Yesterday has been lost in a strange languid manner. So sitting together for breakfast triggers a kind of deja-vu.
Z: We convinced those psychiatrists that we are just highly unfortunate tourists seeking to forget the monster apocalypse, as you put it so awkwardly. That was a tough piece of work.
P: You didn’t complain yesterday.
Z: I was not going to let them force my hand.
P: How so?
Z: The messages said that leaving the transformation zone without concluding a contract would imply a rejection of their offer and the phones would destroy themselves.
M: I wonder who they are.
P: Have you asked them?
L: I have.
Z: And?
L: „We value our anonymity.“
M: We’d sign away our freedom for a long time. Why did you do it?
P: Radiation sickness from the battle at the nuclear power plant. I needed better medication than the GDN had available.
Z: Are you sure the GDN does not have that medication?
P: Yes. You cannot fake the horror in that women’s eyes. And the other fighters sought and found death in battle. I saw it.
L: Those superheroes we saw on TV?
Z: They could have made good PR by releasing these medications after the battle.
P: They would risk everybody demanding they release the secrets behind it.
Z: They might have wanted to do so.
L: Unless they are planning for a war with many people suffering from radiation sickness.
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That caused a short pause.
M: Could the GDN reproduce it at all? How good is their technology?
P: I don’t know. Their doctors claimed to me that they can heal anything from a stroke to a cancer. I have seen deep combat wounds healing from potions.
Maria’s face has frozen. I get a spike of fury from her through my aura sense. I have not considered how her mother died. This could get ugly.
Z: We need to share information better. But we could not expect you to spill military secrets without us asking. I think we should investigate the bakery in the village we passed through. It is inside the zone.
--
Zora has driven us in my car to the shop. To at least my surprise they have fresh bread. Has the knowledge about using spirit coins spread so far so fast? Yes, it has. The box with the slots is in the main room.
We in turn surprise the bakers by buying most of the bread available in the shop and alarm them by making the bread disappear into thin air, from their perspective. Unfortunately the explanation Lidija gives them goes way beyond my command of the language.
We are sitting in the village on benches in the shade of an alien tree.
M: We have time until sunset. Now I want to hear it all. Especially whom you got your essences from.
P: I got one from the army and two from my patrons.
I proceed to talk about magic boot camp, my work running rituals, the battle at the nuclear power plant, the trap during the disciplinary hearing any my wondering around and the deal with Lisa’s gang.
Z: That was when they used you to deal with a gang?
P: Yes
Z: But why burn valuable essences on you?
P: Thank you.
L: You are assuming that they can use essences themselves. If they sold them, they’d eventually strengthen their competitors.
We shared a few seconds of silence, while I conjure cups and bring out a coffee pot.
M: And you are sure that they have been sitting on magic all that time.
P: Yes. One of them told me that he was born in 1918 and got his essences during WW2.
M: So essence users also age more slowly.
P: As far as I known only the mightiest. Stronger than those who took your car.
L: I wish I knew what it is like.
P: I think that should work.
I hand Maria and her an iron rank spirit coin.
P: Put them into your mouth and do nothing despite the odd feeling. The effect won’t last long.
Their facial expressions answer all questions.
--
Having returned to the camp that phone informs me that I need to do a bonding ritual of their phones and a phone I should get myself out of the bag Lidija found. With Maria’s aid that is a surprisingly quick affair.