Chapter 284: That is The Plan

Chapter 284: That is The Plan

Tala walked into Mistress Hollys back room, and the Inscriptionist didnt even look up from the slate she was studying.

The woman pointed toward a side table with a mug on it, Coffee?

Tala shrugged and walked over. Thank you, sure.

She picked up the mug and found it empty.

Frowning, Tala turned towards the woman and found her glaring.

So, you have fully regressed, have you? Not just a one time thing?

Tala felt her eye twitch. Ive only had a few cups of coffee. That is hardly regressing.

Mistress Holly set her slate aside and rubbed her own temples with two fingers on each side, closing her eyes in frustration. Mistress Tala. Your body is being slowly torn apart by your soul, which it is Fused to. Its a cascading effect. Caffeine is a poison. The fact that its too low a dosage to kill you outright is meaningless, it isnt doing good things to you, and it is pushing you in the wrong direction.

Tala bristled, and Alat provided her with the exact information, which Tala used to push back. Ive had a total of twelve cups in the last week. That is hardly an issue. Ive had more sugar than caffeine.

Ahh, yes. I was going to discuss that with you as well.

Her eye twitched again. What?

There are a long list of things that people eat that youre going to need to avoid until you Refine. I hope youve enjoyed your little bender this last week.

Bender? Are you serious? Ive been refilling my stores. One of the core parts of that is calories.

Yes, youve been getting by with whatever calories you can find, but you have multiple, wonderfully balanced sources of calories and nutrients. Your sanctum foods are specifically designed for you, for that exact purpose, and you arent utilizing that resource at all. Additionally, you should still have a stock of meals from the Culinary Guild, and even if you didnt, you could get some without question.

Tala opened her mouth, then closed it sullenly. She had been indulging a bit in the last week. Arcane food had been good in its own way, but the flavors werent quite the same, the ratios of spices balanced differently, and she had been glorying in the tastes of home. But thats hardly a bender

-Shes obviously being extreme to get your attention.-

Oh, I know, but it still irritates me

But, we can address that as part of the holistic approach. I have your updated scripts. Given your density, and extenuating circumstances, this will be the last set.

Do I need to drain those I already have?

No, no. Ill be adding some connections, a few offshoots, and sub-workings. I anticipated something like these in the previous design, I just hadnt figured out and perfected exactly what they would need to be.

Were the consultations helpful?Witness the debut of this chapter, unveiled through Ñôv€l--B1n.

With the other experts? Mistress Holly gave her an odd look. Of course, thats why I sought them out.

Tala suppressed a smile at the womans obvious incredulity at having to answer such a question. So, how long will I need these updated scripts before we can perform the Refining?

Well, with your magical density and other quirks, I suspect we could make the inscriptions set sufficiently to work in a few days, if we pushed it. Before Tala could get too excited, the Inscriptionist continued, But that wont be the deciding factor, timewise. As you well know, your Refining will be trickier. Several of those experts will be coming, and were going to have to modify the process for your unique aspects.

Ah. And how long will that take?

We believe well have it ready within a month, but we wont rush. The proper solution is worth whatever amount of time it takes. We could permanently cripple you, or effectively so. If we decide it needs your remaining decade for research, I expect you to accept that verdict and keep yourself safe and undamaged until then.

Tala grimaced but didnt argue. Fine. I will I will listen to you and the other experts.

A small smile pulled at Mistress Hollys lips. Youve matured, havent you?

Tala gave her a flat look, not letting herself twitch at the unintentional reference to her advancement in the arcane system.

By their measure, Tala was Mature, and that reminder made her want to grit her teeth.

She didnt.

She didnt even let herself consider it.

Not one bit. I just came from a place where being disrespectful or pointlessly obstinate could get me killed.

Ahh, yes. That would do it, I suppose. Its a shame that such training tactics arent widely accepted in these parts.

She gave the older Archon an incredulous look. Really?

Mistress Holly shrugged. Effective is effective, and its sad when an effective tool is taken from our collective toolbox. She hesitated for a moment. Not the killing, of course, simply the harsh measures to ensure proper decorum and respect.

That made too much sense to Tala, though she wasnt sure if that was because it was actually logical, or if her time away had distorted her sense of how things should be and what was reasonable.

That made Tala a bit uncomfortable, so she decided to get back on topic.

So, get my inscriptions altered here, change my eating until this process is complete, and Refine in a month or so in the best case?

Yes, that is the plan as Ive just outlined it.

Tala sighed. Honestly, why bother?

Excuse me?

Why does it really matter? Sure, if we used the standard process, it would move me away from human, but Im hardly a standard specimen of humanity anymore.

