Chapter 49: Cyclops and Conversation

Chapter 49: Cyclops and Conversation

Tala glanced towards Grediv as he pulled something out of a dimensional storage, which she couldnt see. She looked closer, curious about what weapon he would choose over his magics in the coming fight.

It was a staff of what appeared to be pure sapphire, and it radiated something which blocked her mage-sight as effectively as Grediv himself did. Soul-bound?

You are a sapphire Archon?

He laughed. By that titling, yes. I still find it easiest to make Archon stars in that gem, though I dont have much need to do so, anymore.

That brought up so, so many questions, but now was hardly the time.

So what are you going to do, and what do you need from me?

I am going to pull together an act of obliteration, but that creature will recognize the danger of my working and seek to stop me. I dont wish the time or collateral damage that that fight would bring, so I need you to engage the cyclops, and then, I will begin.

How long will you need?

Thirty seconds?

She frowned. It couldnt cover this distance that fast. She gestured to the cyclops, easily a quarter mile away.

Youd be surprised what a fused is capable of.

Fused?

Orange, by your mage-sights scale. Its body and soul are fused, magically.

Tala frowned. What would you be?

He smiled, slightly. I stopped climbing the ladder long ago. If I were to loosen my control, you would see me as green. Most know my ranking as: Paragon.

She hesitated. Wasnt that the level of beast that obliterated the inter-city road? I dont know what that means.

He shrugged. You dont really need to know, not yet. He turned to regard the cyclops, still waiting for them. So? Are you ready?

Tala let out a breath, examined her ending-berry power reserves, and nodded. As ready as Im likely to be, today.

Grediv laughed. Excellent.

Tala started forward, limbering her arms as she walked.

He called out to her, even as she continued to walk. Dont use your combat magic on him. It would take more power than you possess to harm him, or even properly restrain him. Leave that to me.

She didnt understand how that was possible, but decided he probably knew best. She waved, without looking back. Sure thing. Im still trying, if I need to.

She covered the distance to the cyclops at a steady pace, the monster regarding her calmly.

Its eye looked from her, to Grediv up on the hill, then back to her. A voice issued forth from the beast, its mouth moving awkwardly. It sends a snack before my main meal? How considerate.

Tala didnt slow, but she felt suddenly a bit more uncertain. Great, its intelligent

She closed the distance, moving to a jog for the last hundred feet. As she entered into the area of its orange aura, she felt an oppressive weight, not on her body, that was moving just fine, but on the magic of her being. It was as if the power used to keep her body functional was being pulled, her ownership of it being contested. Even through the iron? No. She could feel the foreign influence coming through her palms and eyes, straining against the defenses she had, there.

She hated it. She had no idea what would happen if her defenses failed or if she lost that internal contest, but she wasnt going to find out. She clamped down on her internal power, refusing to let it shift into anothers control, and that seemed to bolster her defense.

The cyclops shook its great head in what seemed to be mild irritation, lifting its club off of its shoulder.

She was almost in range of the brutes club, so she pulled her knife and flung it at the creatures eye.

The cyclops, for its part, seemed so bemused that it didnt even dodge. Talas aim was true, and the blade struck the massive eye point first. Ha! First try! Maybe she didnt need as much practice as shed thought she would?

Behind her, Tala felt Grediv begin building towards his working.

The knife fell away as the cyclops swiped at its face, acting like it had an itch.

Tala called the knife back to her, catching it as she stared up at the massive humanoid. Oh well, thats-

She saw the club twitch, then blur; then, pain blossomed across her entire right side.

She was airborne, and unable to get her bearings. The instant of flight lengthened as she examined herself. More than half the remaining power from the ending-berries had been drained away in that instant. Her clothing had been obliterated at the point of impact, leaving her right shoulder, upper arm, and hip suddenly bare.

The berries power had done their work, however, and she was intact.

She then hit the ground, skipping across the bolder-strewn landscape like a rock across still water. She was thrown into a spin that, again, disoriented her.

