Chapter 267: Entrance

Chapter 267: Entrance

Tala continued her loping run, feeling quite thoroughly worn out. It hadnt been that long since she slept, but it seemed like the increased power flowing through her had worn at her body more than shed really realized, and then excising it from herself had left her with only the downsides.

-All messages delivered and a few replies and exchanges enacted, per what we discussed.-

Great. Will we have help?

-Master Grediv will meet us at the nearest gate, when we arrive at Alefast.-

Oh, thats fantastic. Im so glad he was in town. I was not looking forward to trying to convince a random Archon that we meant no harm

She was almost back.

She was almost home.

The level of magic in the air had been steadily rising for the last few hours, and the zeme was really starting to show some turbulence.

It was odd seeing this region again in a new light.

Not only was she coming from nearly the exact opposite direction, but she was also far more powerful and capable with her magesight.

Oh! Terry. She had been in such a fog since the forest that she hadnt really considered the terror bird.

She opened Kit, and before she could call out, Terry flickered into being beside her.

His screech of annoyance would have deafened a mundane human, even if only temporarily.

Tala stumbled to the side, flinching.

Gah! Terry, that hurt!

He screeched again, fluffing his feathers in visible irritation.

Im sorry! The forest was more taxing than I expected, and Ive just been trying to get this trip done with.

He lowered his head and stalked forward, covering the distance that shed stumbled away. It was only then that Tala noticed his size. Even hunched low, he still easily matched her height.

She stepped back a bit more, the large terror following her. I apologize! I didnt mean to leave you in there, unknowing how I fared.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Terry slowed, squinting at her.

I should have called you out as soon as I was free of the woods.

He chirped in aggressive affirmation.

Will you forgive me?

Straightening, he let out a long series of random trills that to Tala sounded like nothing so much as her mother ranting about one of the littlest siblings. It was an oddly nostalgic feeling, for all it was more than a decade old.

Because Im so near to home? That was likely. I know you were worried about me. I said I was sorry.

Terry cut off his trilling and glared.

I know that doesnt make it better, and I know this is the second time that youd have preferred to be out sooner on this trip. Will you forgive me?

His demeanor shifted, and he shook himself before chirping once in affirmation.

Thank you.

Terry didnt reply further, instead shrinking down until his head barely came up to her waist.

You want to run with me the rest of the way?

The birds look conveyed exactly how stupid he felt that question was.

Fine. Lets go. She quickly inspected his neck, and was able to just see the collar hiding beneath his feathers, and only then because it was her magic that was mirrored into it.

As they ran, Tala very carefully placed a white-armored finger on the collar and refilled it with her power. That would have been less than great.

Thus, Tala arrived at the southeastern gate into Alefast, Waning, sometime in the midmorning, Terry at her side.

The wall stood tall to either side of the gate, and Tala felt nervous energy building within her as she approached.

This was it.

She was here.

She was on the threshold of a real, human city.

If fate was the rusting bit of slag it seemed to be of late, something was about to happen to keep her from entering.

There were no guards visible from outside the city, so she approached cautiously.

But nothing unexpected jumped out and stopped her.

Instead, Master Grediv stepped out of the open archway and smiled. Mistress Tala. I can see your travels have left their mark, and your avian friend has grown. There was a sparkle of mischief in the Paragons eyes. Shall we

Tala felt his penetrating scan of her entire self, the iron on her skin definitively gaining some heat at the power behind the inspection.

She saw his face fall into a perfectly blank mask.

She watched as the glint left his eyes.

Why do you have a concept threaded through your entire body. Speak now, Archon.

I am infected with a dasgannach. That is one of most pressing issues that I need assistance to address.

That seemed to take Master Grediv completely off guard. First, that was likely because she answered quickly, readily, and completely. Second, he could likely tell the truth of her words, if Tala was right in her guess, and that surely was shocking.

It is contained at the moment, but I would greatly prefer your assistance as soon as possible.

I see. He was frowning. Do you have any specific ideas on what assistance you require?

A test? Or just gathering more information. I think a teleport would be prudent.

He huffed a laugh. You want me to teleport you to some other city, while filled with a clearly hostile concept?

No, I assumed that wouldnt be possible. I would like you to teleport me to the tower in this very city. That should strip the dasgannach from me.

Master Grediv frowned again but began nodding. I can see that working, depending on the flavor of creature. For most, we could simply entice it out and heal whatever issues that caused. What is its material?

Iron.

Once again, the ancient man seemed caught off guard. Well, that explains the issue, then. A long, increasingly uncomfortable silence stretched between them as Tala stood outside the gates.

I knew it. This was too easy. Fate is going to sucker-punch me again right when I

Very well. Follow closely without making contact. We need to get this sorted, immediately.

Oh.

Alat barked a laugh within Talas head. -Well, that worked better than wed hoped.-

For now. He could still wipe us off the face of Zeme.

-True, but hes more likely to help us. Thats why we asked him to meet us, right? Because we were pretty sure hed take the time to find the truth, rather than killing it to be sure.-

True enough.

Master Grediv turned and strode into Alefast, Waning, and Tala hesitated for only a moment before following, Terry heeling perfectly at her side.

The guards stood back, not interfering or questioning them as they passed.

So, Mistress Tala. Tell me what I need to know about the dasgannach. Given that youre you, I imagine there are surrounding, pertinent details?

Tala regarded Terry, and the terror bird looked back. Finally, he squawked in resignation and bobbed a nod.

Tala shrugged. Sure. I could just put my storage on the outside wall, here?

Master Grediv nodded. That would be interesting to see. Those always manifest a bit differently. I assume youve merged it with a syphon fascia?

She gave him a mildly surprised look.

