Andrew woke up late, he had stayed up practicing his magic while occasionally saying something he wasn’t supposed to, to test whether the elves were still able to remote sense him or not. So far it seemed they were either hiding it very well or Biaobel has not been lying when he claimed something had blocked their view.
It had been a week since he first performed Cinetica and in the interim, he had spent his days listening to Cebisi educate him on the virtues of Elves, the sins of the Dwarves, and the uselessness of the Trolls. Honestly, even with things heavily biased towards the Elves, the Dwarves seemed more fun and more in line with his way of thinking, but he had kept that soundly to himself. He had also been informed of yet another race that he was not aware of, the Androids. These were seemed to be the Dwarven equivalent of a golem, but they, according to Cebisi, had made a grave mistake and gave them free will. Apparently, this resulted in an Android war, and eventually, the Androids gained equal status in the Dwarven empires as the Dwarves themselves. A fact that clearly disgusted Cebisi to a great deal.
As with last night, his nights were spent practicing his magic while occasionally trying to get the elves to react to what he was saying or doing, so he’d know for certain if they could see him or not.
There’s just no way that I can block someone like that bastard. He’s supposedly 90 thousand or so years old. How could I possibly be something new to a person like that? I mean I want to believe him because that would mean I’m awesome, but Lather that’s probably exactly what that scheming little prick wants you to think.
But what does he gain out of gaming me? See that’s the question I need to figure out because I know he has plans for me, but I have no clue what those plans might be or why. With someone like that you know whatever it is, it likely has multiple ways to pay off for him. But what are those payoffs and why is it worth all the hassle I’ve put him through?
“Ah wonderful, you are already awake Mr. Lather. Were you thinking about me?” came the cool otherworldly voice of Biaobel. Who had appeared behind Andrew, sitting in the seat he always took.
Andrew spoke up as he crossed the room to take his seat as had become their ritual.
“I was actually. I must say, with you I’m skeptical that it’s just a coincidence that you appeared when you did. So, not only can you teleport in with only the faintest trace, but apparently, you’ve been reading my thoughts as well?” Andrew said in a flat tone of someone who had just figured out their wife had been cheating on them all along.
“No nothing like that Mr. Lather, just a lucky guess. Well, that and having been around enough people to know their expressions. That is another place our people converge. Our facial expressions are remarkably the same. Uncannily so. I get why the Dwarves, Elves, Trolls, Golems, and the accursed Androids do. They were created by the Getl or were created by a race we created. So that makes sense, but you and your people, by any logical line of thought, should not have exactly the same gestures. Yet outside of a few notable outliers, you do. “
“I mean our body shapes are very similar as well. Maybe it’s the optimum shape for intelligent life to thrive and maybe those expressions are what they are because they’re the most efficient way to get information across. Though with the level of similarity that seems like a shaky argument at best. Have you ever met any other intelligent life in all your years?”
“No, though I have suspicions that I will one day.” The god said with a nod and a lovely deep chuckle.
“You have jokes.”
The God answered Andrew with only a wry smile.
“So, your gealdness what brings you to my lonely cell today? Decided to let me in on this?” Andrew said while picking up the Plasira and holding it out for the god to see.
“Please stop playing with that and no I am not here for that. I came today to see if you have figured out what has changed inside of you and how you are now able to block my sight.”
“You know I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time thinking about that and what I’ve come to is that I can’t and this is all some ruse of yours to try to get me to believe I can. Though I honestly can’t come up with what you hope to gain out of it. Perhaps after millennia, you’re simply bored and it’s fun to watch me act like an idiot thinking you can’t watch. So, what is it?”
“Mr. Lather we both know if I had some elaborate plan, you would not get me to tell you it that simply. We also both know you would not trust anything I said, as it would likely be another ruse to gain your trust. That said I too have no clue what I could get out of convincing you of such a thing. Another thing we both know is that you only brought this up to gauge my reactions and to see how sincere you perceive me to be. So, Mr. Lather, how did I do?”
Andrew smiled before answering, “Worryingly well. Though I guess after all this time at the top you wouldn’t be someone I’d want to play poker with. Honestly, though if you can’t see me when you’re not here then I’m unsure of what changed. Unless becoming a Cinetica master would have that effect?”
