Chapter 374: Issue with Translation

Chapter 374: Issue with Translation

Tala ended up staying in Bandfast for two more full days with Rane.

When he had begun trying to fill his daywhile she bound Kithe had gotten a much greater response than hed expected.

When the full extent of his filled social calendar was discussed, Rane said she was fine to head back without him, but Tala found she preferred to stay and tag-along with him for once.

It was definitely an odd experience, only knowing most of the people they spent time with in a passing manner.

This was their last day planned in Bandfast, and Tala and Rane were walking between a lunch meetup that had run into mid-afternoon, and an early dinner.

They were chatting about the people they had just left, and theorizing about those they were going to meet when they passed a shop that Tala hadnt thought of in a long time.

The shop was on a little, out of the way street that they passed just by happenstancejust as she and Lyn had passed it what seemed like a lifetime ago.

He buys and sells artifacts and arcane goods. Lyn had used that simple statement to draw Tala out of some musing or other. Now, it really hit home what Lyn had said.

Artifactsnot in a waning cityand arcane goods.

Rane had pulled to a stop beside her as shed frozen midstep.

He looked between her and the shop, Do you need to go in?

She bit the side of her lip. Its something Im curious about. Catch up to you in a bit?

Rane hesitated, Do you need me? He could clearly tell something wasnt right. I can cancel the

Tala shook her head, cutting him off. That wont be necessary. Ill be along shortly, and I dont want to make you wait.

He hesitated for only a moment longer, Alright, then. Reach out if you need me, and Ill be there.

She smiled, I know. Thank you.

With a series of backward glances, Rane continued on his way.

Tala, for her part, was staring at the shop once more. Though, it wasnt what she saw with her eyes that really held her attention.

To mundane sight, it was just an ordinary shop, but it was odd even in that sense.

While the windows were clean and well painted with the usual advertisement for a seller of goods, looking beyond the glass instantly caused a disjointment.

There were iron plates placed directly behind the glass, and that same iron seemed to be wrapping the whole of the buildings interior.

But again, her mundane vision was not what had grabbed her focus and reminded her of the businesss existence.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

There was an odd distortion all around the building starward and stoneward.

She might have missed it, but it didnt strictly match the shops shape, instead bulging outward quite oddly. Unfortunately, it was hard to determine the exact dimensions, as it was messing with her magesight even as she looked at it.

Iron. Iron placed along the axis of magic connected in order to completely surround whatever is inside how big could that be?

-From what I can tell, there is iron placed for at least a hundred increments along the magical axis.-

That meant that those places could be at least a hundred times the physical dimensions associated, and that was before any sort of spatial magic was involved.

She was insanely curious as to what might be inside, but she didnt have even the smallest clue.

After all, the shop was fully sealed against magic escaping, making it impossible for her to see within, the iron fully blocking of her three-fold sight.

This, I have to see.

-Yes, lets walk into the arcane-related, sealed box alone. No need for any help, here.-

Tala hesitated, glancing in the direction that Rane had departed in.

He was already out of sight.

-Hed come back if we asked.-

I know, but were in Bandfast. The very thought dispelled most of the concern. There is no way theyd let something or someone nefarious remain within the city.

-No, they catch every syphon instantly.-

Tala grimaced. Those arent truly damaging

-And what about-

Fine, it could be dangerous, but I am still going to investigate.

-So long as its with open eyes, I have no objection.-

She stepped forward and pulled the door open revealing a small entry room.

Unfortunately, because of the iron stoneward and starward, Tala couldnt bring her bloodstars along in their usual configuration. Instead, she pulled them back into the superficial, letting them rest on various parts of her clothing to get extra sight that way.

It was unideal, but she didnt really have a choice. The door didnt even exist elsewhere along the axis of magic, instead the same space seemed to be solid iron if she moved star- or stoneward.

The only means of ingress or egress was the simple seeming door, located superficially.

The small entry room was well decorated, but clearly meant as a buffer between inside and outside.

The door closed behind her, and only then was she able to push open the next door, entering the shop proper.

-Archive access still maintained. The Soulbound connection isnt hampered by the iron at all, just as expected.-

Good. How about youHer thoughts died in her mind as she really took in what was around her.

The iron-core door swung shut after she was through, even as she gaped at what she saw around her.

One thing grabbed her attention before anything else.

Vestiges.

There were at least sixteen vestiges that she could sense in this room. One stoneward and one starward of each corner.

Learn manners, child. Your defenses are impressive, but nothing is impenetrable.

-Im looking at you from all sides, and there are no gaps in your iron, so it was a physical attack at its core.-

Air manipulation.

-That is the simplest explanation.-

Still, to do so much damage with so little power I barely felt any movement of power.

-Maybe you shouldnt be rude, then.-

She grimaced, My apologies, master?

