Chapter 227: Understanding

Chapter 227: Understanding

Tala sat, screaming internally at the stupid magic nest in her hand.

It felt like it was being purposely difficult.

For whatever reason, within the magic nest, she had great difficulty making her magic turn left. And as she continued, the magic nest seemed to be incorporating more left bends the longer she practiced with it.

Why is it so much harder within the nest?

-It seems like theres greater resistance than under normal circumstances.-

Tala nodded to herself. So, it amplifies any deficiencies, to allow and force improvement?

-That would be my guess, yes.-

HuhWell, it seems like my magic isnt an ambiturner, then.

-What?-

It can only turn one way, like ambidextrous but for directionality.

-Thats not a thing.-

Ambidextrousness is very much a thing.

-Thats not- Alat hesitated. -WaitYoure messing with me?-

She grinned. And here I thought you could read my mind before I expressed things to you.

-Of course, I can but I try not to. It makes for boring conversations.-

Tala thought about it and realized the obvious: Alat could only talk to Tala, so of course shed want those conversations to actually bemeaningful?

Fair enough. There was also the fact that Alat had promised to try not to peak in on all her thoughts, at least not all the time. It was nice of the alternate interface to have working at doing just that.

Thron cleared his throat. Talking to yourself again?

Tala started, jerking slightly. What?

Youre talking to yourself again, right?

What makes you think that?

Youre making odd faces.

Tala paled slightly. She didnt realize that she had such an obvious tell. What now? I obviously cant admit to having another me in my head.

-He has no reason to suspect that, Tala. Just act natural.-

Ohright. You dont emote when youre thinking?

Not soexpressively, or animatedly. It really does look like Im watching you talk to someone else, but much too fast to be reasonable.

-Wellrust. Thats irritating.-

Yeah, Im talking to myself.

He gave her an odd look. You know that I am right here, if you need to bounce ideas off someone. The offer seemed genuine, and not petulant as Tala might have expected.

Thron was sincerely interested in assisting her, if she wanted the help. I know. If need be, Ill bounce things off of you. Sometimes its easier to process internally, though.

Very well.

Tala shifted, feeling her stomach rumble. When is the next meal coming, by the way?

He gave her a skeptical look, then glanced towards the clean dining table. You just finished the last meal around a quarter of an hour ago.

It wasnt that recentlywas it?

Well, I was done more than half an hour ago, but you brought the last bits over with you to continue practicing.

Tala glanced to side table beside her chair.

She did vaguely remember doing as Thron said. Those were really, really good sausages

She sighed. Even so, Im still hungry.

He sighed in turn, but he was also smiling a bit ruefully. The artificer will be done soon. After we talk with him, Ill send for more food.

Thank you.

He hesitated. I feel like Im forgetting something.

She cocked her head. Oh? I cant imagine what it would be. Do we have a duty to perform?

No.

A delivery incoming?

No.

Appointments?

No. He seemed to be getting annoyed with himself.

Well, I dont think either of us can magic up the answer.

His eyes widened. Oh! Right! The test on your power.

What? Tala frowned.

You were proving that your working didnt end.

Oh! Thats right. She held out her hand, and the two tungsten spheres that shed amplified towards one another appeared on her palm. From what she could see, the effect of attraction towards one another was undiminished. Catch.

Tala tossed him the spheres, and Thron easily caught them. He examined each sphere in turn, attempting to pull them apart and failing. He hadnt tried overly hard, but that wasnt the point. This is ridiculous.

He chuckled. By the stars, I certainly hope not.

It is an odd thing, coming against something that defies our understanding of the world, of our own magic. How did your teachers or trainers explain it to you.

He cocked his head for a moment. Well, it was like the act of stealing to me.

What do you mean?

Well, I conceptually know that people can steal, obviously. Ive even been in situations where I was near death, and stealing would have helped, but it justnever made sense. He shrugged. I cannot conceive of myself stealing. The idea of theft doesnt shake my understanding of myself, and in the same vein, knowing that someone elses power can errode magic does not shake my own understanding of my own power.

Tala grunted. Huh. That makes a lot of sense, actually.

She winced again as another wave of discomfort rippled through her mind, marking an uptick in the pain.

Oh, this still hurts. II think I need some quiet.

Throns response came as a polite whisper. As you wish.

And so, they sat in silence for a bit longer. Finally, Cerdais voice sounded from out in the large courtyard, echoing through the open archway to reach them. Hello? Would either of you fine folk be available?

Tala and Thron looked at one another before standing at the same time and walking out of the building. The pain was mostly gone, but Tala was still moving a bit slower than she was used to, letting the last echos fade.

Ahh, there you are. Greetings once again, Eskau Tali, adjunct Thorn.

