’d decided to hole up in a cave or set up shelter on the hill. Still, people didn’t always make the smart decision and stay where they were once they realized they were lost.
Maybe 45 minutes after entering the woods, I heard a small reply in the distance. Possibly female?
“...ello! ... I’m do...n here!”
“Bella? Is that you out there? Come towards my voice if you can.”
“Al...dy ... my way!” The far-off response called back.
Another ten minutes of back and forth calling finally brought her into view. A young Larothian girl, covered head to toe in short amber fur. A joke about getting along like cats and dogs popped into my head, but the tired and relieved expression on her face cut me short.
“Thank the goddess I found you, did my family send you?” The wiry predator questioned.
“Actually it was Harry’s little sister. Have you seen him?” I asked.
“Ha, far more than I might have liked had he shown his true colors at the time,” Bella spit as if the mere thought tasted sour in her mouth.
While I wasn’t much removed from the age group myself, I could smell teen drama and wanted no part in it. Military living had a way of working that out of a person. Still, I needed to find him soon if I wanted to return before nightfall and talk to Colette.
“Have you seen him recently, when did you split up?”
“I broke up with him last night when he called me by my sister’s name and got us lost in these woods!”
“Where were you two?”
“There was a little cave out of the way of the big hill. But I told him I’d rather sleep in a tree than in a musty cave with him after that!”
“That’s the last you saw of him then?”
“I left and tried to make my way back to the village but got turned around. I think he stayed behind to cry or something. I don’t really care anymore, where’s town? Are you going to take me?”
“Just follow the path straight back. Look for the freshly broken branches to keep your heading, you should be able to see at least two or three at a time.”
“...okay then. I’ll tell my family that you came to rescue me. Maybe dad will give you a deal or something,” The girl shrugged at not getting her desired escort, but at least she’d have a clear path back to town.
“Also, let the tavern keep know I’m still out here would you?”
“Sure, whatever. Thanks for finding me I guess.”
A bit sullenly, she made her way back along the well-marked trail I’d blazed. As she disappeared in the distance, I continued my path forward towards the hill. I should have been on the right heading, but without a way to verify I’d have to take my chances. Even if I wasn’t an expert tracker, I’d spent enough time trudging through forests in Gaul to not lose my way.
“Harry! Your dad and sister are worried about you. Where are you?!”
I yelled off into the distance without avail. This kid was getting real tiresome and I hadn’t even found him yet. His dad had better comp my meals for the next week at this rate.
Reaching the base of the hill, I realized it was instead an overgrown stone outcropping. Perfect place to try and hide away for some privacy. It must have been six or seven kilometers from the village but even that wasn’t enough to stall young lust.
“Harry!” I called out again, “If I don’t hear back from you I’m just going to turn around and leave you out here.”
A mere three hundred meters to my right I heard a short howl, truncated by a pained yip.