A really quick detour makes the travel not that much longer, I just wanted to know ‘why’.
The answer was begrudgingly reasonable. The two Cultists came to them and told them they had the cure for what their people get plagued by. Near their Camp ground was a subtle miasmic well. They did not notice it much, only the higher Miasma here but could not do much for now.
I bet they had dreams of it going out of control, as those guys have the Precognition ability, but did not say anything about it. They just said the Mana Dew was needed to eradicate that place.
Symptoms were described and they were all the signs of becoming Monsters. Sudden aggressiveness, drawn to the deeper parts of miasmic clouds in the area, loss of reasoning, deformities on their bodies. So Beast People CAN become Monsters of their own? Maybe it is the specific Miasma they had.
But annoyingly the Cultists seem to have seen my curiosity in advance and told them to douse the place in Mana Dew. A few Drops would have been enough to slowly remove it, now it is a place where not even Grass grows, as the Mana intensity is way too high.
The Grass around Ground Zero is getting more lush though. They have now maybe the greenest Fields in the whole Steppe. Of the Miasma that is still here I can not see much, as it is fading quickly and is impossible for me to see how it could be benefiting my studies any more, damn it!
With this we were begged to just go. They fear us, but still hold back in attacking us. I can tell them many times I am Null, but ‘Unbeing’ was my moniker the whole time. Nothing to gain from them, they are too scared to even talk to.
…
“My Name is Beta and this is E…”
“Esther. My Name is Esther.”
Damn, I totally forgot Elane is not a name she should use. Well there goes my scatterbrain again. At least she is now on my side… hopefully.
“I am honoured to meet you Beta, Esther. I am Ericsson, direct contact to the Caste of Ember Woods. This is Quise and Chris. They are here with me to learn more about the World, so please be negligent with their lack of courtesy, they are my most precious apprentices.”
“I am glad to meet the people, who harvest such delicious Vegetables. Thank you for sheltering us for a month.”
“...likewise.”
“Chris! I am sorry, he is like that. Still a bit green behind his ears and not as gentle as my other apprentice.”
“Master! Don’t embarrass us, please!”
Small talk, an open demeanour and a grumpy side character to break it into a lovable skit. Yeah, if they are faking it, they are really, really good.
“Would you like to eat something before we go to the talks? It is rather late right now, but we have made some dishes, that have high Mana. I hope our palate is somewhat the same in taste.”
“We are delighted to have something to eat. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Yay, Food!”
“...glutton.”
“Hey!”
…
How different their real personalities are in aspect of what they show. They are good, almost perfect, but I can sense their spells working. Ericsson is using Mana in his speeches, using audio suggestive tendencies nearly impossible to notice. Normal people would think of it only as his Mana radiation, but it has purpose and I can analyse it, while it is emanating from him.
Quise is having the finest trails of Mana coming from her. Scrying or maybe observation Magic. They are extremely subtle and while they touch some wards, they are barely registering and bounce off like natural Mana.
Chris is… Yeah he is like his character. Guarded, protective and observant. He uses some cleansing spells and shields the others and himself from any magical influence. So he is the Bodyguard for the Spy and Diplomat? Great combination.
Even in their Chambers they do not show any difference and play their innocence further. Quise plays lively and noses a bit around by pretending to stretch her legs, ‘accidentally’ meeting some of the children.
While they are guarded against outsiders, they are swayed by her innocent look and sweet talk. Nothing they tell can be a demerit, but still interrogating my protected… Do not go too far little girl.
Not much is talked about, she just innocently asks about their well being and why they are so bandaged and if she can do anything to heal them of some pain they have.
She broke through their defence and the boy showed her the magic scars of Mana burn. Her gasp and tears made it even more heartbreaking for the boy.
They should already know, most people have Mana Burn inside the Crater and only magical adept people can live without. So either they really did not give her Information or she can play innocence well.
…
“The place is really big Teacher! I feel a bit sad for the Children.”
(Many areas are warded against intrusion. While there are many non combatants, I can not find many who are able to fight.)
“What do you mean, you feel sad for the Children my dear?”
(Map the place you can see for now and try subtle intrusion after mapping the area.)
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
“I… I am sorry, I promised not to talk about it, and I want to keep that promise, those Children earn at minimum that.”
(All children are non magical Beings and have Mana Burn. While the head Maid also has Mana burn, the masked maids are all magical Beings with high aptitude.)
“I can not do anything, if you are that stubborn, can I? Well we are here to make a good example of our Caste, so it is all right. Is there anything we can do to help them at least?”
(Their behaviour shows slight influence on smiling incense, while ‘Sound Suggestion’ seems to be rendered useless. Their internal Mana must be really high to not been swayed in the slightest. Better to not to use it on priority targets and be found out.)
“Master, this place is nice, but I am bored.”
(Strange probings were found by my senses. Might be not known magical Spells, but seem to not able to endanger our guard. Wards are all of some type I never encountered, might be an inheritance of some Ruins.)
“If you do not go out on errands, how can you become a good Member of our Caste? I know studies are important for you, but if you never see other places, you lose out on knowledge of other Mages by simple visit.”