Mistress Holly uncharacteristically pulled a stool over and sat down. We have no idea what it would actually do to you. On the simple side, it could kill you, instantly.

Tala blinked at that. I didnt think that was a possibility.

Its not really likely, but it is possible. Aside from that, it would almost certainly sterilize you, likely irreparably so. It could block you from the higher ranks as well, depending on exactly what happened, even if you didnt die. More than that, it could alter your mind, your thoughts, your very self to the point that you wouldnt really be you anymore.

Tala opened her mouth and closed it several times, considering. That that is a lot worse than I really considered.

-Fair, fair.-

Its like learning that the fighting style youve been using for years has another form, filled with all sorts of more advanced techniques?

-Yeah, thats a good comparison.-

Mistress Holly cleared her throat, and Tala blinked, returning her attention to the woman.

The inscriber was standing, one eyebrow raised in obvious impatience. Are you quite done with your internal conversation?

I am, Tala said sheepishly.

Incidentally, that is another reason such alternate interfaces are not as common as they might otherwise be. There is an incredible danger of falling into the habit of only talking to yourself, and since the ability and penchant toward working with yourself is required to begin with, the natural safeguards one might assume would be in place in such a situation simply dont exist.

I will keep that in mind, Mistress Holly.

If it becomes too much, I can alter the inscriptions to remove the capacity for independent personality.

-That rusting-

Tala spoke before Alat could finish the thought, What would that even do?

It would make it so your consciousness, at the moment you wished a secondary task to be accomplished, would duplicate, accomplish that task before remerging with you. There would be no true separation, no divergence of experience or personage.

Tala shook her head. I dont see myself wanting that.

Mistress Holly shrugged. Its your mind, dear.

Tala frowned at that. You know, I dont remember you testing if this was a good idea before doing it.

Every note ever made about you screamed that this was possible for you.

She colored, feeling embarrassment rising within her.

Additionally, it was one of two paths, due to your pre-existing consciousness restoration scripts. Your own mind chose this path, and I saw no reason to prevent it or revert it once it happened.

Oh I suppose that makes sense.

Now, Ive granted you access to an extensive set of guidelines to curb your more self-destructive tendencies and help you avoid bad influences.

She frowned remembering the kind assistant who had brought her coffee. You arent going to discipline Mistress Emersen for offering me coffee, are you?

Mistress Holly huffed. Of course not, child. I specifically asked her to do so. I needed to get another data point on your mental state, and that was the least intrusive way I could easily come up with.

Tala really didnt know how to feel about that.

Were done. Ill let you know when I know more, or if we need anything else.

She nodded and left without another word.

Ironically, Tala now knew Bandfast much better than she had before being taken, just from a week of long walks. She used that knowledge to take a much more scenic, if slightly longer, path back to Lyns house.

When she had almost arrived, Alat grabbed her attention. -Mistress Elnea is ready to come out again.-

Without hesitation, Tala walked to the closest blank wall and placed Kit as a door against it, opening the portal and letting the Archon out.

The womans recent, perpetual smile was still in evidence as she came out and thanked Tala. Mistress Elnea didnt stick around as shed already given Tala and Alat access to a detailed accounting of what shed done and learned.

She asks for access nearly every day.

-She keeps getting good information.-

Oh, absolutely.

The older Archon was a fantastic resource that Tala knew wouldnt be available to her long term.

Theyd made progress in modifying teleportation scripts to work with a dimensionally segregated space.

It turned out that it was a line of research that had been explored on occasion. Early caravans had brought an emergency retreat wagon on every venture, and those mobile scripts had been expanded to work with expanded spaces, which were not locationally fixed.

The real issue was power and material costs. Additionally, the variations made them incompatible with the modern teleportation towers. So, they needed to create a single location for Talas circles to connect with.

All of this was problematic for a dozen reasons. It looked like it would happen eventually, but likely not for a month or two at the very earliest.

But that was neither here nor there for the moment.

Tala continued on her way, holding Kit in her hands and gently topping off its reserves, as she thought. I feel I know so little about you, little Kit. Weve helped each other at every turn, but will it last? Will you decide youre done with me, and just eat everything?

She didnt think so, but there was always that possibility.

Just like a person could always decide theyre done with me and leave.

-Thats why trust is so important. Kit has been trustworthy, and I believe that youve treated Kit in the same manner.-

That did help.

She hung Kit back on her belt. Tonight wasnt for such bleak thoughts, however.

Lyn had apparently learned some new card game, and she wanted to teach it to Tala and Rane.

Tala opened the door to Lyns house, able to hear her friends already chatting amicably inside.

Tonight is not about mysteries and concerns for the future.

No. Tonight was a time for friends.