He bowed then, Yes, introductions, so important. Thank you for asking. My name is Lisa.

Tala frowned. Master Lisa? Isnt that a womans name?

Lisa shrugged. It can be. It is an issue with translation yes, I can see that isnt forbidden knowledge to you. I am glad I judged rightly.

Translation from another language. Hes from before the merging of languages?

-Or the name is from then, and hes being deceptive like his illusions. He is likely only allowed to live here because hes able to obscure the truth, mainly who and what he is.-

Thats fair. Ironic to require that someone be good at hiding the truth before they can be trusted.

-Just a bit, yeah.-

But we are wandering in the weeds for want of a trail. Did you only come to see what my home was? He gestured around them. You have seen. If that was your goal, you may go. I have much to be about.

Tala thought furiously. She was not ready to depart. Maybe

Given master Lisas request for arcane items, it made sense that he might have something of that nature even if they werent originally created for that purpose. Do you have anything that can enhance a hold?

A slow smile pulled at his somewhat vulpine features. I just might. It seems I might have more memories to barter for than Id considered. I only acquired those of you killing arcanes. He licked his teeth. Those were well worth the price.

Alat?

-Yeah, Im seeing a line item in Mistress Ingrits records that we have credit with a master Lisa. The note beside it says: To be collected in the form of arcane knowledge, items, favors, or municipal defense. If the latter is used, the city in question would take up the debt owed to Mistress Tala.-

There was so much implied in that that Tala couldnt properly unpack it, but that wasnt important in the moment.

She had just learned that she had a line of credit at a magic store that seemed to put even the Constructionists to shame.

What do you have?

That depends, do you have a standard hold? Is it a construct, artifact, spontaneous generation, ether hold? Is it powered by a vestige? Magic-bound to yourself? Soulbound? Are you looking for augments to establish within as separate items or to integrate into the existing magical matrices? Does it have a means of incorporating external magics? Is it inert? Sentient? Sapient?

Tala felt her smile grow with each question. She might have been hesitant to share, but the very fact that Mistress Ingrit had bartered with him for some of her memories meant that he was trustworthy to at least a certain extent. Her name is Kit and let me give you a little summary to get us started, here.

She hit the highlights, being careful to give true, broad strokes while leaving all the tantalizing details out.

Alat structured the vast majority of her little spiel.

Thank you, Alat.

-Its what I do.-

In the end, master Lisa was nodding in contemplative understanding.

As he opened his mouth to say something, Tala held up a finger, One more thing, before you respond. I do apologize for my earlier rudeness, I did not mean to be untoward. As recompense, please let me offer you a memory.

Alat?

-Already ahead of you done.-

Lisa raised an eyebrow, then reached to one side, his arm seeming to vanish.

Tala watched as he grabbed something out of another physical layer, pulling a small round disc back to himself in the superficial.

Keeping an eye on her, he attached the disc to his temple, closing the eye on that side.

A moment later, the eye reopened, both of his eyes widening. Your apology is accepted. Thank you for the gift of being able to witness the consumption of an ether hold. That does actually give me a much better picture of your storages abilities as well. My compliments for the multipurposed offering.

He licked his teeth while looking up at the ceiling, clearly considering.

Tala waited patiently.

Finally, Lisa reached up and pulled the disc off of his temple and replaced it in the stoneward physical layer it had come from. Well, that is interesting. I have some things that could be of useone item in particular comes to mind because you have soulbound your storage, but I am hesitant to part with it.

Oh? Tala was intrigued.

Yes. It is a magical purification system. You stated that you wanted to ensure that no one would be forced to bond with you when entering your sanctum, is that correct?

Yes.

What of items? Those not magic-bound to you would quickly die or become so bound if you stored them within. Incidentally, this is a common issue with human-used storages.

Tala found herself nodding. I hadnt really considered that, but yeah. I think that has been an issue.

He quirked a smile. No fear, dear Refined. Not all is lost. I have seen items unbind if they became magicbound through happenstance rather than intention. If you purified the magic within your sanctum, any item of that description found within would return to a neutral state in time, and any new item you acquired for transport or storage would be preserved. He hesitated, glancing her way. From what you said, the power density inside is well above standard for this region?

Yes.

Good, good. Then, purifying it should also make the power accessible to and useful for all non-magical things and creatures within as well.

That made Tala frown. Non-magical? Wouldnt that mean they dont use magic?

But of course. They dont use the magic, but bathing in itas it weremakes them more. Once again, he hesitated. It doesnt make them more real, that would be ridiculous. He chuckled. It solidifies their existence in a way that is hard to describe.

Tala found herself nodding, They are already real, physical things. Because they are distinct, they are already well set with void. Thus, suffusing them in magic completes the triune of existence.

Lisa gave her a long, long look, Arent you just full of surprises?