Chapter 407: Birthday Breakfast

Chapter 407: Birthday Breakfast

Tala sat beside Master Simon, looking out over her sanctum.

With her threefold sight, she could see the long basic passage leading over to Irondale.

Theyd made the floor of hard, uniform stone only about an inch thick. She could have simply left it as the edge of existence like the walls and ceiling, but Master Simon had explained that it was rather disconcerting to stand on the edge of existence, even in an expanded space.

Tala had never minded in all the time shed had Kit without all the trappings that the dimensional storage now had, but shed bowed to his expertise.

For fun, though, she had made about a ten-foot section near the middle that was the exposed edge of existence.

It didnt matter, but to the unaware, it would seem like a trap that had to be crossed.

In the odd case where someone was trying to get from Irondale to her sanctum, it would delay them a bit before they realized it was just like any other floor.

And, that actually might happen, given they were working to finish the construction of that more public side of her dimensional space.

After long discussions with Master Simon, Adrill, Brandon, and Kedva, Tala had reduced the level of power in the area spanning a few feet below ground level all the way to ten feet up, creating a band in which gateless could work without any concern of them being reborn in magic.

At the moment, a lot of gateless were working within Irondale.

Well a couple dozen, give or take. It seemed like a lot to her.

Master Simon had them doing all sorts of things, most of which werent of interest to Tala.

Have any stood out to you? That was one of the core reasons that Tala had agreed to push forward so aggressively on the creation of Irondale.

Well that and the wedding.

For some reason, Brandon and Kedva were quite interested in having their wedding within Kit.

Tala supposed it did make some sense. They were going to be tied to her and Kit at least for the near future, at least until they learned how to better control their own power.

So she was about to have a newlywed couple in Irondale.

That was far preferable to having them in her sanctum. Thus, she was bending her resources to completing that section of Kits inner dimensions.

Master Simon shrugged. A few, and only a few of those have families that could be reborn with them. He smiled. As othered as gateless are, most still end up marrying gated spouses, and most of their children are usually gated.

But not all?

No, not all.

So?

He chuckled. If we really want to engage in this little experiment, I think there are ten families we could approach. If we expand to gateless with Mage spouses, we could just about double that number, though.

How complete would the community be?

It would be surprisingly well balanced, actually. There are a few teachers among the spouses. Though none of those are currently working in Irondale. If they were included, that would sort out the children and childcare situation before it could arise to become an issue. Aside from that, there are quite a few farmers and craftsmen of various stripes.

So, its doable?

Yes, but we already knew that. He chuckled. Why else would we have them building a little settlement?

She shrugged. Its always good to have safe places to put people at need.

He gave her a side-eyed look. If that was your only aim, this seems like a waste of resources in that regard.

Is it allowing you to test out things that would otherwise require my involvement?

He considered for a long moment, then shrugged. ...yes.

Tala grinned. Then, its not a waste.

He smiled at that. Yes, Mistress.

Plus, the wedding Are we going to be done in time for that?

Master Simons smile widened. Easily, yes.

Good.

They sat in silence for a long moment.

After a bit, she glanced his way. Have you two found an answer?

Hmm?

For eternity. You asked if eternity was worth the price of admittance. I assume that I wasnt the only Archon who you asked.

You were not. He looked away from her again, his smile fading.

So?

Everyone has a different answer. Some were rather unhelpful. He sighed. Honestly, most were unhelpful.

Oh? Tala chuckled, already considering what some people might have said.

He straightened, clearly putting on airs as some other Archon hed spoken to, There is no greater cost than eternity, Master Simon, but if the prize is valuable enough, any cost is worth it.

So, it depends on what your goal is? Interesting to view eternity as a price. She bit her lip in thought. That was actually a very interesting way of conceptualizing it, now that she considered it.

That was my understanding, yes.

She gave a half smile, still considering. Any others?

There is no more valuable prize than eternity, you must simply strive to be able to pay the cost with which to seize it. His voice was a bit different, clearly pretending to be another Archon, though she didnt know who.

That is Tala frowned. Thats almost the exact opposite answer?

He sighed. That it is, Mistress Tala. It is at that.New novel chapters are published on

She still smiled at his repetitive answer. The man was clearly a bit frustrated. So, no luck?

He shrugged. It seems to come down to whether or not a given Mage has the drive to reach for eternity for one reason or other. Right now? Petra and I dont really have that calling, that drive.

I see.

Its nothing definite, of course, and weve got decades regardless, but even this brief deeper delving into the topic has been enlightening to say the least. Thank you.

She looked his way. For what?

For bringing us to Alefast, waning. Waning cities are comparatively filled with ancient, powerful Mages, and weve been able to inquire with many of them of all levels of advancement. I dont know that wed have even made as much progress as we have without your assistance. So, thank you.

She gave a little smile, Well, in that case, youre welcome.

* * *

The following days passed uneventfully, with Tala continuing her work, training, and time with friends.

There was nothing of note until Ranes birthday had arrived once more.

She didnt have any specific present on the day, as shed already arranged for the syphon fascia from the beast that theyd slain to be given to him to enhance his dimensional storage.

