Book 2. Chapter 31

Book 2. Chapter 31

"The words you want are >."

Brin repeated them, only taking two tries before he got them down. Of course, nothing happened. He pulled out a shard of glass and formed it into a marble, and tried again. With a miniscule draw on his magic, the marble made a high-pitched ringing sound. It was mechanical, almost like a beep from an old computer. Marksi hissed at it, so Brin shut it off. It was kind of annoying.

Alert! [Call Sound through Glass] leveled up! 1 -> 2

"It's going to take some practice before you can make other sounds," said Hogg. "But let's go back to the beginning. What is sound?"

Brin expected that question and had an answer ready. "Sound is a vibration that travels through the air. It's a wave, like a ripple through a pond."

"Good answer," said Hogg. "And I'm glad we're starting on the same page this time. It's going to take me a minute to think through your ideas about light. The one clarification I'd make is that sound doesn't only travel through the air. It permeates everything. Water, the ground, even our bodies.”

Alert! [Call Sound through Glass] leveled up! 2 -> 3

"Next, let's try one of the phrases you learned for light, the one that counters everything. >."

Brin repeated the phrase and couldn't tell what was happening right away.

When Hogg spoke again, his voice sounded a tiny bit muffled. "Check this out." He snapped a couple of times, then moved his hand next to the marble and snapped again.

"No way. Is it that easy to silence myself?"

Hogg laughed. "Pretty cool, right? Now, I want you to slowly increase the amount of mana you push in."

Brin did so, easing the mana into his Skill more and more. The change was abrupt. One second, everything was normal; the next, absolute silence. He tried to speak and felt the breath come from his mouth, but there was no sound. He saw Hogg's mouth move, and then he saw the man smile.

Silence. It was actually uncomfortable, more uncomfortable than he was expecting. It felt like he couldn't breathe, even though he knew he could. He felt his lungs fill with air, but how did he know he was really breathing without that audio feedback? He had to dip into [Meditation] for a bit to calm his mind. The spell was blocking sound; that’s all it was. He was fine. How was that even working? The spell wasn't blocking the air, just the acoustic vibrations.

When he canceled the Skill, Hogg said. "I should warn you about the drawbacks. You're completely nullifying all sound in an area around that marble. That means any normal ambient sounds that cross that area are erased as well. For most people, that means you're undetectable to the ears, but to people or beasts with good hearing, you'll stand out even more. It's like that light nullification we did earlier. The complete lack of light stands out. Your training should focus on where you put the sound nullification field. It's easy to accidentally block your own ears without blocking your feet. As you get better, you'll be able to put them exactly where you need them and nowhere else. Eventually, you'll be able to sieve out certain sounds while keeping others. It's still pretty useful for something you can do on day one, though."

Alert! [Call Sound through Glass] leveled up! 3 -> 4

His levels were coming fast and easy. He knew it wouldn't stay like this and that it would slow down later, but it was fun while it lasted.

Hogg continued, "Most [Illusionists] focus too much on light and forget about sound. When you think of an illusion, that's what first comes to mind, right? Images or fanciful lights. And it's true that if you've fooled someone's eyes, they often won't think about why their ears aren't telling quite the same story. But if you want to do this right, you're going to need to think about sound at least as much as you think about light. Any Class with enhanced senses like [Rogue] will immediately pick it up if they can't hear your heartbeat or aren't feeling the subtle tremors your footsteps make in the ground."

"That reminds me," said Brin. "Zilly is a [Rogue]."

"Yeah," said Hogg.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Hogg grimaced. "It wasn't my place to say. She's taken a lot of pains to hide it, and I don't make it a habit of revealing people's secrets for no reason." He sighed. "Maybe I should've told you anyway."

"Feels like something I have a right to know," said Brin.

"Is it? In that case, should I go tell everyone that you're an [Illusionist]? In my mind, people have a right to their privacy. If I blabbed every time one of your friends kept a secret, I'd just be sabotaging you."

"But why does she have [Rogue]? And why didn't she tell anyone? I get why she wouldn't want the whole world to know, but she didn't even tell Myra."

"You should ask her that," said Hogg.

"You're right. I am curious about her build, though. [Empowered Strike] doesn't really sound like a [Rogue] Skill."

"That's because it's not. Or it barely is. The Prefit and I created a very strict and specific training regimen to try to bend her Class towards combat and away from thievery. Just like [Memories in Glass] shouldn't be something a level 20 [Illusionist] has, [Empowered Strike] is something a [Rogue] should have to wait for high levels to get."