Greetings, Artificer Cerdai. Tala smiled, despite the lingering ache. What have you determined?

He patted the box, which was once more closed around the void sword. This weapon is in excellent shape and should be able to be combined with a fount-core weapon to great effect.

Tala frowned. What about a soul-bound one?

Cerdai looked temporarily hesitant. Soul-bound?

He frowned, scratching the tip of his nose.

I dont think Ive ever worked with one. He glanced her way, his eyes narrowing. Then, a hunger seemed to spark within them. Do you have one that I could examine?

Tala hesitated. They may not ever have had the chance. Should I let him?

-I dont see how we can avoid it, if we want to improve our equipment while in arcane lands. We certainly dont have the expertise to do the merging ourselves. Not by an inch or a mile.-

Thats true enough There was one thing that made her more confident than she might otherwise have been, if she were being honest.

To this man, she was an Eskau of the House of Blood. Stealing from her, or harming her, would be a very foolish move. Ironically, she felt like she could trust the power of her captors to keep the artificer honest and on good behavior.

She hated that she had been taken, and no amount of benefit would ever make her look kindly on the House of Blood, but she was in a precarious position, and any defense was a boon. Still, reminders never hurt.

As Eskau Pallaun sent you to me, personally, I see no reason not to trust you to examine my weapon.

Cerdai hesitated for an instant, then nodded. He didnt appear as if hed been planning anything untoward, but he definitely seemed more cautious after her reminder.

Good.

She called Flow from its sheath into her hand, pulling it with a trivial act of will.

She then flipped it around and caught the knifes blade, extending the handle towards the artificer. Here you go.

Cerdai took Flow with a reverent hesitance, his power immediately beginning to wash over the weapon. Ohoh! Oh, this is fascinating. He looked up. This weapon can change shape, yes? It mirrors protian weapons in that way.

It can. She mostly hid the wince. Tali would have winced, too, as Tali had been meant to be a protian weapon, but she had failed. As for Tala, it was a reminder of how close she had come to being forever bound within a tool for others to use.

Failure and a near brush with eternal enslavement.

Neither were good, but Tala was certain she was happy to have failed to become a protian weapon.

Cerdai had begun talking to himself, Tala only able to hear him because of her enhanced senses, And its power-source is here, within it, but alsonot. Of course, it is her. Somehow her soul and this weapon have the same underlying location in the dimensions of magic. He barked a laugh. He was clearly talking to himself and just as clearly enamored. Spectacular! This should be able to function anywhere in the world, regardless of the location of the Eskau, its power source. Is this replicable? If we could bend the dimensions of magic and permanently interlink them, it would allow for an incredible decrease in our need for founts.

He shook his head and laughed. What am I saying? It would just increase the availability of fount-powered items. It would revolutionize theOh

His demeanor fell, and he sighed. It is a connection and displacement forged of will more than anything else. Thats a pity.

Cerdais ramblings became quieter, then.

Thron was giving Tala a look that conveyed a deep concern over the sanity of the artificer. Then, the dwarf smiled and pointed at Tala, then Cerdai.

What?

-Hes saying thats how you look when you talk to yourself.-

Oh Tala glowered, and Thron grinned.

Finally, Tala cleared her throat. Artificer Cerdai?

Huh? What? The man jerked, seemingly having forgotten her presence. Oh, Eskau Tali, my apologies.

Can we combine them?

Hmmm? Oh, of course. The spell-forms will need to be altered, but not greatly, and you will have to be the initiator. I doubt the enaction will have too much of an adverse effect on you, unless you have the willpower weaker than that of a child. He gave her an appraising look. You arent a simpleton are you?

Thron bristled, and Tala knew that Tali would have beenless than pleased. Tala, though, felt a wave of nostalgia and home-sickness, as the hue-folk male reminded her of Holly in an odd way. She snorted a laugh, covering the swelling sadness within her chest and startling Thron.

Though she was going a different direction with the tenor of her response, she still compiled the content from Talis memories and tendencies. The House of Blood would be weak indeed, were it forced to raise a child as Eskau.

True enough. Cerdai nodded, still seeming distracted by the knife in his hand.

Tala prodded, How soon?

Hmm? The Artificer was staring down at Flow once more.

How soon can it be done?

Oh! Any time. Point me to a wide clear space of earth, or stone you dont care for, and Ill get to work.

Tala was about to ask about payment, reminded of her interactions with the Constructionist Guild back in the human lands, but her knowledge from Tali quelled that instantly. Of course, the House of Blood will cover it, and Pallaun likely already negotiated the rate.

In either case, it was not for her to bring up.

In that case, follow me. I know exactly where we can perform the merging.