Book 5: Chapter 33: It was here all along

Book 5: Chapter 33: It was here all along

The sun moved across the sky, coming to rest low on the horizon, causing rays of red to tint the heavens. Around them, the glass looked black in the dim light, an endless sea of oblivion as the cutter raced across its featureless surface. A breeze swept the deck, wafting away the tendrils of smoke from its burned surface. The single large sail bulged in the breeze, carrying the ship toward the endless horizon with great speed.

Milling about the deck was an improvised crew of stunned players who were grateful to be getting away. Heather was leaning over Umtha as the goblin woman carefully placed the egg into its container.

That didn't hurt the egg, did it? Heather asked as the container closed.

No, Umtha replied with twitching ears. But must deliver soon.

So we used up some of its time, Heather pressed with a nod.

Umtha looked up and gave a curt nod in answer to the question. Egg hold power can be used but meant for other purposes. Give crystal; egg need it now.

Heather remembered the small crystal shard that came with the egg and fished it out of her pouch. She placed it in Umtha's hand and watched as the crystal was tied to the case's lid.

So the egg and the crystal are a pair? Heather asked as she watched Umtha work.

Crystal control egg power. Will cause it to grow slowly. Egg ready when get to mother.

Heather raised a brow as she asked what the egg needed to be ready for, but Umtha waved her away. The goblin woman was keeping her secrets as always, but right now, Heather didn't care. She was more interested in the blue ring on her finger, and the panel was opened. She turned away and walked to where Frank and Quinny stood near the front of the craft, eager to get their opinions. Frank noticed her approach and asked why she was still wearing the crown. She explained there was no reason to take it off and wanted to explore the class options while it was on. She then ran a finger around the ring and opened a translucent display that hovered in the air.

A lilithu devil, Quinny read as they all gathered around the display.

Why is it so much higher than the other classes? Heather asked as she studied the options.

Frank squinted at the stats as he absentmindedly scratched at the helm on his head. Maybe it kept the stats from the previous life? he offered.

Heather looked at him with an incredulous glare. How could it have kept the stats or anything about the previous life? She voiced her concern, but Frank suggested it might be related to essence and her strange connection to Hathlisora. It was a reasonable answer and one that made Heather wonder what else might be left from these past lives?

With a tap, she opened the sub menu for her racial abilities to see her fire immunity and resistance to disease, poison, and something called black sight. Tapping on that option, she was surprised to find out her race could see in the dark, even seeing through magical darkness. She could also see through intense heat and smoke, not suffering any loss to heat shimmer.

Thats useful, I guess, she replied and looked lower to see several gray bars. On the bars in bold letters were the words, ability unavailable.

What does that mean? Quinny asked with a pointed finger.

I have no idea, Heather remarked as she considered the strange bars. Why would I have racial abilities I cant use?

Maybe they unlock with levels, Frank suggested with a shrug.

Heather considered the idea and had to agree that they must be unlocked with higher levels. She was curious what powers remained hidden under those gray bars and what heights her newfound class could achieve. It still concerned her that this new race was so much higher in level, somehow preserving something of its previous use. More importantly, how had a panel object survived? Why hadnt it despawned with its owner? She considered the nature of the ring and the strange material that matched the staff she found in the treasure room. That staff was made by Hathlisora and left for Heather. Could the ring have been made in the same way? The voice in the crown suggested these items, and more had been left intentionally to complete her task. More importantly, the greenstone bracelet seemed to have the magical ability to lead her to them. It had to mean the ring was a crafted item, some exploit of the system made to give her an advantage. It made sense and left her wondering which path was more important. Did the egg take precedence? Or should she be looking for this mysterious hand that the wizard put her on to?

You should take that off, Frank said, drawing her from the troubling thoughts. People recognize this form as Hathlisora.

Heather blinked and looked to his helmeted face to see yellow eyes looking back in concern. She understood why he would want her to take the crown off, but she wanted to explore more of the class's power. It was also refreshing to be so resistant to the heat, making the warm deck of the cutter comfortable.

Nobody is going to see me out here, she replied and looked away. Besides, I want to explore all my options. If this was left for me, then I am going to figure out how I am meant to use it.

And you havent heard a peep out of the woman inside? Quinny asked as she looked on.

Nothing, Heather replied. Maybe she was telling the truth about the ring. She cant assert control while I am wearing it.

I dont trust the woman in the crown, Frank said flatly. I know Blackbast used a spell to detect the truth, but that could have been created. If that woman is significantly higher level or a deception class, even magical means could have been avoided. For all we know, that ring is part of her plan.