"But it is a normal [Rogue] Skill?" asked Brin.

"[Rogue] is a pretty broad Class. You earn it by acting... roguishly, but there are a lot of different ways to advance it. You can lean into sneaking and thieving or take it in a more combat-focused direction. It's not impossible to side-grade into [Warrior], but the best case would be to upgrade it into a better Class that's also a direct evolution of [Warrior]. [Knight] is a long shot, but [Blade Dancer] or [Marauder] aren't too far out of reach."

"The Prefit knows then. Did she tell him?"

"Again, that's something you should ask Zilly. I-- hold on." Hogg stepped out of the circle, and then his expression went distant for a moment.

Brin followed him out, and Hogg said, "We'll have to cut our lesson short here. For now, I'd advise you to only practice your new Class in the circle."

"Wait, what's going on? What did you see?"

"It's not... hold on," said Hogg.

Brin waited while Hogg stared off into space. Hogg's happy attitude disappeared from his face. "It's Lu Pimental. He's dead."

"Pimental... that's--"

"Davi's cousin," said Hogg.

"Is it a [Witch] problem?"

"He was sliced to pieces, and at first glance, I'd say it was by someone only two feet tall. This is a Basil Bunny problem. I have to go."The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

Hogg turned and left. Brin thought about following, but there wasn't anything he could do to help, and the last thing he wanted was to see another dead body right now.

Alone in the cellar, Brin's mental turmoil from the day before crept back into his mind. Visions of Bianca's madness-filled eyes were superimposed on the image of her lifeless corpse, and he couldn't figure out which he found more dreadful.

He tried to practice his new illusion magic to distract himself but quit after a few minutes. This wasn't working. Any other day he'd be ecstatic to have a new toy to play with, but it would be a lot of work to get it somewhere usable, and he wasn't in the right frame of mind for a long slog uphill.

Needing a change of scenery, he headed out and started walking. He had the presence of mind to change his [Hide Status] to show that he was still a [Glasser], and then took off into town. He didn't have any particular destination in mind. He just walked.

He spent a while roaming the streets, giving friendly nods to the people he passed but never getting drawn into conversations. There were lots of people on the street, gathered in groups, no doubt conveying the latest gossip.

Eventually, he walked past the strange woven hut where Myra and Tawna lived, and when he did, Myra burst out of the door, carrying a bundle in her arms.

"Brin! Wait!"

Brin stopped, and Myra dashed up. Myra was someone who took a lot of care for her appearance, but today her hair was messy and there were dark circles under her eyes that spoke of working long hours. She held out the bundle in her arms, gesturing for him to take it. "Your clothes are done. They were done yesterday, but I didn't think I should bother you right after... you know."

He went home and changed into his new clothes. They really did feel nice. They were cooler than Perris’ leather, although they were a but more form fitting than what he normally wore.

After that, he made his way to the middle of town, with two convenient possible destinations. The public house was one. He was technically an adult now. He doubted that Hela would stop him if he decided to get drunk. Normally, she'd cut off kids his age, but after what he'd been through, she'd probably make an exception. The other possible destination was across the square. The temple to the gods. He decided to try the temple first. If that didn’t pan out, he’d try his luck in the public house.

He found the normally serene temple much more crowded than normal. The lectern and altar had been pulled back. He had to angle his way around the crowd to get a glimpse of what they were looking at. Curse this small body! He’d never had trouble looking over crowds in his past life.

When there was finally an opening, the sight left him breathless in shock. A dead man lay on a raised bed. His body was covered almost entirely by a white shroud. Only his face and hands were visible, but even with just that, it was clear that this corpse had been reassembled. Fingers lay resting where they should be near the hands. The scalp and ears had been hastily sewn in place.

Of course, this would be here. It was Lu, the man who’d been murdered by Basil.

“If you’re here hoping I’ll let you feel guilty for what you’ve done, then you’ve come to the wrong place,” said a voice from next to him.

Ellion the priest was there, in his fine robes and headdress. He had a surprisingly youthful face, but his expression looked old and wise. Brin hadn’t felt him approach.

“I could have handled it better. If I hadn’t looked back–”

“Yes, there are many choices that you might have made that would have led to better outcomes,” said Ellion. “But you have nothing to feel guilty for. Your actions were just.”

