AbyssalRoadTrip
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Abyssal Road Trip - 299 - Side Effects
🕑 Added 2023-06-17 09:38:11 +0000 UTCAmdirlain’s PoV - Outlands - Prison
Amdirlain sat outside the cells and procrastinated by considering the visit with Phrinhralith’s grandparents. The lengthy protocols of the dragons of Vrantvrak had consumed hours of back and forth; their displays of overflowing reverence throughout had made it an uncomfortable experience for Amdirlain. While she had missed the events, she gathered details in bits and pieces about their moderate course—for dragons—and actions to date.
The conclave’s envoy had chastised the formithians about their invasion of the dragons' world. It compared them to egg stealers and hoard thieves, pilfering metals from underneath their noses. That they were materials hidden beneath the sands was beside the point once the dragons learnt the species were invaders.
That great wyrm's presence and his carefully worded claims about the nest’s sterilisation had stopped the formithians' protests. The latest eggs’ infertile state, which the formithians themselves had only begun to suspect, gave the advantage to the envoy. He’d coldly demanded that the formithians leave the world or suffer the wrath of the conclave.
To illustrate the next step, the envoy’s breath weapon turned kilometres of sand near the formithians’ nest into molten glass. That dramatic demonstration had signalled the end of their discussions. The scanner’s most recent map now showed the number of formithians in the nest was already decreasing. Not satisfied that they were peacefully following the order, the dragons had been scrying within the nests for the means of their escape. They found multiple planar gates had begun the exodus shortly after the envoy’s ultimatum.
Before they’d left Vrantvrak, Amdirlain had sent out a new device to tag those remaining formithians. After repeated checks, all those tagged and shifted through a Gate were still in the Outlands. After an hour of waiting, Amdirlain had to accept that she didn't know when they would arrive at their ultimate destination. She hoped they wouldn’t end up as labourers on another world being invaded or at a new spot on Vrantvrak.
If the evacuated formithians are helping a new colony, do I restore them? What course do I take if they don’t follow the conclave’s instructions?
Setting aside her concerns that the formithians were conducting a false operation, Amdirlain started the Ki cycling. As Amdirlain’s Ki touched the surface of Cuiniel’s essence, she let out an enraged scream that was heard only by Amdirlain. When she’d reached the limits of Cuiniel’s tolerance, Amdirlain opened a Gate to a desolate world and stepped through.
Though the time spent visiting Goxashru’s home world had cut into the day, Amdirlain continued her training routine. As World Step continued to advance, Amdirlain increased the frequency of the jumps between worlds. With each leap, she strained the Power, forcing it to deliver her closer to that world’s beacon.
I need to progress World Step into something like Isa’s World Step (Group) and then push it harder.
* * * *
When Amdirlain arrived in her training courtyard in Nolmar, Klipyl was waiting for her with a broad grin. “Hey, Boss!”
“Kli, that's not my current position,” corrected Amdirlain.
Pouting, Klipyl tucked her hands behind her back. “But you’re my boss here at Nolmar, even if we’ve not had any meetings about teaching. Sarah says to remind you that parent-teacher meetings are yearly events.”
“Do you need help with teaching?” asked Amdirlain
“No idea. I’m just teaching the same way Miss Wrath and Sad Girl handled things,” announced Klipyl. “Those are the only formal Wizard lessons I’ve had. They’d be here themselves, but something about the treaty for this town made that out of the question.”
Her play on Erwarth’s and Nûr’s names teased out a smile from Amdirlain.
“Well, check in with Yngvarr and Aggie if you have questions about teaching mortals; I won’t be here often enough. You’ve been playing in the tower, haven’t you?” questioned Amdirlain.
Giving a coy smile, Klipyl put her hands to her cheeks. “Just a tinnie-bit; it’s helping you out, and I get stronger, so we both win. Do you want to put a barrier up so we can talk without worrying? I could put one up, but I’m sure yours are much stronger.”
Amdirlain sang aloud and set a sound barrier in place.
“That was weird, but pretty,” commented Klipyl. “I’m sure there is more to it than I heard.”
“A lot of the song is background energy only audible to certain folks. What have you been up to, Kli?” enquired Amdirlain.
“Teaching and running my hands all over the tower’s tip not enough?” panted Klipyl with a wink.
Amdirlain raised a brow before she clarified her interest. “The experience I’m getting here has jumped since your arrival. Are you finding a use for the drops?”