Heather was suddenly alarmed to realize the woman could have been lying. She had put trust in Blackbast's spell to reveal the truth; now, there was doubt. She held up her hand to splay her fingers wide and study the strange ring. Was there some way to know for sure that using it and the crown was safe? Nothing came to mind, and she certainly knew too little about the mechanics of the world to begin making guesses. She would have to trust it was safe and hope she could discover a way to prove it.

What are you three doing? came the seductive tones of the cat woman. Heather turned to see her standing on the charred deck just behind them; her hypnotic green eyes focused on her with terrible intensity.

We were talking about the crown and if I should take it off, Heather replied, determined not to flinch under that gaze.

I see, Blackbast purred as she folded her arms. Heather noticed the twitch of her tail that indicated irritation. She then realized that Blackbast had been steering the ship and quickly looked to the right to see Legeis now at the wheel that steered the craft.

I have explained to him how to steer and what course to hold us on, Blackbast said as she noticed Heathers gaze. She waited just a moment before pressing a question and asking what Heather wanted to do about the crown.

Heather explained that she felt it was wise to keep it on and learn how to use her newfound powers. However, there were some concerns, not the least of which was that the woman in the crown might have lied somehow. Heather was shocked to hear Blackbast admit that her spell could have been deceived. However, Blackbast felt the woman was genuine. There was a desperate need for Heather to follow the trail and complete the mysterious task.

Frank voiced his concern that Heathers current appearance was recognized by her enemies as Hathlisora. She couldnt keep the crown on once they returned to populated areas or risk being recognized.

Will they recognize me? Surely other people are playing lilithu devils, Heather argued.

Quinny agreed there were but suggested that Heather must have a very distinct look for one of them. Frank agreed that Heather's appearance must be distinctive enough that it is easily recognized. It was clear that she wasn't going to be able to keep the crown on for long, but then Blackbast spoke up.

I may have a solution for this problem, Blackbast said with a gentle purr. She reached into her pouch and drew out one of the black slave collars, and held it out for them to see. If you wear this, I will have some say in your appearance. I could help disguise you from your enemies.

You can? Heather asked in a halting voice as her eyes fixated on the collar.

As your owner, I can make cosmetic changes to your appearance to make you more suitable for your task.

Heather smirked at the idea of what Blackbast meant by task. Her slave girls were expected to serve in her temple and be available to the guests. Obviously, Blackbast didn't mean that here, so she considered the option and reached for the collar.

So you can disguise me? she asked.

Blackbast nodded and explained how it worked. Blackbast could make minor cosmetic changes that would persist so long as Heather wore the collar. She could take it off any time she wanted, but the alterations would vanish instantly.

Heather wasn't comfortable with the idea of wearing the collar, but Blackbast was only offering help. With a shrug, she fixed the collar around her neck and clicked it in place. A moment later, Blackbast waved a hand in the air and spoke a word of recall. Heather smiled to notice the spell she frequently used herself and was surprised to see what looked like a metal mirror appear. It was the size of a large book with raised metallic edges around a smooth screen. In many ways, it resembled her original panel but lacked the lights down the side.

Now, lets see what we can do to hide you, Blackbast said as she tapped at the glass.

Heather felt strange to be standing there while another person decided on how she would look. She cried out a moment later when her body began to tingle. Blackbast laughed and tapped the glass, causing a sensation of movement in her body. She looked down to see her chest was slightly larger and covered it with her arms in shock.

Is that really necessary? Heather balked as Quinny began to giggle.

I just wanted to make you jump, Blackbast said with a smile. Now, let us try something more practical. With that, Heather's scalp tingled, and her hair lengthened to her waist, curling slightly and turning a dark red. Her skin then tanned to a copper tone giving her an exotic complexion. Her eyes went from red to more of an orange and had a slight glow. Finally, her lips went soft red, giving her face a haunting beauty.

Whats all the white script? Legeis asked.

Heather sat back in her chair with a confused look. What white script?

Here on the page, theres a white lettering under the black ones, he said.

She looked at the book and swept a hand over the page, unable to see anything but the dark glyphs. I don't see any white lettering.

Oh, it must be the goggles. Special lenses give you detect magic and night vision.

Detect magic? Heather repeated and wondered. Early in the book, it discussed how some spells were common to all schools, and one was detecting magic. It then listed the description of the spell and how it worked. She had searched her panel and found no mention of it, so she disregarded it, but now she wondered if that wasn't the book trying to tell her something.