It is the simple truth. I fear that this estate rarely sees one so lovely, so well presented.

Tala frowned slightly. Im here all the time, Dennairen.

He glanced back her way, a twinkle of mirth in his eyes. That you are, Mistress.

She found his mirth infectious, and she returned his look with a grin. As you say, then.

Tala followed Dennairen through the hallways and to a dining room that she hadnt been to before.

Two people were already seated at the large table centered in the room, though there was no food yet in evidence.

The two were a man and woman who looked like Rane in the oddest of ways.

His father had Ranes hair, whichwhile cropped close to his headstill had some interesting patterns. Those she could only see because of her threefold sight, given their location on the back of his head.

Mainly, the similarity lay in their shared head shape, hair line, and hair color.

Ranes eyes came from his mother, at least their shape did.

Both parents had rather standard hazel eyes, mixes of brown and gray for the father and brown and green for Ranes mother.

Neither were particularly large people, which was interesting given Rane and Chloes larger proportions.

Though, to be fair, Furgal is a rather more standard height. I suppose Rane and his sister are the outliers, then?

Shed never met Ranes other siblings, and she realized that most of them were at the Academy. I might have passed them in the halls there and never known it.

That would be awkward She decided not to think on it further.

Ranes mothers hair was a dark, dark red, very close to the color of dark wine.

It was long and lustrous, woven into a series of braids and buns that collectively fell around her shoulders.

Hundreds of years of hair growth, I suppose.

-Or magic.-

Thats fair Tala gave Alat a mental once over. Good of you to join us.

-I wasnt about to interfere with your decision making.-

Fine.

The two people looked up as Dennairen stepped into the room, and stood when they saw her, which coincided with Dennairens announcement, Presenting, Mistress Tala, Refined Defender of Alefast.

Ranes mother and father gave appropriate bows of Bound toward a Refined, and Tala returned the expected bow of a Refined toward Bound.

When she returned her head to the proper posture, she cleared her throat. Thank you for welcoming me into your home.

She hesitated briefly then.

Alat, help!

Alat sighed within her head. -Repeat this.-

Tala did so, It is my shame that I have gone so long without meeting you in person, but I am grateful for your hospitality on so many occasions during my time here in Alefast.

Ranes mother smiled, coming around the table with one hand out.

Dennairen bowed to the room in general and took that moment to depart.

I am Filha, Ranes Mother. As she took Talas hand, she bowed over it rather than shaking it.

Ranes father bowed again from where he stood before his chair, more in greeting than in deference, I am Neul. Welcome to my home.

Tala smiled, taking back her hand when it was released. She then continued to speak the words that Alat provided, Mistress Filha, Master Neul, thank you for your warm greeting. Thank you also for allowing me to join you both for breakfast on your sons birthday.

Mistress Filha returned to her seat beside her husband, gesturing for Tala to sit across from her. Of course, dear. Thank you for allowing us a meal with our son on his birthday. Her eyes twinkled. I think we all know where he would be if you were elsewhere.

Tala shrugged, somewhat uncomfortably. His parents were obviously unaware of the great ordeal hed undergone in his bid to Refine.

All that they would be aware of was that Tala had been spending a lot of time with Rane, alone, often in his rooms.

There was no question of impropriety. After all, such a soulbond would be rather obvious, especially in the immediate aftermath.

Even so, they likely were putting emotional weight behind the alone time that wasnt there

Tala felt herself flush, thankfully hidden behind her through-spike.

She suddenly wanted to flee the room, but she wasnt one to retreat in the face of danger or embarrassment.

Nope, thats not me at all. I face the things I dislike. She would make that be true if it took all her willpower.

As she sat, she had to face something that she hadnt really let herself consider.

She would be a fool to claim that she had no emotional attachment to Rane.

She cared for him tremendously.

That much was obvious.

Alat was noticeably silent once again, robbing Tala of one of her most consistent means of distraction.

Before the silence could become awkward, however, Tala heard Rane coming.

She stood and turned, completing the motion just as the door swung open.

Rane started talking as he pushed the door open. Good morning! Im glad that youre

He trailed off, his eyes going wide as he saw her. He actually gaped as he looked at her from head to toe and then back up to her face once more.

Tala your clothes.

She allowed herself a little smile of satisfaction. Do you like them?

Mistress Filha gave a gentle laugh. Dear, if his mouth were open any wider, his chin would be on the floor.

Ranes mouth clicked shut, even as his cheeks colored.

Talas smile grew. Well, it seemed like a special occasion.

He seemed entirely tongue tied, but he was saved further embarrassmentand the rest of them were saved from an awkward silenceby a group of servants coming in to bring breakfast.

Rane and Tala sat, him taking the seat between her and his father.

From there, the breakfast was a good deal less awkward than Tala had feared, at least from her perspective.

After the birthday breakfast, she and Rane bid his parents farewell.

As her unit had the day fully off, there was nothing else to require her time or attention.

Together, Tala and Rane spent the remainder of the day with various friends and acquaintances, rotating through several groups before finishing the time sitting atop the highest tower within his familys estate, watching a few scattered falling stars.

All in all, it was a wonderful day.