Pouting, Klipyl gave a deep sigh. “I’m limited for other playmates at present, if it’s jumped, that’s extra wins. The townfolk hold everyone close to you in awe. As for the drops, I’m sending those to Laurelin. Plenty of folks training in Alchemy have a use for them. We'll give out the healing potions and other elixirs they make to mortals we’re looking to help. Even a smidge of help can go a long way, like your advice about setting up a business and becoming more than someone’s toy.”
“What do you do if you can’t give the right help?” enquired Amdirlain, keeping her tone light.
“Ammy!!! Why do you ask me those sorts of questions? I’m just supposed to announce stuff and deliver messages,” objected Klipyl, but her tone quickly changed into a purr. “Oh, and blow stuff up. I love blowing things up.”
“It was a hypothetical question,” deflected Amdirlain.
Klipyl put her hands on her hips and huffed. “Don’t do that to me! Give me questions I can deal with, like: he doesn’t seem to pay attention to me anymore, what do I do? What do you do if they’re not interested in foreplay? I can’t seem to find how to get her to cum. Stuff like that, okay?”
Amdirlain patted Klipyl on top of the head and gave her a crooked smile. “I’m sorry; it’s okay.”
“Yeah, sure you are,” grumbled Klipyl. “For that, you’re coming with me for a drink after your lessons today.”
“Sorry, no can do. I’ve got a tonne of things to get through,” rejected Amdirlain.
Klipyl frowned. “I heard about your brutal regimen, but you’ve got a Skill whose course you want to shift. Sometimes the shifts you need only come from introducing different things into your life. When was the last time you sat down and were just there to take in the scenery?”
“A while,” admitted Amdirlain, and she had to keep her mind from dwelling on a quiet day with Torm.
“You know, I’m one of a kind among all the celestials in Laurelin. I’ve not heard of any other born Demon becoming a Celestial. I mean, I was a brat of a whore, who’d become another whore, and then I met you, and you changed me three times,” commented Klipyl.
“Three?”
Klipyl wiggled her fingers and started to tick them off. “Street whore to the manager of a brothel slash tavern. Then you stuck your fingers in me and crushed all the shards together. Finally, when the Titan gave me a choice because of you, I knew you’d come back. We might have learnt more if Miss Wrath hadn’t been a scared rage monster with the Titan. Everyone else was down or trying to distract themselves, but I knew, so I cracked jokes no one appreciated.”
“How did you know?”
“I don’t think the Titan is used to talking to others or keeping secrets from them. He gave blunt facts and then fidgeted with his hammer. Not like he wanted to smash the Lome, or me, more that he wanted to be away from us or focusing on something important,” Klipyl explained and gave a broad shrug. “Then there was what he said about you.”
“That I’d need to recover myself?”
“Yeah, his words worried everyone because they ignored the confidence, hope, and frustration there. I know about that frustration. I’ll never be the strongest Celestial in your service, and I don’t have aeons of memories, but I’ll do what I can,” replied Klipyl.
“You’re not in my service presently,” advised Amdirlain.
Klipyl waved her off and gave Amdirlain a cheeky grin. “I’ll always be in your service, even if doing that is serving Ebby. No idea if someone else would have been able to kick off my change, or would have bothered. All that is beside the point because you were the right person to point the way for me. You need lots of experience to get strong enough for your next steps?”
“Yes, but I also need to push some powers and skills to get a decent Prestige Class,” advised Amdirlain.
Her smile vanished as Klipyl frowned in concern. “I’m not overdoing things on you, am I?”
“No, I’m still trillions of experience from the next level, and I’ve got hundreds of levels to get,” reassured Amdirlain. “Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime, boss lady,” responded Klipyl. “Now, if you want a hand with other things, just let me know. You’re so gorgeous!”
“Klipyl,” sighed Amdirlain.
“What? You should relax and take a leaf from my book. I have sex now because I treasure the happiness that intimacy brings others,” explained Klipyl, and she looked Amdirlain up and down with heat in her gaze. “Good sex is hot, vigorous, and involves snuggling afterwards, though a lot of snuggling before slow, languorous sex is sweet as well.”
“Shoo,” insisted Amdirlain.
“Did I make you blush?” teased Klipyl before she ran off giggling. “Don’t forget I offered.”
To distract herself from Klipyl’s teasing, Amdirlain ran over her plans and considered the options for scheduling. Repeatedly, though, she came back to one thought.
