ONE HUNDRED SEVEN: Opposite Stone

ONE HUNDRED SEVEN: Opposite Stone

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Wordchains are the original form of magic, according to the Palace of Unbreaking. I would take that with an ocean full of salt, because the Palaces stance is always that wordchains are better than everything else and you might be an actual demon if you disagree.

Lute was sitting sideways in the green velvet chair, stretching his fingers one by one. Behind him, the light panel on the wall was flickering slightly behind its shade, as if the privacy booth really was a train car and a changing landscape lay just beyond the fabric.

Anyway, theyre way old. And they work based on a simple conceptequal exchange. I give you my sense of balance for three hours. You give me yours for three hours. I take your strength today. You take mine tomorrow.

You told me they were common sense, Alden said from where he was sitting on the love seat. And that it made Chainer a common sense class.

Lute nodded. Aulia wants to obscure every minute detail partially because its so simple. Im not an evil old politician, but I think shes afraid people will realize that we dont actually getahthats still an ass tattoo matter. Back on topicmy boss says the more people make successful exchanges, the more solid the chain becomes, until its so strong its doable for even less accomplished people. A person says these magic words and they get peace of mind. Even little kids and species without fingers can make some of them work.

He pointed at Aldens ledger. But what happens when a wordchain is brand new? Or when its been forgotten? What happens if nobody ever uses it? Or if everybody only wants to use one half and so they never speak the other and always let it snap back?

Aldens eyes widened. Thats so obvious.

I know it is. But we take wordchains for granted. Like theyrelight switches maybe? Not that many people sit down to ponder how the electricity got to them when they flip the switch. My boss tells me that Artonans, as a society, used to be very serious about wordchain maintenance. Ancient aliens would perform multiple ones every day, like it was a chore they had to do to keep the lights on for themselves and their grandchildren. Now, even though theyre still in use across the Triplanets, theyre not being cared for with the same level of dedication. So tons of them have broken, or theyre on the verge of breaking, or theyre just weakening.

He reached over to grab the wooden case on the table beside him.

The Palace of Unbreaking is dedicated to wordchain preservation. Scary dedicated. As part of that, they do their best to restrict access to wordchains based on their fragility. They want everyone to do wordchains all the time. But only if theyre going to do them in the right way. So when chains start to fail, they try to make sure theyre only being taught and shared with responsible people who are going to strengthen them instead of weakening them further.

Alden lifted his new ledger from his lap. So youre supposed to make sure Im not stacking up tons of debt.

Thats right. And dont lie, man. If you miss listing properly completed ones every now and then its fine. Or if you let a few snap and have to fess up to it, thats fine, too. But dont neglect to mention the snapped ones and dont say you completed one fair and square if you didnt.

I wouldnt.

Lute nodded. Parethat-uur has an absurdly high opinion of you, so I think youve probably got a lot more leeway than normal. And they dont demand perfection from beginners anyway. But the thing isif you do become a problematic user, there can be serious consequences for you after youve signed this with me. You wouldnt like them at all.

Alden looked back at the first page of the ledger. Are the spaces for the teacher and student names some kind of contract?

No. They told me it was more like an honesty pledge. It wont make either of us do anything or prevent us from doing anything. Its just an official record of the fact that you agreed to be a responsible wordchain user and I agreed to be responsible for you. I send a copy to the Palace of Unbreaking as soon as you sign. If you get caught avoiding debt too often, they take away one of your rights, and if I get caught neglecting you or letting you cheatIm pretty sure I get yelled at. And they dont let me have another student until Ive sucked up a lot.

What right do I lose?

Lute looked uncomfortable. You know how when I shared the wordchain with you, you had to agree to it through the System?

Alden nodded.

That one.

He took in Aldens expression. No! Dont think Im horrible! I wouldnt actually do anything to you, its just that Id be able toand so would the rest of my family.

I dont think youre horrible, Alden said. He cleared his throat. I was surprised. Thats all.

You look like someone whos stuck in a tiny room with a serial killer.

No I dont.

You

Alden tossed one of the silk throw pillows at him. Lute, its fine. I wondered about the System permission thing when it popped up. Its not like Sways have to get our permission before they do shit to us. Its not like Lexi has to get permission before stabbing us with Writher. Thats not how Avowed classes usually work, so I thought it was strange that you had to use a consent form before laying a wordchain on me.

Lute was still eyeing him nervously. The Palace of Unbreaking wont let Chainers bestow a wordchainwhether its beneficial or noton unwilling people under normal circumstances. Its counter to their entire ethos.

Hazel didnt have to get my permission before she sniped me, though.

The fact that she was calling in a debt that already belonged to Alden mustve made it all right in the Palaces eyes. Or else she got to play by her own rules for some reason.

Your class would be something if you didnt have that restriction. Alden looked over at the pile of books on the bed. You could lay endless types of disaster and reap endless positives in return.

But I cant do that. And I wouldnt.