“We both know you are no Cinetica master. Point of fact Cinetica is one of the harder of the Ikoli for humans to pick up I am unsure why, as humans seem to be second only to elves in their abilities to perform magic. Yet something about your race seems to make it an art your species has an extremely difficult time mastering. This is a subject of much research, as it is quite the enigma.
Even if you were yet again somehow different and able to perform it, Cinetica would be useless against far scrying.”
The conversation lulled as Andrew considered what to ask next, before he settled on asking about the lack of trash service.
“I noticed there is no way to dispose of trash in my cell. Do yall not have a way to dispose of trash?”
“Why were you hoping to escape through the trash chute like on so many of your movies, Mr. Lather?”
Andrew slightly sheepishly responded, ”Noooooo, that would be ummmmm silly of course.”
Biaobel leveled his gaze flatly on Andrew, “I am not sure why, but I expected more out of you Mr. Lather than some cheesy movie plot escape. What were you hoping, to find a princess to jump down the chute with, maybe furry humanoid as well? Seriously Mr. Lather you insult me. Why would you need a trash chute? Do you produce a lot of trash?”
“Nooooo, “Andrew said even more sheepishly than before.
“Even if you somehow found a trash chute and jumped into it. All you would accomplish is feeding your biomass to my lovely tree.”
“That sounds horrible.”
“One would imagine so. I suggest you don’t waste all of the energy I’m about to sink into you, by trying it. Speaking of, in thinking of our previous human test subjects, you will begin an intensive magical training regime which has proven to be the most effective method in growing magical abilities in them. “
The chair he sat in rapidly grew vines that surrounded his arms and legs before they turned into restraints, locking them into place. Another set of vines grew to encase his head leaving openings for his face and ears before it too hardened into a restraint.
“Well, this turned dark quickly. I take it this method is less than pleasant?” Andrew threw out there as he tried to use his anti-magic power to break the restraints.
It came as no surprise to him when it failed to work. As he suspected the plant material holding him was normal wood, the magic had been in what caused to grow so fast. He debated trying his cinetica power, but doubted the small amount of force he could muster would make a difference and so he saw no reason to tip of the Geald to his new power.
“No, Mr. Lather it will not. Doubly so in your case, as most humans do not have the opportunity to have it administered by someone as powerful as myself. Though do not fret, this will hurt, but as I have proven to you before you will not die as I will not allow it. Fair warning, if you scream too much, I will have you gagged.”
A moment or two went by while Andrew contemplated his fate and tried to calculate any way he might avoid it. As seconds turned to a minute, he had started to sweat and become anxious at what must lay in store for him if it took someone like Biaobel this long to prepare. When that minute turned to 2, Andrew couldn’t take it any longer and spoke up.
“Can we get on with thi……AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAaaaa”
Andrew’s taunting was cut off as rainbow-colored river of energy exploded from the Geald’s chest and flowed into Andrew. At first, Andrew was surprised and relieved to find it didn’t hurt, better than that he felt amazing and more powerful than he had ever felt before. This feeling intensified over the next minute or two until Andrew felt that could take on the Geald himself with the power he was receiving and so, drunk with power, he used his cinetica to blast away the restraints. He had underestimated his power and the chair was vaporized was a large crater of material where the chair had been. Yet he and Biaobel seemed unimpacted by the explosion of power.
Andrew smiled and leveled his gaze on the Geald yet as he felt his magic coalescing into a strike the Geald seemed to be unphased and instead of stopping the torrent of energy going to Andrew. He increased the flow and Andrew went from feeling like he could do anything to screaming, semi catatonic, in pain as it seemed that the magical energy was rapidly incinerating his nerves as it traveled through his system.
“Is that all you have for me, Mr. Lather? While that was an impressive display. I expected more.“
After a few moments, Biaobel continued.
“It appears I have overestimated you, I had suspected that there was no power in the universe that was capable of keeping your teeth together,”Biaobel said with a wicked smile as the torrent increased until it just felt like his whole body was made of intense pain.
Andrew had indeed lost the ability to talk or do anything else as he was overwhelmed with energy. The intensity of it sent his body into massive convulsions. His head repeatedly slammed into the floor, and he could do nothing but groan as a defense.
The last thing he remembered before blacking out was the final taunt from Biaobel.
