LXXI.

LXXI.

Iskandarr showed up to the hill near the treeline only a few minutes after Jakob had arrived, but still his disappointment at losing was evident on his face. On Jakobs shoulder sat bird of sculpted bone with gossamer-thin hairs on the shafts of its feathers. It still needed some work to be able to fly, as it was currently only capable of gliding, but the design was otherwise flawless.

Like Mayhew, it carried a Birthed Sentience mirrored to Wothrams, but it had already begun exhibiting unique behaviours similar to how Invincibles equine frame had altered its mannerisms. It was strange that Wothram possessed such a capacity for mannerisms and uniqueness, but never ever exhibited any himself. A few times Jakob had wondered how the Golem would act if told it Do as you wish, but he was too useful a servant for Jakob to wish to experiment on.

About ten minutes after Iskandarr, Ciana arrived to the hill as well.

She looked between them confused, Am I late? The sun hasnt risen yet, but youre both here.

If his face would have allowed it, Jakob would have smiled, but alas. He settled for a chuckle, which, given the mask on his face, became an ominous sound.

Why is Mother here? Iskandarr asked Jakob.

Because she might also benefit from these lessons, Jakob replied.

I thought I was here to help teach him, the Elphin commented.

You havent ever attempted to master other forms of magic than your gifted one, he replied knowingly. You may find there are other elements that favour you than the Keening Ones Sound.

Jakob guided Iskandarr and Ciana through a series of breathing and focus techniques meant to stimulate the centres in their body which were capable of manipulating the elements, and already after just a few cycles, a crackle erupted around the boys right hand, before it violently exploded up and away into the cloud-filled sky as a bolt of energy that was stained with an unholy-and-filthy green glow.

As the energy hit the clouds it dispersed into them and there sounded a chorus of sympathetic rumbling, just like when Stelji had used her lightning magic in the past, though less potent.

Iskandarr fell to his knees, grasping his hands to his head as he experienced the backlash of the element he had invoked wordlessly.

Lightning magic, Ciana mumbled awe-struck, before coming to his aid.

Although Jakob had been born without the possibility of mastering magic, as it was a physiological and metaphysical trait of the people of this world, he was very familiar with how to discover and reign-in an elemental power if ones body possessed the talent. It was of course thanks to Grandfather that he had this knowledge, as it was the one field where he had never shown any promise, hence his focus on rituals, rites, and the Chthonic Hymns that required no innate magical talent to perform, only knowledge and practice.

The incantations of magical spells were usually formed of two facets: to ensure minimal backlash to the caster; and to shape the magic according to the casters will. More facets could be added to incantations to achieve more complex magic, but they were generally favoured with only two facets, as this made them quick to cast.

Part of minimising the backlash was to limit how much of ones soul energy was exerted on the spell, as the backlash was proportional to the output. Individuals who could release their magic without the need for this protection were either stubborn fools who eschewed incantations and would succumb to their folly or those who possessed the magical control innately, like demons and their offspring.

Granted, there were also outliers, like the Rose-Gold Adventurer, who had wielded the Keening Ones power through some strange grafted-on hand, and constructs like Stelji.

Of course, one fundamental part of magic affected all its wielders, and that was the fact that the magic in ones soul was not limitless. Even for a Wrought Servant like Stelji. Even for an Elphin like Ciana. For when it came to magic, its wielders all used their own souls like batteries. Some had a higher capacity than others, but each and every one of them were ultimately reducing their lifespans by using magic.

You have uncovered the magic of your birthmother, Jakob replied after putting his obsidian hand on Cianas forehead. Archduchess Skll is seemingly capable of both invoking the Keening Ones power and a unique form of wind magic that bears a freezing cold.

The Elphin was speechless, so Jakob continued his muttering, while Iskandarr seemed busy trying to come up with another incantation to return the attention to him.

It is bizarre that you did not manifest this power back when we realigned your soul, Jakob commented. But it is clearly an innate power you were owed, due to your lineage, and thus you are less perceptible to its backlash, similar to how the Keenings gift has not stolen away your hearing.

What do you mean? she asked, confused.

Those Blessed by the Keening One often lose their hearing as a recompense for the tremendous power they are given. Grandfather had a theory that all those born with congenital deafness are people born to inherit the Keening Ones power, though, of course, most never live long enough for it to happen.

Do you think the Rose-Gold Adventurer was deaf? Ciana wondered.

Without a head to examine, I cannot say, but it is likely. After all, he was simply a mortal man with a powerful gift, nothing more.

But demons are different? Elphin too?

Demons seem to only attain the powers of the Great Ones if their Vice is birthed from them directly, and as such they are not gifted their powers, but inherit it through their ties to the Vice, meaning that the stronger they are, the more likely they are to inherit their unique power.

As for Elphin, you are half human, and thus it is not unlikely you could be gifted a power, though I personally have never heard of it.

Nor I, Ciana replied. All Elphin that I have met have been magicless and powerless, aside from our superhuman reflexes and speed.

Before Jakob could ask if she still knew of other Elphin, Iskandarrs voice broke through the conversation, as he intoned a newly-crafted incantation:

Spark of creation, alight this form on wings of pure energy, scald the eyes of all who watch, and make of me a Sovereign true!

A boom of thunder emerged from the boy, trembling the earth beneath their feet, and then it was as if massive wings of that tainted green lightning flapped from his back, before he vanished as his body became one with the lightning and shot him forward a hundred metres, leaving a trail of glowing muddy-green motes of crackling energy that fell slowly towards the grass before dying out. From where he had stood to where he ended up was a furrow of upturned earth and sheared-in-half straws of grass. Steam seemed to be rising from the ground itself, as though it had been rapidly heated.

Then came the echoing boom and the world lit up in a flash of lightning, as though the result of Iskandarrs incantation was only just now visible to their eyes.

The boy came walking back with a smug look on his face, before demanding:

Mother, it is time for a rematch.

Ciana grinned at his vainglorious expression.

Youll still lose, Jakob remarked knowingly, but it did not seem to matter to the Sovereign youth.