I believe you. Alden felt like he was missing something though. Why does your grandmother not want people to understand even the basics of why wordchains are restricted? I dont see any benefit for her. A lot of people seem to dislike you guys because they think youre wordchain hoarders who refuse to share with others so that you can maintain your power. But you actually just work for the hoarders. And the hoarders are hoarding for a good reason.

Wellll, said Lute. We do hoard. Some. There are a lot that the Palace wouldnt mind people using that just havent filtered down to Earth yet. Mostly odd effects. You could probably crack open one of those books and find a dozen. And we do get access to some particularly strong, delicate, or difficult ones just for ourselves. Aulia, for example, has The Gloss. Which she does not mind the family telling people is very extra awesome and only for her.

Imagine that.

Why dont other Avowed who visit the Palace come back with all this info, then?

Oh. Now this is interesting. I can answer this question but only in a misleading fashion. Your friend the wizard will be able to answer it fully.

Lute looked like he very much wanted Alden to ask.

Whats the misleading reason?

Lute rose to his feet and looked down his nose at Alden. No Avowed but Chainers may work for the Palace. Im terribly sorry, pleb. Youre never going to be summoned there, so youll have to take my word for all matters wordchain related.

Alden narrowed his eyes. So thats it. They dont summon anyone but you guys to wordchain central.

Were special, Lute said in the same snobby voice. The Artonans love us so much, and were so special.

Never? None of the wizards there have ever wanted a Rabbit masseuse? They dont want a Rabbit floor cleaner to make sure the people who prostrate themselves before you dont get their faces dirty?

Lute pointed at him. You say prostration one more time and Im not signing that ledger with you.

Alden grinned. Prost

Oh look, said Lute in an airy voice, Parethat-uur sent you a present. Hell want to know how you liked it. Here you go.

He grabbed one of the cases and presented it to Alden with a flourish.

Alden opened it. There was a big white papaya-shaped fruit inside. Its a wevvi fruit, he said.

You recognize it from pictures? Good.

Ive had one before. A juiced one anyway.

Lute tilted his head. A real one? The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.

Alden nodded.

What the hell? I thought for sure it was just my family. They told me you basically have to have some kind of ritual event to even get your hands onnever mind. Its you. Your oddities keep stacking.

Should you be saying that to me?

Eat up, my new beholden one, in a fashion that honors your Artonan ancestors!

I dont have any of those.

Parethat-uur does not care. Lute smirked. Youre supposed to eat the whole thing. No utensils. Wasting the skin or the seeds is forbidden in this instance.

No juice?

Whatever you can gnaw out of its fibrous hide before swallowing.

Its kind of large. It wasnt quite ham-sized, but it was close.

I actually felt a little sorry for you when I first saw it. Lute said, staring down at the white fruit. He was trying to be generous. You can do it while I teach. You should be able to manage it in a few hours, right?

Do I really have to eat the whole thing? Thats going to make me sick, isnt it?

Oh, said Alden. He smiled down at the stone. So theyre a kid.

An Artonan exactly his age should be physically and emotionally closer to human twelve.

Thats amazingimagining that someone born the same minute as me might be holding their stone right now, too.

Lute finished tying his laces, then stood up. All right. Money spent. Tutoring completed. Bed jumped on. Alien gifts given. Some Chainer secrets revealed.

Crush selected, Alden added, reaching for his own shoes.

Crush selected, Lute repeated. Wevvi fruit

He craned his neck toward the case the fruit had come in.

I just finished the last bite, said Alden. And because of that, I may need to stop by a dispensary when we leave for another one of those unruly stomach injectors. My guts are wondering why Ive chosen to put a whole raw custard-flavored pumpkin in them on a beautiful Saturday.

> Lute intoned as he collected all the things theyd be taking with them when they left.

Thank you for teaching me. This was awesome of you. Its great for me, but youre getting nothing out of it except for tons of my company.

Its not like I have a glorious social life. I would just be sitting around playing my harp and studying.

Still said Alden. If you think of some way for me to return the favor, let me know.

Tomorrow. The girls

Thats just me having a good time with all of you, Lute. It wasnt a favor last weekend, and it isnt this one either. And now Im asking you to spend even more time on the phone with me while I go down to F and possibly piss off a mind-controlled Brute lady.

Lute was quiet for a second. Then he said, Wellthats just me having a good time with you, Alden. Ill watch you piss off Brute ladies every weekend. It sounds very entertaining.

Alden laughed. Sorry, but I hope its boring for you. I want to get to her apartment and find out that shes not even there. If shes at the healing hospital right now getting checked for mental manipulation like I recommended, that would be the best possible outcome.

Fine. Ill root for that this weekend. But next weekend Im rooting for a Brute lady to take a swing at you.

Alden stood and looked around the privacy booth. He made a decision.

Hey, the thing on my profile that made your boss excited

Lutes eye fixed on him.

Its not something Im embarrassed about, but it doesnt feel like me. I dont know how people will see it, and I definitely dont want to introduce myself to everyone I meet that way and then have to, like, prove it with every breath I take. He shrugged uncomfortably. Anyway. Its just a commendation.