He chuckled. Im old, child. If it exists within the human cities, Im likely aware of it, at least tangentially.

She grunted. Thats fair.

He hesitated then smiled. Well, with all that youve likely brought with you, that isnt as true as it was a few hours ago.

Tala laughed. Once weve sorted this, Ill see what I can do to correct that alteration.

I look forward to it.

She pulled Kit from her belt. She took a moment to consider. Do you want to go to the hills?

Terry squawked noncommittally.

Fine, just somewhere near where I usually find you, then. She tossed Kit at the wall, and a door grew to perfectly integrate with the side of the tower, near the main entrance. As usual, the entrance seemed to fit perfectly, looking like it had always been there.

Fascinating. Thank you for allowing me to watch. Master Grediv smiled.

Before Tala could open the door, it was ripped open, and a nearly fully flayed beast-man lunged out. FREE! IM FREE OF THAT FEATHERED DEMON!!!!

The bullman then saw Terry and squealed in abject terror. The next instant a flick of energy extended from the citys defenses and turned him to ash.

Tala spun on Terry. Terry? Why was he still alive? You were supposed to kill him quickly!

Terry looked down and idly scratched at the ground while decidedly not looking her way. He trilled mournfully, clearly trying to play on her sympathies.

Get in there. Well talk soon enough. She pointed vehemently through the open door.

The terror bird flickered away, appearing within before the door swung shut at Talas will.

She turned back toward Master Grediv and found him and more than a dozen other Archons staring at her with various expressions of bewilderment.

Talas eyes flicked around to the suddenly present Refined and Paragons.

One woman spoke up. Master Grediv, sir?

Master Grediv just shook his head. Im as much in the dark as you. Mistress Tala?

Tala scratched the back of her head nervously. Rusting Terry. You couldnt have just killed him when I asked? Well, that bullman tried to kill me, so I tricked him into my sanctum, and left him for Terry to kill. That bird was supposed to be quick about it, but it seems like he was not quick about it.

Master Grediv cleared his throat. First, you had a He seemed to be searching for the right word. Elder?

Mature.

Mature, right. You had a Mature arcane, fully drained, in your sanctum? Isnt that a special designation?

She opened her mouth, then closed it. It is I have a lot to tell you, Master Grediv. Can we deal with my unwelcome passenger first?

The other woman, clearly the leader of the Archons who had responded to the now eliminated threat, cleared her throat. The arcane wasnt your unwelcome passenger?

Well he was one, yes, quite unintentionally so. I didnt know he was still in there.

How likely is it that there are any others?

Tala frowned, then went over and opened Kit. No one waited on the other side but Terry, who was giving her a chastened look.

She closed the door then opened it again and saw Rob sitting on a shelf beside her bed.Oh Well, hes not really a passenger? But hes not actually a Tala muttered to herself, struggling for words as she closed the door. Never mind. No one else in there. Just the one in here.

She smiled with false cheer as she tapped her own chest.

The woman frowned, then Tala felt herself be delved with a form of magesight once again. The Paragons eyes widened, but Master Grediv intervened.

Were dealing with that now, Mistress Ges.

Mistress Gess eye twitched, but she gave Master Grediv a firm, shallow bow. As you say, Master Grediv. I do hope you will explain what is going on at some point.

I will, when I know myself.

Very well. She bowed once again, and then she and the other city defenders seemed to vanish.

Tala turned to Master Grediv. I am so excited to be able to do that.

He cocked one eyebrow. You could now, if you had the right magics.

She frowned. Shed been a bit afraid of that. Well, rust. Fine then.

Well see what we can do, but after we deal with the creature. Yes?

Yes, please.

Master Grediv hesitated, looking at Kit on the wall of the tower. Finally, he sighed. Bring that inside. Well find a better place to set it up thats closer to where well work. It seems like you might have some rather more dangerous things in there than I was expecting.

Tala sheepishly did as he asked and hung Kit from her belt once more.

Together, they entered the tower.

The receptionist inside was obviously a mageling, and he looked incredibly nervous.

Tala felt bad for the kid. Hed likely just had all sorts of alarms going off, then probably seen the city defenders appear just outside.

G Greetings, Master, Mistress. How can we serve you, today?

We need a self-cycling teleport. Foreign will purging, please.

That got the young man to focus. Yes, sir!

As the mageling manipulated a slate in front of himself, Tala heard several people in the tower begin to move quickly.

She was still keeping a good distance from Master Grediv, but she spoke quietly, now that his privacy working was down. Is this common?

Yes and no. This is usually the best way to cleanse people of foreign issues when they pass a certain stage. Youd be surprised how many plagues weve stopped in their tracks by judicious use of the teleporter. Mundanes also often have their own bodies turn against them, either attacking their own biology or growing in ways they shouldnt. A teleport of this type resets their anatomy and can allow them to get back to their lives.

Tala hadnt considered that, honestly. So, my idea wasnt very revolutionary.

-But it seems good. Thats what we need, right?-

Thats true enough.

Soon, they were escorted to a teleportation room off to one side.

A Fused woman explained what was going to happen. Do you see the receiving circle over there?

Tala looked and did see it. This room, unlike the one shed arrived back from the Academy in, had both a launcher and a receiver. I see it.

Good. We will simply teleport you over there. You will be fully sent out into the ether and drawn back. Please place anything not soulbound to you there. She pointed to a series of empty shelves and stands.

Tala walked over, removing Kit and her bloodstar holster from her belt.

The bloodstars would have been fine, but the material that surrounded them would be needlessly stripped away if she tried to bring them with her.

After a moments hesitation, she realized that that was it.

Her clothing were her elk-leathers and bound to her. Flow was the same.

Alright. Im ready.