“I bet you wished you had not revealed your new ability and accomplished nothing more than to destroy the exact restraints that were designed to protect from this unavoidable outcome.”
A reserved Cheshire grin grew on the god’s face as Andrew’s world went to black.
*********
“WOW look at this beach, Lather!!!!” Linnie beamed as she deboarded the plane and turned to grab his hand in excitement.
“You know we’re not on the mission right now and there’s that little detail that you know we got married yesterday, so maybe you can start calling by Andrew when it’s just the two of us?” he said with a silly smile.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
“Oh whatever, Andrew. Seriously though look at that water. Does it get any more azure and clear than that?”
Andrew stopped to take in the scene, but as he forgot to tell Linnie his plan he was quickly jerked off balance from the hand that still embraced Linnie’s.
“Sorry babe, I should warn you before I stop like that.”
“I bet that happens almost every flight to so some couple as they deboard, but I mean really just look at it!”
“It is gorgeous that’s for sure, but you’re the gem that truly shines here babe.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s what you’re thinking, and not about that girl over there?” Linnie said, the mirth draining out of her voice when she noticed the woman in the bikini on the beach in front of them.
“Can we not do this today?” Andrew said in a somewhat defeated tone.
“Yeah, let's go get checked in, I have a gift I want to give you anyhow.”
They did the normal stuff people do when they get to a new location and after retrieving their bags, they hailed a cab and headed to their cabana. It was a quaint one-room palapa on short piers with a deck surrounding it. The deck had a long rope bridge to shore attached to the southside and a set of stairs leading down to their little private beach island to the north. There were lounge chairs artfully placed on the east and west sides of the deck with a door leading into the palapa from both directions. Their island and palapa looked like the 100 others that fanned out from a central clubhouse for the resort. They were pleased to find they had lucked into the only private island with a palm tree.
They quickly got settled into their new place in the manner all newlywed couples do. After a brief rest, they decided it was time to visit their beach. As Linnie opened her suitcase to get her swimsuit, she let out a small sound. It wasn’t quite a squeal but a small sound of excitement. Andrew started to turn to see what had gotten her to make the sound but came up short.
“No, don’t turn around yet!” Linnie excitedly yelled while trying to get her swimsuit fully in place.
“Ummm you know we just ………”
“Yeah, I know we did big guy, but I have a surprise and don’t want you to see it yet.”
After a few interesting moments of listening to the sounds of tape being cut and a package being opened Linnie finally spoke up.
“Wow, they did a great job on this. Ok, you can turn around now.”
As he did so he was taken aback that this gorgeous sight in front of him would be in his future for the rest of his life. Linnie stood there in a stunning and stylish one-piece. A few seconds later he realized he was gawking and only then did he notice she was holding something.
“Wow is that your device on a necklace?”
“I know it’s a bit silly, but I got it mounted on a necklace, so you would always have something to remember me by. I just felt it was something that you could never get from somebody else. Sorry if you expected more.
“Are you kidding me this is amazing! Seriously. A MAzING. What more could a guy want in life, but his drop-dead gorgeous wife in that swimsuit giving him her most prized invention? Seriously this is amazing, but this pales in comparison to you.”
Linnie’s face beamed while simultaneously blushing a deep shade of red.
“Well, I hope you mean everything you just said,” Linnie said with some trepidation tinging her voice.
“I do!!!” Andrew said as he took the necklace and slipped it over his neck.
“I’m glad you like it, let’s get to the beach before we lose the sun. Your gift for me can wait for later, “ she said as she playfully smacked him and ran out the door.
He chased her outside without a second thought. Catching up to her just in time to see her on the beach the sun had started to set behind her. When she turned around, she blessed him with her rare, but awe-inspiring smile.
Ziggy please capture this moment.
[Capture Taken. Saving to the folder labeled Honeymoon.]
[Mr. Lather as you have forgotten to get your wife a present. Would you like me to rectify this for you?]
Yes, Ziggy, and thank you.
[To serve is my purpose. I will have something delivered as soon as possible.]
“Babe, I know I should know this, and I hope you don’t reconsider our marriage, but do you mind telling me the name of this again?” He said while holding up the device which was now hanging from his neck.
“Man, I can really pick them, can’t I? Maybe my dad was right,” she teased, “Oh thank you for this thing that I know is the most important thing you’ve ever invented, but I can’t remember what it is.” The mirth clear in her voice.