Am I the right person to be helping my patients?
A Celestial’s song approaching along the corridor drew Amdirlain from her deliberations. Looking up, she spotted a familiar elven figure and rose from her perch atop the steps.
His caramel skin looked accented with a dusting of mint green and sat taught across flawless elven features. It was hard to push past her first memory of him with those same features contorted in pain, but she set it aside. When Amdirlain stood, Rana nodded respectfully, and a smile lit up his rich amber gaze. “I’m told you’re using the name Am. I hope it is alright for me to be so familiar.”
“Welcome, Rana; using Am is fine. What brings you to visit?”
Rana moved across the courtyard with liquid grace that barely caused a ripple across the rich green silks he wore. When he got within arm’s reach, he knelt in front of Amdirlain, laying a bejewelled sword on the ground between them.
“I’m here on duty for the Lady of the Forest. After she sent you a gift, she learned of your new servant; a Talon, I believe was the term. Will you accept my time to teach Goxashru the use of blades?”
“Of course, I would. That’s very generous of you, Rana,” replied Amdirlain.
Smiling shyly, Rana met her gaze. “Since I was coming to offer to teach your Talon, our lady asked me to confirm that others attending your school to teach wouldn't interfere with your plans.”
Tilting her head, Amdirlain paused in consideration of the offer before she spoke. “Everyone is swamping me with offers of help.”
“You have helped others in the past. Is it not right they help in your endeavours?” questioned Rana.
“The Lady’s servants already provided help with the initial teaching of the Cadre,” objected Amdirlain.
Rana shrugged. “And they helped keep an army of hobgoblins from overrunning a forest region. That is one example of how our gift of time to your projects has provided greater benefits to the forest. Here it aids a garrison that keeps the Outlands secure.”
“There is that. The Commander referred to your lady as Mielikki. Is that the right name for your lady?” enquired Amdirlain. “On Vehtë, I mostly heard the title Lady of the Forest, though some humans and half-elves worship her as Mielikki.”
“On Vehtë, the elves refer to her as the Lady of the Forest as her avatar sits at the heart of the Taurë forest. That manifestation is associated with Danu, her name in the Summer Court. The Taurë worry that using that name will distract the Avatar from her meditations that help maintain the forest’s balance; thus, their use of her title—or rarely—Mielikki,” explained Rana.
The Divine awareness that Amdirlain’s use of Mielikki had invoked strengthened. The courtyard filled with the scent of the deep forest, cool shadows, rich mulch, and a gentle fluttering of leaves.
“The mother of the Tuatha dé Danann?” asked Amdirlain.
Smiling brightly, Rana tilted his head as if listening before he returned his attention to Amdirlain again. “Indeed, in another realm. My lady hoped you’d use the arrow to join them within the Summer Court so they might assist your redemption. Given your current nature, it might be an ominous start, but one possible to alter through time and care.”
“A Mantle is a generous offer but a dangerous path. I’ve found my course of rebirth and the truth of my name amidst flames. We both know that isn’t something I should bring among the Summer Court’s forested ways,” said Amdirlain. “I appreciate Danu passing along the arrow, and I believe there are ways I can use it to end, or at least hurt, Moloch.”
“You learnt your True Name?” whispered Rana.
Amdirlain only smiled.
“An important step for Celestial and Mortal alike. I hope you find redemption through the path your name shows you,” continued Rana, and he nodded again respectfully.
Retrieving his sword as he rose, Rana affixed it to his belt.
“My Talon is approaching if you’d care to meet him today,” advised Amdirlain.
Rana gave a simple nod. “It would be my honour. I’ve also undergone Wizard training and started progressing towards Spellblade, so I can assist him in theory or practical lessons.”
“Would you give him one-on-one training in both?” asked Amdirlain, and she gestured to the approaching trio. “He’s got an evolved base Class called Arcane Knight, besides Wizard.”
“Consider me at your service as his personal trainer,” confirmed Rana immediately. Not waiting for an introduction, Rana headed down the corridor to intercept Goxashru, leaving her with two students to tend.
* * * * *
The day’s lesson had been a repetition of their last practice, though Rana had taken Goxashru off to another courtyard to teach. Throughout the lesson, she helped them to refine their control of Mana and Ki. When the lesson was over, Enrig bowed and staggered away sweat having slicked his fur down. Though Callen bowed out at the end, he plopped down on the closest step, taking long, controlled breaths.
