Chapter 164: By Design

Chapter 164: By Design

Tala and Lyn sat in the park nearest to the cheesy little caravan restaurant. Blessedly, that place seemed to keep odd hours.

Lyn had been a bit cold, but Tala had produced a couple of blankets to put down on the bench, and then pulled out the massive bearskin to enshroud them as they ate.

Terry curled up between them, on the blanketed bench, content simply to sleep.

Even so, the night was getting chilly, so Tala had used her hot air incorporator to complete the bastion in the snow.

Lyn had laughed at the lengths Tala had gone to but seemed genuinely grateful for the gesture.

Tala, in a fit of appreciation of her own and generosity, had bought Lyns dinner for her, much to the other womans thankful surprise.

On the funny side of things, apparently Lyn had left the house without her coin pouch.

Theyd been eating for a bit, slowly and contemplatively, when Lyn took a drink to clear her mouth and shifted to look to Tala. So Lyn cleared her throat. That happened.

Tala huffed a laugh around her own most recent bite, even as she swallowed. Yeah, it did, didnt it?

Lyn shook her head. Now that it happened. Im glad to say I hope to never think of the creature again. Does that work for you?

Tala thought for a moment, then shrugged. Yeah, I can work with that. She rearranged the bear skin a bit. What do you want to talk about then?

Anything else would be fine. Id just like to turn my thinking towards something else, please.

Talas eyes widened, and she smacked herself on the forehead, once again disturbing their improvised fortification against winter itself. Right! I was going to go to the Archon Library, and I wanted to know if youd like to come.

This late?

I was coming to get you, originally, almost two hours ago

Fair enough, I suppose! Lyn spoke quickly, likely to keep the topic from returning to the earlier unpleasantness. Even so, the clerk frowned, taking another large bite. She spoke around the food as she considered. Probably not tonight?

Tala sighed. Yeah. I think I could use the sleep, too. What about tomorrow?

Yeah, that could work. Morning or evening?

She fought down a yawn. Seems like evening would be wiser than waking up even earlier than usual.

Lyn nodded vigorously. I second that. After licking some of the juices from her fingers, Lyn made a noise of surprise. Oh! Right, I sold the six horns you passed into my keeping. I have thirty-two gold and forty silver for you, back in our house.

Tala gave a happy laugh. Thank you! Thats after your cut, right?

Naturally.

She laughed again. Thank you, truly.

Lyn only smiled in return.

The conversation fell into a lull, then, the two working at finishing their food more quickly than theyd been doing, before. When theyd swallowed the last bites, they stood and Tala stored the blankets and bearskin back in Kit, topped the pouch off, magically, and smile. Lets head home.

The walk was pleasantly brief and made in companionable silence.

As they passed the park, which once again took up the entire block across the street from their house, there was no evidence of the fight that had taken place there such a short time ago.

This is impressive clean-up work.

Lyn nodded her agreement, clearly not wanting the conversation to veer back towards the cause of the earlier chaos. Ill say. I suppose it makes sense, though. No need to cause a panic.

Tala shrugged. Yeah, that makes sense. She frowned. Wont people be curious where the tavern went, though?

Lyns eye twitched, then she sighed. Honestly?

Tala nodded.

Probably not. I, for one, never thought of it, unless I could actively see it. Probably an effect of its magics. Most people will never even remember it was there.

She shook her head. That is terrifying.

Just a bit, yeah. She cleared her throat. Now, as I said. Id prefer to never speak of it again? She made the last a question.

Right! Im sorry, Lyn.

Lyn half-heartedly waved her off. I understand its unreasonable for it to never come up, especially so close in the aftermath, but I appreciate some space from it.

Tala nodded, and silence covered them again as they arrived home, locked the door behind themselves and parted for the night.

As Tala and Terry were closed into their room, Tala couldnt help but shudder. I am so, so glad that thing is gone.

Terry let out a tired trill before flickering to her bed, already sprawled out in seeming slumber.

Night, Terry.

He vaguely waggled one taloned foot her direction and cooed softly.

Sleep well.

* * *

Tala didnt dream at all that night.

It felt as if she closed her eyes and immediately opened them again.

Huh, thats odd. She somehow knew that the night had passed, and that it was time to get up. Even so, she felt well rested, incredibly so in fact.

Thats odd, indeed. She shrugged, stretched, and dove into her morning routine.

That morning, however, she ended the time by mirroring her perspective onto Flow, as it sat off to one side. One more thing to practice.

At first, she cheated, closing her eyes and only perceiving through the weapon, but by the end of that mornings session, she could have her eyes open, so long as she didnt move.