As she rolled to a stop, she felt the last of the ending-berries power as it was expended. Her clothes were ragged, but already, the leather was regrowing over the holes, and even the scuffed portions were rapidly returning to an undamaged state, boning reformed in the appropriate places. Ha! Thats fantastic.

It was a bright spot in an otherwise disastrous moment.

As she pushed herself up, she retched, spilling the remains of her breakfast across the ground. Though, she couldnt have said if it was from dizziness or something more dire.

Large impacts were approaching quickly. She looked up to see the cyclops already before her, club raised, ready to bring down.

She moved on instinct, lunging to the side before he moved. Even so, it was almost too slow.

Impossibly, the club traveled in its massive arc faster than she could move a half dozen feet. Thankfully, the club was only four feet wide.

The ground exploded beside Tala, even as she moved away, stone shards peppering her from head to toe, activating the defensive scripts across the majority of her skin on that side. Her clothing had a host of new holes, which immediate began to pull closed.

How long has it been? Archon! Tala yelled, putting all the volume she could into it, trying to keep the desperation at bay.

The cyclops definitely heard her, because it paused, eye going wide. Spinning, it turned back towards where Grediv was raising his staff, a smile painted across the Archons features.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Despite her horrifying position, Tala found herself frozen in awe. In front of the tip of his staff was the most complex working of magic shed ever seen. It put the city defenses to shame, and she couldnt begin to understand it. True to what hed said, the underlying hue behind the working was a deep, vibrant green, not a hint of blue in evidence.

His spell-lines were blazing with light, but she still couldnt see magic coming from them. His control was as awe inspiring as his power.

The cyclops roared and moved to hurtle his club at Grediv.

He nodded, grinning. Irritation will pass, and the lessons you gained, today, will help you for a long time. Every time they do, the irritation will diminish, until one day, youll just be grateful. He smiled. Its only up from there.

She grunted. Fine, then. Weve a bit of time. Tell me more about soul-bonds, and bonds in general. Can I use an Archon star only on artifacts?

You can use them on things other than artifacts, but the results will be mixed.

Ok What about standard magical items?

Dont, dont do that. You dont want to bind your soul to something so temporary. You would not like what happened when its spell-lines ran dry. If its your vesselwell, we cant discuss that, now. He made a disgusted sound.

She frowned. Couldnt I just have it re-inscribed and give it more power?

He shook his head, laughing. Oh, rust no.

But, I get inscribed, why is it She connected a few things, nodding slowly. My body is inscribed, not my soul.

He pointed at her, clicking his tongue in acknowledgement. Got it in one.

She glanced at her knife. So, this is a part of my soul, now? That was a bit of a horrifying thought.

He shrugged. Yes and no. Your soul has become invested in it. The weapon can be broken without killing you, or permanently harming your soul, but not easily, and you wouldnt be the same after. He thought for a moment. It might actually shatter your gate, if youre particularly unlucky.

Because my gate is a part of my soul.

He gave her a funny look. Child, your gate is your soul.

She frowned. But, what about people without gates?

Malformed souls, for a- He cut himself off, sighed, and shrugged. Dont mistake me, most are still perfectly fine people, but its like being born with a crippled or malformed body. The body is still there; they are still people; it just doesnt work normally.

She nodded, though she still didnt particularly like the implications. She was getting off topic, however. What about Harvests, like these clothes, can I bind them?

You can. It would likely have some fun side-effects, too. He grinned.

Like?

He shrugged. Nothing harmful. I think thats a lesson you should learn for yourself. Its not like Id actually be able to dissuade you from trying.

She narrowed her eyes at him. That actually makes me not want to do it. Hes manipulating me, still. Is the bonding process the same?

Close enough. Youll figure it out, or you wont. He smiled.

Not really helpful but fine. What about people, or arcanous or magical animals?