Amdirlain waited for him to regain his composure before passing him a large mug of water. “Drink plenty of fluids after these sessions.”
“It's somewhat depressing that we’re both soaked with sweat and you still look pristine,” complained Callen.
Kli’s earlier comment prompted Amdirlain to pour herself a mug and sit on a nearby step. “The further you push your limits, the better you’ll get.”
“Pushing limits doesn’t always work out,” critiqued Callen.
“Like taking a job in a different section?” enquired Amdirlain.
Callen shrugged. “That I’m still determined to turn around; some are more open to it than others.”
“Well, I detected little in the way of hostility towards you, more along the lines of reservation,” advised Amdirlain.
“Captain Bedevere won their respect, so I’ll just have to do so as well,” muttered Callen. “They take their cue from their seniors, so if I can win over any of them, that will help. Your burrow here has shifted the dynamics of the section.”
“In what way?”
“Since Enrig and I are both your pupils, it brought Enrig’s and my opinion into greater focus for the mousekin members.”
Amdirlain hummed thoughtfully. “And there, your key is Enrig?”
“Yeah, and he has a bit of a grudge on the matter,” admitted Callen.
“He had mentioned he was friends with the alternate candidate,” advised Amdirlain.
Draining the mug, Callen set it on the upper step. “The only other candidate I know about rested on his laurels, and his duty assignments tended to be favour-based. Do him a favour or be on his good side and he’d delegate work to someone else instead of you. He made himself lots of friends that way. I was after Captain Bedevere’s role and needed to have held rank long enough to be taken seriously once he leaves.”
“Still after his job?” enquired Amdirlain.
“At present, it's a long-term possibility, but something better might come up,” admitted Callen. “What we’re learning here might lead to that.”
“Why the focus on rank?” enquired Amdirlain. “I thought that for an Elf this would be short-term employment.”
“Many of my ancestors have been soldiers in one or another of these garrisons. As a Sergeant, I already hold the highest rank any of them achieved. I want to prove that the past doesn’t show the limit of what we can aim for,” said Callen earnestly, his knuckles turning white gripping the edge of the stairs.
“Is there a particular reason?”
The mocking laugh Callen let loose with wasn’t the response she expected. “Pride and my tribe’s ways. It sounds stupid, but I’ll admit it's mainly pride. Different elves have their customs for determining seniority within a tribe. For my people, it's about military service, either in the tribes’ forces or those of allies. It's assessed based on a mixture of years of service and rank achieved. My family has never achieved high enough to warrant a place in the tribe's council.”
“Are there problems in your homeland because of that?”
Callen fidgeted as he sought the right words to explain the situation.
“Take your time, and I’ll ask questions if I’m in any way confused,” reassured Amdirlain.
“Problems start while training; the youngsters of council families take precedence in gear and opportunities. We get our chances later if they come around again, and I got so sick of some brat lording it over those without elders in their families,” explained Callen. “I want to achieve so much that when my future family members enter or graduate training, they’re given the first chance to prove themselves. They might fall on their arses, but that means they’ll have more reason to try harder themselves.”
“A high tide lifts all boats,” commented Amdirlain.
Callen nodded. “Yeah, I want to be that high tide for my family.”
Giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, Amdirlain headed to the Blazing Portal. Taking Klipyl’s advice to mix things up, she walked instead of teleporting. Though she could hear the song concealing her auras was still in place, she reinforced it as she went along.
The temporary goat pen Amdirlain had made creating the first phase of the courtyard had been emptied, both of the livestock and the masses of dried grass. Improvements to the initial fencing she’d built were in progress, so it seemed someone intended to use it.
As she headed for the main road, the bee-covered building thrummed. Multiple layers beat their wings excitedly, and she could hear the air circulating through the interior.
The town’s main road and side lanes were busier with foot traffic than she had witnessed since her arrival. The locals made room for a caravan of three-metre tall, obsidian-skinned visitors and their bulky beasts, their granite and silica flesh ringing with a strange life force.
When she arrived at the Blazing Portal, no guests were waiting before Wisp’s empty counter, and the Aerial Servant spun about before she spoke up. “Well, if it isn’t the fleshy guest who comes and goes most of the time without me any wiser.”
“Maybe I’m just extra sneaky,” suggested Amdirlain.
