Chapter 213: Naturally Lesser

Chapter 213: Naturally Lesser

Tala only sat with Terry for a short while before she stood.

We have to get back.

Terry squawked questioningly at her.

Ill tell you on the way.

-And Ill make a modified version of finding our new friend for Tali-

Thank you, Alat. I appreciate that.

As they walked, Tala explained the situation to Terry in a quiet whisper. She included what would likely be needed from him to allow them to stay together.

Be-thric had suppressed Terry before, even if he hadnt really taken note of him, that Tala had seen.

The arcane hadnt fought Terry, so at most, hed know that a magical terror bird had been near Talas caravan, once.

Over all, Terry couldnt act too familiar with Tala, at least not at first.

-Tali does have some meats that she carries around with her in Kit, though she doesnt think of Kit that way.-

Right, just her dimensional storage. Tala patted Kit. I appreciate you, Kit.

Kit did not respond.

She reached in and pulled out a strip of cured meat.

Terry examined it dubiously for a moment, then snapped it up.

There we go, then. I got him to come to me, and come with me, by giving him some of this meat.

Terry looked to her hand, then back to her face, then back to her hand, then back to her face.

Tala found herself grinning and pulled out another piece of meat.

Here you go.

Tala hesitated.

Wait How are you still just an arcanous creature? As she considered it, the other birds had definitely not been magical, though they also looked orange to her mage-sight.

-No authority or sway over the magic within them. Its not actually their power.-

Tala thought about the question with regard to Talis memories, and came across the same lessons that Alat was likely pulling from.Ñ00v€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

Right, so Terry actually has control over his power, but beasts have a different track for advancement than naturally sapient species, even though many become sapient through the process.

-Exactly-

Terry is still below the level of magical creature because?

-Yeah, Tali didnt know how they advanced either.-

Didnt Holly say something about magic density?

-She did, but she also might not be fully versed in arcanous creatures. If that was the case, however, couldnt he just absorb the surrounding power, then?-

Might not want to advance? Do you want to advance, Terry?

The terror bird looked at her with a critical eye, then trilled happily.

Could you advance, now?

Her regarded her a moment longer before shaking himself.

So, you didnt stay back for my sake. Theres nothing in the books Grediv gave me on the subject. She sighed. Probably worth asking Thron or Gallof.

-Or Be-thric?-

Tala grimaced. Probably, yeah.

Not sure we can, but Ill look into it.

He hunkered down, seeming content.

Though, that would delay our bounding. You ok with that? She hesitated. Have I ever actually talked to him about the two of us bonding?

He stared her way, critically, then waggled his body in an uncertain gesture.

Well, we'll figure it out.

All in all, Tala returned to the House of Bloods Platoiri hold with a bounce in her step and a smile on her face.

The human sized door swung open for her after she presented her copper key-ring to be scanned, and she stepped inside, only to find Be-thric, Gallof, and Thorn walking her way down the main thoroughfare of the hold.

The door swung closed behind her with a click.

Eskau Tali! Perfect timing. We were just Gallof hesitated, seeing the terror bird on her shoulder. Eskau Tali? Why do you have that vermin on your shoulder?

Tala cocked her head. Vermin? She had seen quite a few terror birds around the city, that was true, but werent they a bit big to be vermin?

Be-thric shook his head. Gallof, look closer. Is your magic-sight inactive? He gestured. Can you not see that there is something special about this creature?

The three stopped a short way from Tala.

She nodded and spoke a bit hesitantly. Yes. I I found him as I was taking a moment to sit in a park. I saw his power and got him to come to me with some food. She shrugged. I think he likes me.

On cue, Terry head-butted her cheek and squawked.

Tala smiled and pulled out another strip of meat.

Thorn snorted a soft laugh. He likes your food, you mean.

She shrugged. Thats how any such relationship starts.

Terry happily took the meat from her hands, and she scratched the back of his head.

The four of them moved away from the entrance, into a lovely little park with a bubbling fountain at its center.

Be-thric was considering even as he walked. So, this was your choice for a gift? A pet? He pondered for a moment before nodding and giving a small smile. Taking care of something a bit lesser than yourself is good for the mind. If this is your choice, I do not object.

Well, that certainly cements his thinking of me.

-Yup: pet, not mistress.-

Tala nodded her thanks. Thank you, Pillar.

Do you have any idea where his magics lie?

Tala almost answered offhandedly, saying dimensional magic, but she caught herself. That was a human term. She flicked her thoughts to Talis memories before replying, Space magic of some kind.

The Pillar nodded again. That is in line with what I thought I was seeing. Well, I cant say its what I would have selected for you, but the best gifts are those desired by the receiver, I suppose.

Gallof bowed towards the Pillar. They are indeed.

Tala cleared her throat. I was wondering

Be-thric paused. Yes?

How do such creatures advance?

The Pillar laughed. We definitely dont want him doing that before hes well and truly emotionally attached to you.

As the Pillar says, of course, but for my curiosity? I cant remember it being mentioned, before.

He regarded her for a long moment, then nodded. Very well. Gallof, Thorn, do either of you know? It was clear that Be-thric did. He was simply checking with the others.

They both shook their heads.

Good, then consider this a lesson for you all. Beings that are naturally lesser do not advance as we do, nor as Tali here does. Wehe gestured to the three menadvance by drawing in power and retaining it. Another way of putting this, is that we increase our harmony with magic, itself. This is of course an oversimplification.

Gallof and Thorn nodded.