So you can see something on the page in white lettering? Heather asked.

Yeah, its like an image under the dark letters, he said.

Frank leaned closer and looked at the page scratching his head. I can see them too.

You can? Heather balked.

White ghostly letters forming a circle with blocks of notations on the side, he said.

Why cant I see them? she asked.

Must need some kind of magical aid, Legeis suggested. I have the goggles, and he has some kind of undead sight.

Undead sight, Heather growled. Of course, they would use that. She quickly recited the spell to give her the sight of the undead, and the world faded into muted colors as the page of the book changed. She could see them now clear as day, the ghostly letters hidden behind the others.

Its like a book hidden inside a book, she marveled.

Can you read it? Frank asked.

She struggled to make out the text but could only read tiny bits of it. Most of the words were obscured by the dark lettering above, making it impossible to read. She admitted it was too hard to put together but then wondered why she hadnt noticed this before. She used the undead sight several times to read the book in her gloomy tower. Quickly she flipped back to the beginning and turned pages to see nothing but the regular text.

What are you doing? Frank asked as he watched her turn pages furiously.

Trying to figure out where this ghost text starts. None of these pages have any, Heather remarked as the pages went by. She grew frustrated until two hundred pages in, she turned open a page that she previously assumed was blank. Now it was lettered in white that she quickly set about translating as Legeis and Frank looked on.

What does it say? Frank asked.

Its the spell to create a hole into the buffer and hide the book inside it, she replied. And how to dismiss the dark lettering so you can read the ghost letters.

So you can read it now? Frank asked.

Heather nodded. It's just a command chant. Something the book is programmed to respond to. She practiced the chant silently a few times then uttered the words. Feros, mol, davwa, ethra, sidri. The book gave off a black mist as the dark lettering faded, leaving only the white one behind. The pages of the book darkened to make the letters stand out so they could be read.

They went to a great deal of trouble to hide something, Legeis said as he looked on the unfamiliar runes.

Heather nodded and read the first line of the page as her heart began to sink.

What does it say? Frank asked.

Toxins complete index of necromancy spells and guide to bending magic. She read aloud and began to flip pages, a smile spreading across her face. It's a list and description of hundreds of necromancy spells. She flipped a page and laughed. Nami's cloud of bats, Therador's haunting beast, Juvin's bottomless grave, they are all named after their creators. This one is called Ivar's in-between.

Ivar? Breanne asked as she appeared in the doorway. It says Ivar?

Right here, Heather replied, pointing to the page. Is that name important?

Ivar is one of the most powerful of the necromancer kings. He worked magic on a scale unmatched by others. His castle was said to be in three places at once, and he led the project to create the necromancer rings.

Heather looked down at the spell and shrugged. This looks like the spell to hide the book. It allows you to send things to the buffer.

Why would you want to send things to the buffer? Frank asked.

I dont know, Heather replied. Maybe to hide them.

Wait, can you call things back from the buffer? Legeis asked.

Heather shrugged. I guess so, but it looks like all these spells require special items or ingredients to cast.

But, didnt I just hear you say the book could be hidden in the buffer? Legeis asked again.

Yeah, it has an enchantment on it to send it and call it back.

And it doesnt require any special items or materials? He asked.

Heather pondered that a moment. It requires a necklace turned to the book. It acts as the anchor to the world, so the book isn't lost, she said.

And thats all? he pressed.

Yeah, why do you ask? she replied, intrigued to where he was going with this.

Legeis laughed. Think about what you could do with that? You could enchant a chest fill it with important stuff, and send it to the buffer, then call it out when you needed it. I would use something like that to store ammo and weapons. Heck, what would prevent you from sending a whole house like this to the buffer to be called out later?

Heather blinked and looked around, an idea forming in her head. It would require a lot of research and effort, but if Legeis was correct, a whole world of opportunity was open to her. With a smile, she looked down at the page below.

It was all here the whole time, she laughed and flipped a page. Igwivs rain of bones.

Now you have access to their knowledge, so what are you going to do about it? Breanne asked.

Heather tossed her head and looked at her arm. She would copy all the spells into her panel so she could use them later. Some practice would be needed, but she knew there was plenty of time for that. With delight, she returned to the first spells and opened her panel. It would take some time to copy them all, but she didn't care. So many possibilities now lay before her, especially the one Legeis pointed out. What would she hide in the buffer? And what was already hidden there waiting for her to find it?