“Or the wards are still having trouble getting a grip on you,” countered Wisp. “Do you blow past the town’s wards as well?”
“I don’t know what the town’s wards have been registering about my movements,” advised Amdirlain.
“That’s a yes,” declared Wisp.
“A maybe.” countered Amdirlain. “No game on the counter today?”
Wisp let out a disappointed sigh. “Some doofus hid them, and I’ve not had time to find them.”
Amdirlain filtered Resonance to focus on the assorted pieces she’d heard Wisp using. It didn’t take her long to locate them tucked away in the backroom of a tavern further along the street; traces of Wisp’s energy an explicit confirmation. Pointing to a spot next to the desk’s rear wall, Amdirlain shifted the entire box into place. “All the pieces I’ve seen you use are in there. They were hidden next door. Speak to the owner if whoever hid them sold them and didn’t just stash them there as a prank.”
A loud buzz filled the room as Wisp swirled along the walls twice before ripping open the box, and pieces streamed into the air.
“My games!” thrilled Wisp. “Oh, thank you so much. Gosh, I hope they’re all here.”
Leaving an excited Wisp to check on the contents, Amdirlain retired to her suite. Setting the bath to fill, Amdirlain nosed through the library for a book, only to be interrupted by a chime from the suite’s outer door.
Fanya stood on the threshold with a male albino-white Elf who shared the set of Fanya’s red gaze, along with her black and silver-flecked hair. The intensity in the other Elf’s eye and theme proclaimed his age as Amdirlain considered the pair of them. With the various similarities in their compositions, they were closely related.
He dressed differently from Fanya’s usual—nearly transparent—outfit. The deep blue tones of his silk shirt matched the leather hue of his pants and boots. His garments held a lingering trace of the Element Plane of Water, proclaiming a recent long-term stay on the Plane.
[Name: Nillendur “Lendur” Shadowglade
Species: Mist Elf
Class: Dimensional Master / Dimensional Arch-Wizard / Spatial Champion / Temporal Adept
Level: 93 / 93 / 83 / 83
Health: 102,664
Defence: 960
Magic: 2,110
Mana: 15,226,094
Melee Attack Power: 1,214
Combat Skills: Staff [GM] (59), Dagger [GM] (4) - Various affinities and Spell lists. Enhanced affinities: Water, Air, Light, Lightning, Gravity, Spatial, and Time
Details: A long-term resident of Xaos, he frequently travels around the elemental planes. Though he has travelled to some lower and upper planes, he has kept his ventures into those limited. He gained the Burning Portal betting on a Wizard Duel two hundred seventy-five years ago. Uncle of Tinnith “Fanya” Shadowglade.]
“Lady Am, I’m Lendur, the owner of the Blazing Portal and Fanya’s teacher. Might we come in to speak with you?” asked Nillendur.
“Am is fine. I don’t need any title; it's enough to endure it from those with the garrison and the students,” demurred Amdirlain. Stepping back from the door’s threshold, she invited them to ascend the stairs to the suite’s central area. “Would you like some tea, water, or something else?”
I could create something to dispense food, but controlling my songs to only feed a few people might be risky.
Once they were both on the stairs, Amdirlain secured the door and followed them up.
“The offer is appreciated, but I wouldn’t want to put you to any effort,” Nillendur replied diplomatically once Amdirlain joined them.
“That’s good because I realised other refreshment options are minimal,” admitted Amdirlain sheepishly. “I’d have to go get something.”
Reaching out telekinetically, Amdirlain disabled the mechanism filling the bath. With a water overflow averted, she took a spot on a coach. The pair sat across from her, and Amdirlain caught Fanya’s fingers nervously playing with the stitching along the couch’s edge.
“I hope you’ll pardon my ignorance, but is the custom among Mist Elves to make small talk first or jump straight to the matter for discussion?” asked Amdirlain.
Lendur waggled a hand. “It depends on how long you’ve known the other person. The longer the association, the more small talk occurs before serious matters.”
“Since we’ve just met, getting down to the reason for your visit is fine with me,” advised Amdirlain. “I mean, if the hesitation was for that reason, it's not an approach that I’ll find offensive.”
“Given the displays of power and your friendly association with the Commander, offending you was a concern,” admitted Lendur. “I’d appreciate your time to discuss two matters: the spatial techniques you used to construct Nolmar, and its library. How much to learn the first, and would I be able to get access to the second?”