Dont. Dont ever put an Archon star into another person. He sat up straighter, his last bit of sandwich vanishing.

Why not?

Because a human body can only have one soul.

So, what does- Her eyes widened. Id be kicking them out?

Youd be starting a fight, yeah. Human souls are surprisingly ferocious in defending their home turf, though. As you are, now? Youd lose, and your soul would be damaged for that. Even if you greatly out-powered the subject of the attempt, youd be forever changed. Dont do it. He leaned forward, locking gazes with her. I cannot stress this enough, Mistress Tala. If you even attempt this, any Archon that sees you will know, and the first one will strike you down without a seconds hesitation. Trying to enslave another in that way is one of the most heinous things any Mage can do. Grediv leaned back. Dont do it to a dead body, either. Souls arent meant to be connected to the dead and forcing it is necromantic slag.

She swallowed. Ok, then I wont Is it the same with arcanous or magical entities?

No. Animals dont have souls in the same way humans do. He seemed to be relaxed, again.

She gave him a skeptical look.

He laughed. They have something spiritual, dont mistake me, but it isnt anything like a human soul. Id recommend against it, though. He sighed. Many of my peers disagree with me, however. A lot of them take on familiars.

She frowned. Like in the childrens stories? Wizards, high towers, witches, and black cats?

Something like that. The entity or animal gains far more than the Mage. Usually, their minds are opened, and they can truly move beyond instinct. The most intelligent animals or entities gain more. Their natural abilities increase, their lives are extended, and they gain access to your gate. He gave her a meaningful look. And that is the downside. They are bound to you, they can pull power through your soul, and you dont control them.

Talas eyes widened.

Good, you understand. Some of the most evil things Ive had to fight were beings who tricked their way into being familiars, then rendered their Mage little more than a power source. If you dont care about the long-term consequences to your soul, and if you can endure unimaginable pain, there are easy ways to become more powerful. Now, if you can put those consequences and pain on another? He shrugged. Its not great.

Yeah Im getting that.

You dont actually need Archon stars to make a soul-bond, but it is the safest, most reliable way. He gave her a look. At your level, youd kill yourself. After a breath, he spoke again. Let me be utterly clear: Not you might kill yourself. Not I dont think youre up for it. You would die. Full stop. If you are going to bond anything, which I highly recommend against as weve already discussed, use a star. There are no downsides, especially with how easily you can create them.

She hesitated, then nodded. Fair enough. She shifted, getting a bit more comfortable on her rock. I should find a comfortable folding chair to keep in Kit. What benefit is there from feeding power to a bonded item?

Good question. Aside from keeping it functional in the case of magic-bound items, it gives the item power to become more.

More?

More of itself. He shrugged. All items have limits, so you cant expect eternal growth, though soul-bound items will be able to grow more as you progress.

Because as my soul grows in power, the things its bound to can as well?

Precisely.

So why dont you have an arsenal? You could have a host of powerful items to aid you. She laughed. You could probably organize it, so you dont even need inscribings anymore, except maybe your keystone.

He quirked a smile but shook his head slightly. Some people do try that, but Id recommend against that path, unless youre planning on staying in cities your whole life. Placing all your power into external objects radically stunts your growth and power. It might even stop it completely. Theres also the fact that as you and your bound items grow in power, they need more power at an ever-increasing rate. The accepted number is eight. Virtually every Archon worth their power will recommend that you have less than eight soul-bonds of any kind. He hesitated, then sighed, adding. Your clothes, as I imagine youre considering them, can be bound as a single item. I strongly recommend that you figure out how, before attempting to bond either. Youll be very happy, in the long run, that you took that extra time.

She grunted. Seems fair. Thank you for the advice.

He stood, folding the chair and tucking it awaysomewhere. Were getting close to things that I really should leave, until you attain Archon. Work hard, and our next conversation can cover more. He smiled. Come on, lets get you to the caravan.

She almost argued but thought better of it. Very well. Thank you.

My pleasure.