Brin stood in silence for a moment. He didn’t want to look at the corpse, so his eyes scanned over the paintings on the walls. The gods acted out their roles, moving from one season to the next.

“Maybe I don’t feel bad at all,” said Brin. “Maybe I’m proud of what I’ve done.”

“Maybe. But in my experience, the first thing that unites victims of senseless crimes are their misplaced feelings of guilt. If I’m wrong to say so, then I apologize, but I need to be clear that she was at fault, not you. She attacked, and you defended yourself.”

How would he feel if he knew that man on the table wasn’t even her victim? For all Brin knew, he was the first person she ever tried to kill.

“Thanks,” said Brin.

“Have you rethought whether or not you wish to worship Solia? There are recitations I could offer that may help ease your mind,” said Ellion.

To be honest, he hadn’t thought about it much at all. “Are there any benefits? Special Classes or Skills?”

“We worship the gods because they are worthy of worship and because the pursuit of righteousness purifies our souls. Any crude advantages of–”

“Sorry!” Brin rushed in. “I think now is a bad time for me. I’d rather approach Solia when I can give her my full attention.”

Ellion took a calming breath. “Perhaps that is wise.”

Brin couldn’t help but think there were holy Classes anyways. Ellion had acted offended by the question, but he’d also calmed down very quickly. Actually, why did people call him a priest but not a [Priest]? He used [Inspect] on Ellion.

DO NOT

The words came with a paralyzing bolt of pain through his brain. The worst migraine of his life; only it disappeared just as quickly.

He gasped in shock while at the same time wondering if he’d imagined it.

“Oh, I know that look. You tried to [Inspect] me.”

Brin nodded.

“Do not, correct? But actually, do. The gods will not punish you outside that moment of pain, and it’s the best way to separate the truly devout from the charlatans. Not that anyone would dare in my town.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not.”

Ellion nodded serenely.

“What’s the plan with him?” Brin asked, indicating Lu.

“The body will be burned at dusk. His ashes will be given to his family or entombed below in the catacomb.”

That made sense. They didn’t bury their dead here. Otherwise, they risked rising again as corpses.

“Can I ask you one last thing? Do you know who any of the [Witches] are?” asked Brin. He kept his voice low to keep from being overheard. It was probably a foolish thing to ask, but he was getting sick of this game.

Ellion crooked an eyebrow. “Do I know who any of the [Witches] are? What a troubling question. But perhaps I can help you. Come with me.”

He turned to the side door that led to a staircase that circled the temple going down. Brin had been this way before; it led to Ellion’s private apartment. They reached that door, and Ellion peeked in just long enough to grab a candle. He lit it with the snap of his fingers and then kept walking. The stairs kept going, circling down further and further into the darkness.

They reached the bottom to find a heavy oak door. Ellion put a napkin to his mouth and nose and opened it.

“Should I have one of those?” asked Brin.

“You could have a drink with the bartender and be fine. But if the bartender has a drink with every customer, he’ll die. I can't breathe bone dust with everyone that comes down here, but you should he fine."

Brin covered his mouth with his jacket, just in case. They entered, and Brin could smell the old dust, even through the cloth of his jacket. The room was a big circular hall. All the walls were covered with short foot-wide squares, little alcoves, each with a single black pot. There were thousands of them.

“Ashes,” said Ellion.

This was Hammon’s Bog’s cemetery. Or rather, Ellion had called it a catacomb.

Ellion carried his candle to an area where there were many empty alcoves. He stopped in front of one; this was probably one of the most recent deaths.

It read “Dulce Barnace”.

“Barnace,” said Brin. “That’s Neptune’s last name.”

“This was his mother,” said Ellion. “She died the same night as him. Of age, the council said. If the council says it, then I bow to their wisdom, but I will say this: In my experience, old age does not usually separate a person’s head from their body.”

“She was killed,” said Brin. “And the council covered it up?”

“Tried and executed in secret, if I had my guess. She had no friends but her closest acquaintances have been threatened into silence,” said Ellion.

He should have thought of asking about Neptune’s relatives. But if this Dulce Barnace was a [Witch] and a spy for Arcaena, wouldn’t Hogg tell him. No, he realized. This was exactly the type of game that Hogg would play. He would think it terribly clever to let Brin run around chasing a [Witch] who was already dead.

“This answers a lot of questions,” said Brin. “And raises a lot more.”

He wondered if he even should have come here. This wasn't the time for soul-searching. He should be out there, investigating every lead. And right now, that meant he needed to talk to Yon.