“I like that your first questions are about learning. How much do you know about the library's contents?” enquired Amdirlain, deliberately skipping past the first item.
“Captain Bedevere mentioned a few books he’d browsed while talking to one of your staff: Yngvarr,” Lendur admitted and gave a wary smile. “I’m sure if you have those, you have others of interest to me.”
“It depends if you want access to it via an hourly agreement with a fixed time limit, or among the ongoing benefits of a teaching position; I plan to expand the library, but someone coming in simply to copy grimoires whenever we’ve sourced hard-to-come-by ones isn’t appealing.”
“What would ongoing access cost me?”
“How many students would you like to teach?” enquired Amdirlain
“Bedevere said you’ve got at least ten teachers already,” protested Lendur.
Amdirlain shrugged. “The school is presently a bit on the small side. Should I take that to mean you’re more interested in an hourly rate?”
“Not necessarily. What else does teaching at your school get me?”
“Access to the library, the tower, and an ongoing stipend dependent on your students' progress,” explained Amdirlain. “Progress determined by independent evaluation.”
“What are you planning to charge students?” enquired Lendur.
“Nothing, but we’ll be selective in those we take in. We’ll also assess those studying to ensure they’ve continued to put in a legitimate effort. If not, they’ll be shown the door,” advised Amdirlain. “We’ll request students who achieve a certain degree of proficiency to teach students on behalf of the school if they wish to further their studies beyond that level.”
Lendur’s eyes went wide. “How deep are your pockets to fund something like this?”
“Deep.”
Amdirlain said nothing further, despite it being clear from Lendur’s expression that he’d hoped for clarification.
“How great a proficiency are you expecting from your teachers?” asked Fanya.
“At least one Tier 5 Prestige Class with Wizard involved and ten Spell lists mastered,” replied Amdirlain. “That is another benefit. We’ll help teachers to expand their affinities.”
Fanya gave a disappointed sigh that drew a snort from Lendur. “I’ve told you to apply yourself more.”
“When you achieve at least that, we can discuss a job,” advised Amdirlain. “If we’re not poaching you from your uncle.”
The pair hesitated at Amdirlain’s revelation, but she waited for them to comment.
Does limitless count as deep? The biggest concern again will be inflation. I might need to use portals to distant locations in the Outlands and other planes to spread the impact and increase the school’s student base.
Lendur cleared his throat and moved on. “Surely you can’t just grow it indefinitely.”
“I’ll eventually put a cap on hiring more teachers and limit the intake of new students. Initially, it will be members of the garrison and a few locals until we establish the routine of Nolmar’s lessons. My idea of a decent-sized academy and that of others diverge.”
“You’ve been making gaining affinities simple,” observed Lendur.
Giving a lopsided smile, Amdirlain shrugged. “Normally, it is straightforward for me to teach people affinities. Though I’ve assisted no one with your enhanced affinities; that would be interesting. Care to try it?”
“If you can teach me Earth, I’ll teach at your school free for a year,” offered Lendur.
“And if I can teach you all your missing affinities except those associated with the lower planes?”
“A century if your school lasts that long,” offered Lendur with a confident smile.
“Say a decade,” proposed Amdirlain. “Even if you have a business to cover your cost of living, research is expensive, so a century feels unfair.”
“Fine.”
“I’ll need to touch your public mind,” warned Amdirlain.
“Captain Bedevere mentioned you had psionics and four Githzérai teachers,” commented Lendur. “I’d be worried about that, but I can feel how much Mana you’re holding.”
“No point worrying about yet another threat?” enquired Amdirlain lightly.
Lendur nodded. “I’ve been in places where a single mistake can cost lives. Worrying about it too much can force a mistake, so you do what you can and go from there.”
“I won’t be grabbing your mind. Mentally picture yourself standing in a doorway and opening it to greet me,” instructed Amdirlain, and she didn’t mention the mental spells she could hear safeguarding his inner thoughts.
Rather than jump straight into teaching about Earth, Amdirlain used Harmony to connect them both to Air. She escorted him across the surface of the garden’s soil and toured the tunnels left by the earthworms on foreign planets. Memories of the Elemental Plane of Earth became their guide, how even in opposition to Air, spaces developed within the ground as Air and Earth touched.
