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CYRUS
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"Yeah," Cy said. "You must not have noticed, but I mastered the Inked Arts months ago."
That look… You did notice, didn't you?
> [Pupils of the Inked Arts — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Successfully use your first Inked Art.]
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> [Pupils of the Inked Arts — QUEST COMPLETED]
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> [Pupils of the Inked Arts — REWARD GRANTED: Practical knowledge of the Inked Arts.]
Cy felt a rush of energy like nothing he’d ever experienced before. All the poison was removed; his scrapes were gone, his bruises were gone, everything healed so fast that it actually gave him a migraine, but even that was gone in a moment. Judging by their gasps, Jules and Kat must have felt the same thing.
The marbled white landscape, or hellscape, as Cy saw it, shifted back into the art supply store, and they were all near each other again as the room shrank back into itself.
"Cy," Envy said. "Glad to see you're still alive."
"Same." Jules laid down in a bag chair and stared at the ceiling.
"Hey don't worry, Kat," Cy said. "I won't ever bring up how you cried when you thought I'd died." Too tired to reply, huh?
“Forgive me, my dear students, for my sudden aggression. Another player has entered the game.” The Painter pointed to Jules’ new beaded necklace. “So my strategy had to change, just as yours did in this match, Cyrus.”
“You’re a bastard,” Jules said.
“You’ve always been a bastard,” Envy continued. “Even your mother was a bastard.”
The Painter's eyes narrowed sharply. “Be gentle with my mother, Salvos bless her soul.”
“Never pinned you for the religious type.” Cy rolled to his stomach and staggered to his feet.
“Only when it comes to family and their souls. Moving on, there was another purpose for today’s demonstration, which ties into your next assignments.”
“You expect us to do homework after that?” Jules asked.
“I wanted to exhibit the power which you all lack, more important than your Regeneration. Any guesses?" Not even Cy had an answer. "Vessels, children."
“You can’t be serious.” Envy also stared at the ceiling. “Jules, is this guy serious?”
“Must be.”
“This,” The Painter showcased his palette, “is my original Vessel, and though I carry a few more, I consider it an extension of myself. You have more or less reached our potential here for Skills. Once you reach Master Rank, you won’t really improve without one of these.”
“And what about Genius Rank?” Cy asked.
“I am disappointed, Cyrus, that you’ve not realized it’s impossible to ascend without one.”
Cy was shocked, enraged even. What am I missing here? We’ve never spoken about this before.
“Your training in the Inked Arts is now complete, thanks to dear Cyrus here, the weakest among you. He will instruct the two of you on how to master it. Use it how you will, for whatever you will, whenever you will. My only request is that you be highly selective about whom you choose to pass on this knowledge.”
“How many have you trained before us three?” Cy could tell Jules and Envy weren’t really listening anymore.
“Today, I have doubled my disciples.” So there are three more out there…
“Isolda. Is she one?” Another wicked grin.
“You’ll have to ask her yourself, next time you see her. I understand you two owe her something. You’d do well to pay her back.”
> [New Quest Available: Corporeal Punishment]
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> [New Reward Available for Corporeal Punishment: Information on Isolda and The Painter's relationship.]
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> [Corporeal Punishment — Quest Objective ADDED: Return the Ryoku Crystals you stole from Isolda.]
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> [Corporeal Punishment — Quest Objective ADDED: Question Isolda.]
“I already paid her back, in Coralhaven,” Jules said. I thought you tapped out a while ago, Jules.
“But that is enough. I must take my leave, as do you five. You came here, children, and after all our progress and struggles…" Cy straightened up a little. "You are still leaving children. But I find faith that you will be on the cusp of adulthood next time we meet, which brings me back to my point."
Cy sank into his chair.
“You have two assignments. Think of them as field projects before I take you back under my wing to further progress under my esteemed tutelage.” Arrogant prick. “First, ruminate over the three questions I asked you two years ago. What are Scripts, what are the main branches of Scripts, and how do you exploit the System?
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Second, you must each possess a Vessel—which you have each received from a Shrine you've captured, just so there’s no cheating. Once this second requirement is complete, I will find you, and we will resume our training. Now, I'll leave you with one more piece of advice for getting out of sticky situations: Adapt, learn, and mimic.”
“Wow,” Envy said. “Did anybody write all that down?”
> [Quest Reminder: The Painter's Lessons is still available.]
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> [New Quest Available: Shrine Hunting]
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> [New Reward Available for Shrine Hunting: A Vessel for each Party member.]
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> [New Reward Available for Shrine Hunting: Admittance to The Painter's next batch of lessons.]
“And what if we refuse to join you again?” Jules asked.
“There’s no if for me. Fuuuck that,” Envy said.
“There’s also no if for me, either, but the opposite way,” Cy said.
“A lot can change between now and then. And I’m known to have impeccable…timing.” The Painter looked at Cy again with that last word. “Siren’s Cove, Lighthouse Point, Marina Veridia, and of course you all know about Coralhaven. Four Shrines remain in Coralith—an extra one in case you fuck up.”
> [Shrine Hunting — 4 Quest Objectives ADDED: Capture the Shrine in Siren's Cove. | Capture the Shrine in Lighthouse Point. | Capture the Shrine in Marina Veridia. | Capture the Shrine in Coralhaven.]
Jules and Kat seem less excited to end training than I expected.
“So where does that leave us?” Cy asked The Painter.
“Where do you want it to leave us? Looking to be free of your promise?”
“Not even remotely close. But it’s been two years already, and we still have eight left. Not long to fill in the remaining gap.”
“And yet you are 2nd Rank, closing in on 3rd. If you'd Unlock your System, that is."
