Chapter 182: Chapter 182

Kat put her tail over her mouth and took a deep breath "Callisto… what just happened" asked Kat

"Well, Kat, assuming that you are referencing the sleeping status of our mutual companions I suspect it might be a number of answers, the whole thing is truly fascinating, but I suppose the main one is this. Has it been some time since they were exposed?" asked Callisto

"Yeah? Though why does that matter? It isn't like people build up a tolerance or whatever, even the first time I didn't knock Lily out" said Kat

"Yes, that is indeed what I suspect as well, but please remember that you have grown in strength considerably even just since I was first made aware of your existence. I suspect your aura is a more potent force than it ever has been" said Callisto

Kat's tail started to snake around her hands as she held them together "I mean, sure I guess, but then why are you fine? Not to be rude of course" said Kat

"I take no offence at your question, it is a valid thing to be asking of the only one remaining standing. Though first I ask you this Kat, was this your full force of your aura?" asked Callisto

Kat shook her head

"In that case I can think of quite a few different and varied reasons for myself to have remained standing despite the intensity of the aura. Though at the very least we can rule out the range variable for if you notice I am slightly closer to you than Lily.

"So, first and foremost, you may recall that I have mentioned, I only rarely sleep. As I managed to get some just this night past, I am at perhaps the most rested I could ever truly be. Your aura has much less to work with when it comes to me, as I simply do not have the same need for sleep others do" explained Callisto

Kat nodded, *I guess I do recall that now, but I'm still not sure it's really that important… I wonder what else she has.*

"Continuing on from that point, I know little about Lily's recent sleeping habits, but at the very least I know Sylvie did not manage to sleep as early as I would have liked for a young girl her age. She is good at hiding it, but she was excited for today and had trouble sleeping.

"I cannot automatically assume that Lily is in a similar position, but simply based on how tired she looked when I acquired her this morning, I find it likely that she suffered from a similar issue or perhaps did not sleep on time for other reasons" said Callisto

Kat bit her lip. *I know Lily has never been the best with actually keeping up with her sleeping needs so that doesn't really surprise me. Sylvie does a bit perhaps, but I suppose she is still quite young.* 

"Ok, I can accept that… maybe, but you said there were varied reasons, right? Those were both the same" said Kat

"Of course, I was simply going over the easier answers to conceptualise and confirm. From here it gets a little more complicated, and requires some faith in what I am doing as I speak, though first one more reason perhaps

"Is that I simply have a stronger mental fortitude. Not to deride them, but I simply have a much broader depth of experience to call upon to assist me in withstanding the desire to sleep"

Before Kat could say anything Callisto continued "Now, onto the more esoteric possibilities. These ideas will build off each other, but the first, is perhaps the additional trust that they have for you when compared to me. They may be so much more willing to accept your influence over them

"I trust you a great deal because of Vivian's influence, and I do not mean to say that I lack faith in you or your abilities, but it simply doesn't compare to the familial bond you share with Sylvie, or the deep gratitude that Lily feels towards you" said Callisto

Kat frowned and scratched her head with her tail "I can understand the familial bond thing, especially after how Vivian found out about everything, but I'm not sure I buy the deep gratitude from Lily. She's a great friend, and I'd do anything for her, but I don't think gratitude is the correct word to describe it really" said Kat

Callisto shrugged "I did not misspeak, and I am confident in my words, however I do realise we lack the ability to rigorously test such things and as such will not engage with you in any sort of extended debate. I am merely proffering reasons for these current circumstances.

"Now to continue on, the final thing, which I have noticed over the course of the conversation is that I am able to influence the effect the calming aura you project has on me" said Callisto

Kat jumped in "Wait what? How exactly can you effect it, if it's my aura?"

Callisto patiently continued to explain "Your aura appears to invoke a sensation of calm. How it achieves that though seems to differ from person to person, and even moment to moment. When we started, I found myself slightly warm, and a little like I was swaddled in blankets

"As we talked though, I let my thoughts centre upon Vivian, and I could feel the calming influence changing, to the feeling of Vivian hugging me and trying to cheer me up. A very specific moment in fact from-" Callisto stopped.

"It seems your aura is more powerful than I thought" Kat raised a questioning eyebrow but Callisto didn't stop "Still, if I continue with this logic, and focus on the idea of completing a project, getting work done, once again the calming sensation changes to one of relaxation, as if I have completed all my work for the day"

"Ok…" said Kat drawing the word out "What does that mean exactly?"

"It means, or at least, I highly suspect it means, that your aura can very specifically calm individuals. It does not simply force then to be calm; it makes them consider more calming moments, and feel that same mindset

"It also appears to make it much more likely for those affected to be willing to speak with you. I was very close to giving away information, that while not secret, not truly, was not something I had wished to speak on in my initial statement

"It was relatively easy for me to notice because of my rather considered speech. Thus it was more than obvious once I began to drift of script, but if I was a more sane, more normal individual, or perhaps a closer friend, I doubt I could notice that it was doing anything more than calming me"

Kat bit her lip and let her tail snake around her arm "I'm not really sure how much I like to hear that my calming aura works better on people who like me, or that I can use it to get information out of people"

Callisto shrugged "Based on literature I have read; I suspect that the alternative would be a much deadlier aura. I don't know exactly how rare what you have is, but at the very least I would consider it the kinder option of those I would assume to exist"

Kat hmmmed. "Yeah, the system mentioned that it was actually really rare, and I think most demons get like… an aura of killing intent? I think"

Callisto nodded "I suspect it is not in fact limited to demons, though your species likely acquire it early than most. Truly I think the fact you did not receive an aggressive aura of any kind speaks more about your character than most would believe"

"But it's not like I dislike fighting though. I've had plenty of fun in fights before, and scaring Kress in my most recent trip was hilarious" said Kat

Callisto shrugged "I know not what it truly means, other than that you said it was rare, and that I believe it speaks of your character"

*So what? Your aura is one that spits calculations at people until they yield under the onslaught of math?* "So what exactly should we do now then? We have more stuff to test I presume, but with Lily and Sylvie asleep, perhaps we should hold off?" asked Kat

Callisto tilted her head "I see no reason to delay really. It is clear, that both Sylvie and Lily required the additional time sleeping and I do not begrudge them that. At the same time any testing we do is unlikely to wake them, and unlikely to be particularly enjoyable to watch

"I do suppose Sylvie might prefer it simply to be spending time with you, and perhaps Lily as well, but really you can spend better time with them by simply spending it together once the testing is complete"

I suppose the crazy maid has a point.