Stjepan has stabilised the ambient mana. Lidija has been laying out a circle without really knowing what she is doing. Stjepan checks the completed segments, as she works from outside to inside. They are gathering onlookers, Pavol and Zora, as the remaining adventurers are are standing watch and Karolína is caring for the unconcious, whom I watered and conjured clean bedding for before breakfast.
Finally they are ready, place quintessence and some other materials in the gaps intended for it and Lidija starts chanting. A small whirlwind develops over the circle, not affecting the salt it is made from, wile the added materials slowly sink into the ground. The lines of salt turn liquid and green. They rise from the ground and fold up into a roughly egg shaped outline.
It fills with dark smoke and a tortoise falls to the ground.
Lidija sits down, fast. Shaking she touches the familiar that is blinking in slight disorientation and declares: „I name thee Leonardo“
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The3uma strains at the chains restraining her. The Smoulder woman interrogating her has repeated a question: „Where are the skimmers used to transfer the spirit coins stored?“. She already tried making up an answer. That is not a good idea. That means they’ll bring the bucket. The bucket is bad. They had to get a healer after that.
„I don’t know“
The scalding oil is sprayed over her naked body. She wreaths in her restraints. The torture mistress leaves her for a few minutes and then applies the healing ointment.
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The3uma fights to surpress tears. She does not know. How come they do not understand that she does not know? They can find out when she makes things up. Or are they just going on because they have no better plan?
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Pavol wipes his palms on his pants.
A woman looking like a demon feeding carrots and cucumbers to a huge tortoise in psychodelic colours does not ease his feelings. A little boy whom he shares no language with preparing the ritual that would set him on the first step of a fundamental change, has the very opposite effect. But he will not wait. Yesterday’s display of destructive power has made the dangers they are in clear.
PN: What exactly do you mean when you say that it is faster because I am not human any longer?
L: In humans an essence gives two abilities, a big one and a small one. The big one grows, the small one stays. Other races have the small ones from the beginning and they keep them.
S: Done.
L: He says that he can start.
PN: Do it.
The cube he is holding in his hand is covered with a plethora of small vehicles, which always move while he is not looking. The ritual commences.
PN: I feel no difference.
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Rupert rotates a small crystal with tweezers. The projector produces white noise while the crystal is turning. As soon as it reaches its final position, language returns. But this time it is in Zora’s mother tongue. She almost drops her cup.
With a florish Rupert hits the restart button and Dean’s message is played.
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Zora, Lidija, Stjepan and with a delay Leonardo are watching the message again.
L: So we could actually be under attack at any moment.
Z: That’s what they are saying
L: They went through a lot of work just to make us do something we wanted to do anyway a little faster.
Z: We must assume that the threat is genuine. We need to break camp.
L: Not without watchers. I’ll pack. You guard. Stjepan can help me.