“Yes, but I’m no fool. I’ve accomplished that because of you. Because I've been here. And the last stretch will take the longest, by far.”
“You must do some of your training with me. Some,” he looked at the two Sins, “by yourself. Phases of life, eh?”
“What happens to you if you don’t succeed?”
“Excuse me? If I don’t succeed?”
Cy felt sheepish and embarrassed. “If I don’t succeed…”
The Painter threw his arms in the air and shrugged. “I don’t know. I must say I’m curious to find out, but,” he looked at Whiskers this time, “curiosity did kill the cat.”
Couldn’t give a more unsatisfying answer, could you?
“So these Shrines. What are the rules?” Another dark grin, this one greedy.
“That info will cost you, ya know.”
“It turns out that my life is priceless to me. If we’re rushing headfirst into four of these behemoths… What’s your price?”
“Half of your trading company.”
Envy and Jules had nearly fused into their couches, but even they lifted and turned their heads to see Cy’s response, as if to say, Oh shit. Cy balked at first, but then he felt a second rush of energy and excitement, though this time it was of pride and accomplishment. What game are we playing now?
“One-twentieth.” Jules and Envy glanced at each other, then back to The Painter.
“A third.” For the remainder of negotiations, the two Sins bounced their heads left, right, then left again, as if watching a tennis match. Envy's characteristic scowl was replaced by shock and awe.
“One-fiftieth.”
“A fourth.”
“One percent.”
“Ha! Who taught you to negotiate? One-seventh, final offer, kid.”
“What would you even need it for?” Cy asked.
“You would expect me to weaken my own negotiating position?”
“I expect you to tell me how you’d benefit the company I’ve put my actual blood, sweat, and tears into.”
“OK, gross,” Envy said. Jules placed a finger to her lips and hushed her.
For the second time today, The Painter lost his composure, though this time just by the slightest bit. “Are you trying to insult me, your teacher?”
“I’m trying to retain control. You may not be the only investor I seek. What if we arranged a loan instead of equity?”
“Ha! You’re already in my debt.” Jules ribbed Envy on that one. “If not right this moment, soon.”
“If you’re so confident that I’ll be an Alter, then why would I need two at the same company?”
“Cyrus, Cyrus. You continue to impress me, despite your circumstances and my better judgment.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment, or a well-delivered insult…”
The Painter sighed and ran a hand through his long hair. “I’d like to retract my last statement.”
Jules and Envy slowly leaned into each other on the couch, their heads touching as sleep and weariness caught up to them. The intrigue of business must have worn off for them.
“I’ll tell you what, if you tell me the rules for the Coralhaven Shrine…” Cy paused to gauge The Painter’s interest in where he was going. Hooked him. “If you tell me that, then I’ll even consider your offer at a seventh.”
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PATIENCE, AKA PAT OF THE DUNES
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In the early morning light, Patience shoved his way to the front of the pack—making sure to step on some of the parents' toes—and stepped off the crowded ferry onto the large gangway. It’d nearly killed him to have to spend the night in Coralhaven after missing yesterday’s last ferry.
Disgusting inn. More like public housing. And now I'm surrounded by such insufferable rubes. Dense in both population and mind.
Going incognito is such a miserable experience. I’d much prefer to travel on The Iron Maiden’s dime, that old bag. It's been a month already since she assigned me this mission, Charlotte, but not nearly long enough since I've had to look at her last.
Lost in thought, Patience bumped into an old man on the bridge. Ignorant imbecile. It drives me nuts when you people don’t wait your turn.
“You know,” Patience said, “you’re supposed to let everyone off before you try to board. Makes life easier for everyone.”
“Oh, sorry laddie, I didn’t see ye there.” The old man didn’t even bother to look up. He just clung desperately to the bridge’s railing.
The man was too close to him, so Patience took a step back into the other disembarking passengers. Curious enough, he studied the man. You dress like someone about to sell their family heirloom to a pawnshop. And clinging to that rail so desperately.
“Next time, watch where you’re going.” Patience began to move away, but was startled again when the man looked up, and Patience saw his blindfold for the first time. Oh. I see.
“Afraid I can’t.” The man's ring scraped along the metal railing.
“Yes, Sir. Please, forgive my ignorance, and allow me to help you.” Patience took the man by one arm and guided him one step away from the barrier.
“Why thank ye, lad. Weather sure is nice, not a cloud in the sky, hm?” His blindfold turned to the sky.
As if you could tell. Passengers walked by them and smiled at Patience for having the manners to help an old blind man board the ship.
You smell like a fish market. One without ice. He nearly gagged from the putrid and gagging musk of salt. Hurry up, you ancient tortoise. Use that damn cane of yours and keep your ragged tunic off my robes. When no one was looking, he stuck a foot out and tripped the old man, who spun fully around and caught himself on the railing.
“My, my, Sonny.” The man smiled. “Another child your age tried to knock me down just last night. The youth these days, I swear…”
Youth? My age? A blind man seeing clouds? I haven’t even stepped foot on it yet, and I already hate this city. Patience abandoned the man to walk away, but fuming, he had to get in the last word. “The weather’s always clear when I’m around.”
The old man howled with laughter as he walked toward the ferry. His ring slid along the metal railing again. Patience grabbed his own ears and tried to tug them off, but composed himself. "Get a haircut, ye damn flower child!"
Patience ran a hand through his long black hair, over his hidden Seal. Charlotte's legs skittered up the inside of his robes, but Patience shoved her back down. The old man never looked back.
He's harmless, Charlotte. Probably some charlatan faking his blindness. Though I'd like to see which shade his blood is, we have a meeting to attend.
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