Even without vomiting being an option, the disorientation of differently moving perspectives was too much. For now.

Perfect. Thank you!

Tala had no issue finding the Culinary Guildhall, and to her surprise, she found that there were nine massive bundles of jerky, each wrapped in treated canvas and bound tightly to last, theoretically, forever. Assuming they dont get wet, invaded by pests, or exposed to temperature extremes.

So, within Kit? Indefinitely.

Tala grinned, pulling Kit from her belt, opening it wide and dropping each of the bundles inside.

Some day, Ill have to ask how they lock the magic into the meat like this. Maybe I can use the same technique to improve the shelf-life of ending-berry juice.

Now that the jerky was all stored within, she could sense that Kit was getting on the full side once more.

I really need to expand Kit again There was a lot that she needed to do.

Amnin wasnt actually working that day, so Tala just interacted with the receptionist who seemed incredibly uncomfortable talking with a Mage.

Tala spared the poor man, taking the jerky and departing as quickly as she was able while remaining polite.

She did pause to leave a grateful message for Amnin. No need to be rude, after all.

With all that complete, the morning was still young, thus she arrived at the training yard only a little later than she had the day before.

* * *

Tala spat out sand and groaned, rolling over onto her back.

Two. I held my own against two! It had even been Adam and one of his peers. True, it had only been for a short bout, less than two minutes if her sense of time was accurate, but shed done it!

Shed incorporated the first of the multi-shape weapon forms incredibly quickly, and it had done something to pull her fighting style together and give her movements a unity of purpose.

She was no longer jumping between unique weapon types.

No.

Now she was using one, highly versatile weapon to best effect.

Adam offered her a hand up. Well done, Mistress Tala. He was breathing heavily but had enough control to speak almost normally despite his clear fatigue. I could not have taken you, alone.

Talas eyes widened at his words.

Of course, they both knew that if they were really fighting, Tala would win handily, but under the current restrictions, Tala felt immense pride at the compliment.

If I may ask, you seemed very surefooted, more so even than you were before your trip to Makinaven.

She grinned. Thats not a question, but I think I understand what youre getting at. She nodded. I kept the pressure distribution scripts on my feet. Ive gotten used to the sure-footedness they grant, not to mention it makes it easier to move quietly and without damaging what I walk on. She gestured at the sand. And, they give much better purchase on uncertain terrain.

Adam nodded, clearly a bit lost in thought. That should serve you quite well, Id think.

Yeah, Mistress Holly and I discussed it a bit, and it seemed worth keeping for the time being.

The sun was almost directly overhead, the training time with the Guards at an end.

Rane and Aproa were finishing up their matches as well and Tala could already see that each would end with the Mages defeat.

That was by design.

The Mages were here to hone their martial skills, not lord their magic over mundanes.

Because of that, the bouts were always stacked against them, even if never to the extent of a quick loss. The point was to push them, not frustrate their attempts to improve.

When the inevitable ends came, the two thanked their respective sparring partners and walked over, panting.

Aproa was all smiles. This really is fantastic training. Thank you for allowing me to join you all.

Tala grinned and Adam bowed, responding with grace, It is a pleasure to have you here, Mistress.

Aproa glanced to Rane expectantly, and the young man flushed. Oh, uh Mistress Tala?

Hmm?

Aproa asked Adam a question and led him off to the side to discuss the answer.

Rane scratched the back of his head. Would you like to grab lunch with me? I mean, just me and-

Tala cut him off with a wave of her hand. Ive got to meet with Mistress Odera for lunch. Maybe later?

He hesitated, the words dying on his lips. Oh. Sure. Yeah. That makes sense.

Tala smiled. Im sure Mistress Aproa is free. And well meet back up in the Mages sparring arena?

He nodded then shrugged. Sure. Yeah. Ill see you there, I guess.

He turned and walked over to where Aproa and Adam were still talking.

Aproa gave him a questioning glance, and he shrugged again. The woman gave Tala a confused frown, then shook her head, and the two Archons left together.

-Tala-

-You are going to have to deal with that boys feelings for you, and yours for him, eventually.-

Tala sighed. I know. Im not an idiot. I just dont want to think about that type of thing, and- She straightened. Wait! Youre talking with me? Why? I thought all functions were offline?

-Ding-

-Earliest lost or repressed memory, not lost due to the natural processes of time, partially recovered.-

Talas eyes widened. One moment.

She bid goodbye to the departing guards and went to one of the private bath rooms, Terry following her in before she locked the door.

Alright. Im ready. Let me see it.

She sank to the floor in a cross-legged position, eyes closing of their own accord as she was pulled into a memory.