(If there are Ruins around, this would complicate the matter. Check for strange wavelengths of Mana and increase the security, there might be some Magic we never encountered before.)
“I still do not get it, why I have to leave my Laboratory. The earlier the Study is finished, the faster I can help people in need.”
(I understand. Also, except high Mana and strangely subdued Miasma nothing is being added to our Food. Still better to cleanse the Mana veins regularly for maybe overlooked contaminants.)
sigh “You and your work. As I said, with more knowledge of the World, you would be faster by being slower. Just trust me on this. Now you two go sleeping. I need to write the happenings down for our superiors.”
(Good call. Be wary even if you do not see anything suspicious. This place is different than most other places we encountered. Remember to ingrain the findings in the memory shards. Everything can be useful, even if you do not see the use.)
“”Good Night, Master””
(Understood!)
…
“So they had a whole conversation under their conversation. You are really something to just put a circle together to snoop on them Elane.”
“Esther. I have thrown away the other name after I heard what Harvey said. Now I am Esther.”
“As you wish. But still, what are Memory Shards?”
“No clue! Maybe some kind of Crystal somewhere on or in the bodies? I am glad you trust me already this much to make introductions, you adorable Being beyond comprehension, you!”
Still not able to keep your emotions and flighty personality in check, huh? Well whatever, she is more honest that way. El… I mean Esther is a real genius with Runes. She might be in the top three… No I am below her, she might be one of the two most knowledgeable people of them. Just writing a circle to listen to their talks in Mana waveform. I would have needed to touch them, but she can make this with the residue emanating from it.
I created a Monster… Cute!
Well I will need to give them some terrible secrets, to find out before Snow is back with Nemo in her pocket. What should they find out, that would look useful, but might them adverse from attacking me in the future… Hum…
…
“So, Null messaged me and said he is on his way back. He is rather pissed, that Telk is again trying to invade us.”
Me as Beta told those things to the People in the Meeting Room of the Study. The four of us plus some guards and maids just lounge without any care and no wards against any kind of surveilance.
“They are so annoying. They attack again and again. What did Null say?”
Esther exasperated asked about my Message.
“He really is fed up with those guys. If they want war, he would love to show them how it is done.”
“No! War not good! Better peace. Cut them off?”
Simov with his accent and metallic Soldiers behind him threw in.
“Yeah, he knows how you think of it, and starts to reign his annoyance in, but they now tried a fifth time to undermine the Crater and what we try to do here.”
“Fifth? So much? Can you explain?”
sigh Simov does not know about how much we already fought with them. Better explain, and this will also make the little spy know how thin our skin is right now.
“First came… Well Fully first was this invasion of the Apprentice… Mimi was it? Afterwards she came with the small Caste of Green Fire back and we needed to eradicate them, as they ravaged the whole town. Then came Blue Ice and messed with our Transports. Afterwards came Edward…” “Edgar.” “...Edgar, thank you Esther, and tried to threaten us. The Archmage Willard wanted to kill everything that lives here to make it his own Domain and now such underhanded works with those spies in our Castle…”
A small fluctuation of the Magic in the area was felt.
“...Five. Plus half one. They are Obstinate. Retaliation necessary?”
“Null knows how you and many others do not want bloodshed, so he will this time not kill them but send them home with a Message. The message is ‘do not mess with us, or you will be sorry. Esther can you maybe set an example for this?”
“What is the plan?”
“Just break every ward in Kilt. This should rattle them a bit.”
“And the Message will be brought back by the little spies, they have left here. Kuhuhu. This sounds fun!”
“You are all too lenient to those humans. They tried to snoop inside my wives area just now!”
“Leafy, I know. That is why I made an emergency meeting, and you were invited, even if your existence should have been better be hidden. That is why the others are not here but just us.”
“And you just let her listen to all of this?”
“How else do they know, they are way out of their league, if not with hearing everything first hand?”
Another wave of Magic is noticeable. Yes, Quise had heard all of it, and might think of calling an emergency of the three, but too late.
“Baphomet, you can hear me right? Throw those three out and send them back to where they came from.”
Out of nowhere comes a voice, that is a duet out of a male and female.
“As you command, Lord!”
Quise wanted to stand up from her meditation, but felt the suction into a dimensional fold before she had the time to shout, as the two others were rattled too by being devoured by nothing and vanishing on the spot. All wards they had on their bodies broke by the instant Baphomet dragged them into Nowhere.
“Ah, that is better. Now to the real talk. Esther, you can try your new trick on those Wards. Also make sure to use both ways to show what you are. They shall know, they are messing with something, that is too powerful.”
“I am allowed to?! Great! I wanted to stretch my powers a long time for now! Thank you Null!”
“Baphomet, Please lead her to the target town, that would be the easiest.”
A fold of Space opens and the Face of Baphomet is visible. They were still somewhat a Beast Person, but starting to mutate into a Monster now. If they were still a simple Sentient with that Power, how strong will they be if they monsterfy?
“As you command, Lord Null.”
“Leafy, you have work too. Please go to…”