A commendation? Lutes fingers tightened on the box that held Aldens new inkwell and brush. You meanone for fighting chaos. Like the kind Haoyus mom has?

Does she have one? I didnt know.

Two. I think she got one before he was born and another when we were in seventh grade. His dad has one. Ive heard him mention them before. And there were a couple other people in our school whose parents had one. Lute looked away from Alden to stare at the cut-crystal sconce on the wall in front of him. Most of them were really proud.

Mines not for fighting chaos, said Alden. I was sitting in a little bit of chaos for months and trying to stay alive, and then I was running away from it. The commendation is for taking care of someone while I was there and taking her with me when I left. I think. They just gave it to me. Its not like there was an explanation.

Lute didnt say anything.

I figured you were probably curious. And Ive learned a lot about your Chainer stuff, Alden said. Im sure the faculty know, and I trust you more than any of them so theres no real reason to keep it a secretI just dont want people to look at me and think Guy with Alien Accolade instead of Guy Trying to Remember How to Do High School.

Yeah, youre terrible at that, said Lute. You speak fluent Artonan, you study way too much, and you try to save cultists. You need to get some chewing gum stuck to your learning cushion next week, accidentally set one of your rugs on fire, and fail to turn in homework. Then youll be cured.

Alden felt relieved. I did set a shirt on fire.

Oh right. The tag tried to kill you so you defeated it with your spell impression. Lute gave him a half-smile. Thanks for telling me. Thatsits cool.

Its just a thing that happened.

Which commendation is it? Lute asked. I know there are different ones.

Its for Exceptional Bravery in the Absence of Obligation.

Well that confirms that your heart really does burn sinners to death.

Shut up.

I cant help that words have meanings, man. The meaning of those words isnt open to interpretation. No one made you be brave, and you chose to do it anyway.

It really is just a thing that happened.

I wont bother you about it, Lute said. I do understand wanting to be High School Guy instead of something else. And it would be peculiar to introduce yourself to people with, Hi. Im Alden the Commended One. Dont do that. Everyone will think you have issues.

Alden snorted. Ill try to avoid it. By the way, I dont want Haoyu and Lexi to hear about it yet.

Lute looked surprised. You havent told Haoyu?

No. I only told you because were getting to know each other and your boss was acting like I had a supernova in my chest. It was nice of you not to push for info.

You should tell Haoyu. You two get along so well and hes going to be thrilled. Hell probably carry you home to his mother like, Look! I found another one of you! Compare stars while I take notes!

Ill tell him if it comes up naturally. Im not desperate to keep it from him or anything. I kind of want to do better in gym before it comes out, though.

Thats random.

Im positive they only let me into the hero program because of the commendation, Alden explained. And not because it says Im brave. They didnt talk about bravery at all in my interview. I dont think they consider it the most necessary quality. They were just afraid of making the Artonans mad or something, so here I am. Id like to show all of my classmates I dont suck before they find out about the star and start guessing about it.

Lutes expression darkened. I hadnt thought of that. Being the class weakling isbad. Being the class weakling and having something that will make other people jealous? That can ruin your whole life.

Im not the class weakling! Alden protested. Im doing well. I just think I can do even better.

Lute gave him a look. Be realistic. You could be levitating a meter off the ground, weeping diamonds, and exhaling clouds of poisonous gas, and some of those privileged little rankists would still know right down to their bones that they were better than you because youre only a B.

Theyre not that bad.

They are, Lute muttered. Trust me. I know several of the people in your program. Some of them are better than others, and not all of the ones who buy into that mindset are dicks because of it. But its likethis is the puddle we all grew up swimming in. Even if they understand that its wrong and they actively try to reject it, they still default to thinking that way a lot of the time.

A chime sounded through the room suddenly, and the lights flickered.

Thats our two-minute warning, Lute said. Before they open the door and kick us out.

Im ready to go when you are.

Alden grabbed the wevvi fruit case. None of Parethat-uurs gifts had been sent in anything that looked remotely disposable. The cases, chests, and small boxes were all wood and leather with embroidered cloth interiors.

Rich people need to stop giving me things that are too expensive to get rid of. I dont know what my dorm rooms going to look like a year from now at this rate.

Dozens of boxes full of lavender and alien curios probably. At least he was going to smell good.

Lutes fingers hovered over the latch that would open the privacy booths door. Alden waited, but he just stood there, facing the paneled wall.

I do think its amazing, he said as the lights flickered again. The fact that you earned a commendation. I feel like I need be clear about it. I think its amazing, and Im glad you made it back to Earth and that youre alive.

Alden raised his eyebrows. Thanks. You dont have to say stuff like that, though.

I do, said Lute, still not looking at him. Not to make things weird for you or anything, but just so you knowI mean it. I think its terrible something bad happened to you, and I hope nothing like that happens to you again.

He hooked the latch with a finger and pulled before Alden could ask what the sudden change in tone was about.

*