“It’s called a……….You shall awake now.” Linnie had started to say before her voice morphed into that of Biaobel.
********
As his eyes opened, he was greeted with more daggers of pain stabbing his brain by way of his ocular nerves.
“Well at least I’m not dead I guess”
He realized then that he was lying on his back with his arms and legs sprawled awkwardly as if he had fell down playing twister. His left eye was swollen half shut and his damage silhouette and a nice pattern of yellow spread across his body with a few orange spots thrown in for good measure. Including a rather large one which covered most of the left side of his face.
Once his right eye could focus he saw Biaobel intently peering down at him.
“Ah, you survived. I have high hopes for what we can achieve with you.” Biaobel said before he winked out of existence in a small, but very painful, magenta flash.
Man, that guy sucks so bad, I can’t wait to put a stop to his arrogance. Speaking of which, lets see if his little trick did anything.
Ziggy, please show me my character sheet.
Demographics
Name:
Andrew Lather
Race:
Human
Height:
1.85m
Weight:
99kgs
Sex:
Male
Age:
39
Hair Color:
Black
Eyes:
Central Heterochromia: Green with amber nebula-like inner ring and Limbal outer ring
Guild/Ikolis:
Cinetica
Clan:
N/A
Rank
Akeo
Title
N/A
Statistics
Strength:
4
Intelligence:
3
Reflexes:
3
Willpower:
6
Fortitude:
4
Persuasion:
3
Soul
4
Mana Pool
20
Reaction Points:
130
Mana Regen
3/minute
Speed
50
Initiative Modifier:
6
Skills
Category Name
Level (Specialization)
Category Name
Level (Specialization)
Athletics:
1
Bartering
2
Awareness:
3
Melee:
2
Technology:
4 (Implants)
Security:
3
Diplomacy:
2
Stealth:
2
Dodge:
2
Firearms:
33
First Aid:
3
Survival
3
Hand to Hand:
1
Implants
Slots
3
Control Worm Integrated Kata
Displays important data to the user through a vision overlay. Can also connect to the internet, show movies, and take phone calls. Continual monitoring health.
After Control worm integration gives ability to see magic auras and unlocked magical potential of the user.
Unidentified
Shielded -Unknown
Enchantments
Slots
2
None
Powers
Name
Rarity
Effect
Mana Cost
Did I do that?
Unique
You can disable any magical effect that has a duration longer than 15 seconds, even if that duration is infinite. Willpower + Soul check against the original caster's Soul and a moderate modifier. If another magic user is present (including the original caster) they can add 1/4 of their soul rating to that of the caster's to increase the difficulty of disabling an emplaced magical effect.
2
The Eternal Sunshine of the Closed-off Mind
Unique
Makes your mind closed off to mind control. This includes magical mind-based communications.
DR rating of all mind-based powers used against the subject is increased by 10. If the subject concentrates on blocking an opponent the DR Increases to 10+ Willpower of Subject
1/rnd when concentrating on blocking.
My Will is My Own
Unique
Reduces the impact of planetary alignments on powers and abilities of the owner by up to -6DR. So for medium, strong and complete the DR penalties are negated. For exclusionary the dr penalty would be +4 DR instead of +10 dr. Null planets still negate ability to use powers.
None
Akeo Cinetica
Common
Basic implementation of Cinetic power. With this, you can move objects up to Willpower * 4 in kilograms of mass per limb used. Speed of objects moved is determined by Willpower. Speed will be up to 2ft/ willpower point per second or bind two objects with
Willpower * 50 newtons of force.
2/limb/minute
Blur
Uncommon
The user uses Cinetica to bend the light waves around them slightly. +Intelligence as a DR Penalty to anyone trying to detect them
5/minute
While Andrew had quite a few gains, like a title, new powers, and more mana all he could think about was the unidentified implant.
What in the hell did he put in me?
Ziggy, please identify the unidentified implant.
[Mr. Lather, if I could do so it would have already appeared on your read-out. It appears to be shielded and without my integration with the control worm I doubt I would even be able to detect it.]
Ziggy where is this implant?
[While it is very hard to pinpoint with my current sensors, it appears to be located 4ft into your large intestine.]
“A freaking ANAL PROBE!!!! Creepy elven bastards.”