Tali, you advance by way of increasing your level of harmony with your own soul, your gate. This is, again, a gross oversimplification.

Tala shrugged, then nodded.

Our little friend here, and most of the animals in this world, advance by increasing their harmony with something else.

The room was mostly empty, save for what occupied the center.

At the center of the raided strong-room, stood a heavily inscribed plinth. Atop that, sat a sphere containing a fount.

Greetings intruders. I have not defenses with which to obliterate you. Please remove me from my place of rest, so that this hold can collapse and end us all.

Tala blinked. The voice coming from the pulsing orb was oddly monotone.

Thorn cleared his throat. Ignore the rudimentary intelligence they faked atop the fount.

Thats kind of difficult given

Oh, yes. Ignore me, give me time to reestablish my defenses.

that, given that.

Thorn snorted a laugh. Its all but disconnected. There is enough power, ambiently in this hold to maintain it for a day even without a fount.

Gallof nodded. Take a look at its power.

Tala frowned, leaning closer.

Yes, come closer. Touch me, and I will free your soul from this world.

No way to stop that?

Nothe inscriptions are carved throughout the sphere.

Great Tala ignored the continued, inane ramblings of the arcane-created sudo-intelligence.

Do you see anything?

-What rank is it.-

Well, not even Bound, in quality of power, but thats required for a fount. Its been expanded to the point that its flowrate is close toFused? Her eyes widened, and Be-thric, whod been watching her closely, laughed happily.

Yes! You see it.

Its flowrate is miniscule. How is it powering this place?

Thats simple. Gallof?

Gallof bowed to Be-thric, before picking up the explanation, This minor house did not have any magically augmented facilities within their hold. They bent every drop of power towards maintaining the size, and they seemed to have spent much of their coin on increasing the efficiency of the systems. It was cheaper than expanding the fount, after all. The whole thing was a play at appearing wealthier than they really were.

Huh. What does this mean?

It means that we can replace the power-source with relative ease.

Tala frowned, but nodded. Purification scripts. Arcanes run basically all power from founts through purification scripts, so there are no issues with using the magic.This is an unbound storage device.

Be-thric stepped in. So, you see?

Im not sure that I do. You want me to power it?

Well, yes and no. We want you to replace the power source with something already magically bound to you. We will then remove the purification scripts, and He gestured to her.

Tala immediately looked down to Kit. That will work? My dimensional storage will meld with this one?

Thats too easy.

Of course. A lot of research has gone into the perfecting of hold controls. We could feed this hold to the greater one, outside, and it would meld seamlessly, though I think that would be a waste. Dont you?

Tala nodded hesitantly.

-Arcanes use dimensional storage items, and pocket dimensions to an incredible degree. It makes sense that theyd find ways to make meldings easier.-

So, what do I do? Will I even be able to power this place?

Thorn grunted. I was skeptical too, Eskau Tali. But the quality of the power you exude, combined with the efficiency built into this place? It should barely take more power than you use for your pouch.

Tala cocked an eyebrow. How would you know that?

Pillar Be-thric granted us access to the documents on your items, so that we could better serve. Your pouch is impressive, an amazing trophy from the Pillars conquered enemy and a truly magnanimous gift to his Eskau. Even so, it is almost as inefficient as a chaos-sparked artifact, newly arrived from the ether.

What now?

-What now?- Alat seemed to be flicking through Talis memories. -He is referring to what happens around human waning cities, or other locations of incredibly high magical density, where the barrier between worlds is thin.-

Huh.

Alright, then. Lets do this. She was nervous, but she knew she couldnt refuse, and any further delay would start to look suspicious.

Yes, please invaders. Crush us all together.

Thorn sighed. No one will be crushed.

Gallof lifted the sphere from the plinth, and the scripts powered down.

Mad laughter came from the orb. Time is on my side! Before long, we will meet our end, together!!!

Tala ignored him, pulling Kit from her belt and setting the pouch on the plinth.

The scripts reignited.

Gallof held the sphere to one side, also ignoring the continued laughter. Give the item power, and we will remove the purification scripts.

Tala placed her hand on the pouch and dumped in power. Please, Kit, be alright.

Be-thric, Thorn, and Gallof each sent small flicks of power into the plinth below Kit and Tala felt an entire subsection of the inscriptions deactivate under the influence of the hue-folk magic, then it outright vanished when Thorns power swept through it.

Done. Thorn smiled. Now, we just have to

Kit vanished.

Tala gasped.

A wave of power exploded outward.

Everything went black.

Talas mage-sight was overwhelmed.

The orb cackled.

A moment later, Tala could see again.

Instead of an empty armory, they now stood on a raised platform, overlooking the surrounding, rolling hills.

Instead of a plinth, Tala saw a simple stone chair, perfectly sized for her.

Be-thric nodded in satisfaction.

Gallof clasped his hands, smiling.

Thorn laughed triumphantly.

The spheres laughter cut off. OhI continue.

Tala tried not to pay attention to the note of sadness in the utterance.

Instead, she focused on the seat before her.

-Thats a throne.-

It certainly is. Tala sat down, carefully.

It was like when shed first tried aspect-mirroring her perspective, if not quite to the same extent.

She couldnt see every inch of the hold, but she could feel it, to some extent.

It felt hungry.

An indentation appeared on one of the armrests, perfectly sized for Talas hand.

Glad youre still in there, Kit.

She placed her hand on it, dumping power into Kit.

Oh, I think Im going to like this.