Slowly she explored the boundary between the two, but his deep understanding of Air posed a significant challenge. Switching between awarenesses, she took him through the interactions each Affinity he possessed had with Earth. Water saturating it, changing soil or eroding rock, Lightning grounding into it and being neutralised. The mass of different soil and rock bridged meaning with Gravity and snapped meaning into place. A connection finally bridged, and the Affinity with Earth settled within him, a ripple of understanding following.
“Impossible,” breathed Lendur.
“I’m not fond of that word, but I’ll admit it was far more difficult because of your other deep connections,” advised Amdirlain.
Lendur swallowed and then coughed to clear his throat. “Shall we get on with the rest? I’m sure I’ll owe you a decade of teaching students.”
“Students will be yours to pick, and I won’t expect you to teach students you find issues with as long as you've tried to help them. Many things can cause problems like students refusing to learn and expecting everything handed to them.”
Amdirlain extended the mental touch to him again, and this time, she mentally nudged Fanya. “Fanya, care to benefit as well? If you're interested, you can help with paid tutoring, but consider this a family discount since your uncle’s joining the teaching staff.”
Fanya gave her a wide-eyed look, and fear shone in her red gaze before Amdirlain felt her mind open.
* * * * *
Their enhanced affinities had turned a task that generally took a few minutes into nearly two hours of actual effort. Ultimately, she had provided them with everything except Infernal, Abyssal, and Jade Court. When the two staggered out of the suite feeling mentally drained, Amdirlain emptied the unused bath and teleported to the outer corridor of the prison.
Once there, she tweaked the wards before she spoke. “Moradin, about what we discussed the other day. I know you said you can’t fix them yourself, but would you have time to give me your perspective on the trio?”
The dwarven patriarch took advantage of her adjusted wards to appear beside Amdirlain. Without saying a word, Moradin rested a hand reassuringly on her back for a few minutes before he turned his attention to the prisoners.
As Moradin studied the three within the cells, his expression turned grim, and his sturdy fingers tapped a beat against the thick leather of his apron. “There is only ash to polish. The only worthwhile essence within them is your Ki's residue, which is not theirs to do anything with. Traces of gold mixed with a pan’s sediment.”
Amdirlain released a pained grunt and leaned her forehead against the outside of Torm’s cell. “If they’d been your celestials, could you have restored them?”
“They’re worse than I thought; its doubtful even if they were mine,” sighed Moradin. “As they are now, I’d only be using their essence as fuel to make a new creature without a trace of the old.”
Not looking up at Moradin, Amdirlain muttered. “Livia asked me: ‘what if it doesn’t work?’”
Moradin nodded. “A valid question. If you possessed Orhêthurinn’s strength, their state wouldn’t matter, but it won’t happen as you are. You could release them and hope they eventually change their ways, but I doubt it with Destruction so thoroughly in the mix. Do you think they’ll eventually listen and let you remove those classes?”
“I doubt it. Does the Titan accept petitions?” whispered Amdirlain, wrapping her arms around herself and trying to get past the pain she’d inflicted for no purpose.
“You know he takes requests to rebalance issues,” returned Moradin, nodding slowly. “That’s how the Redemption’s Path started, as one of those requests. Talk to one of his servants in Judgement and see what they have to say. He’ll help in the way he decides, and there is always a price.”
“Things need to be balanced,” agreed Amdirlain. “Otherwise, people would expect him to solve all their problems.”
“And he has an odd perspective of what makes up a balance,” cautioned Moradin. “The bill would have been less if you hadn’t informed him you don’t consider yourself his daughter. Then again, for most, he wouldn’t even consider this something needing rebalance.”
“Who told you?” breathed Amdirlain.
“You think I don’t still have ways to communicate with him?” enquired Moradin. “I’m not the only one, but we can’t act or request on your behalf.”
“Lying about that wouldn’t have been fair to him or me,” stated Amdirlain. “It would have been less only because of Orhêthurin’s work, and I’ve not earned any of that. And I know what you mean, Moradin. They took the chance to oppose evil but lost; sometimes people fail at challenges.”
Amdirlain let out a sigh and continued before Moradin could respond. “Should I take them with me?”
“Are you planning to take some of your purified souls to get their attention?” enquired Moradin.
“If I can’t find more Lómë to rescue,” confirmed Amdirlain.
Moradin nodded towards the trio. “You’ll need to hand them over in a transportable state; his servants won’t come to get them.”
Releasing a long sigh, Amdirlain formed a modified Imprisonment Spell, and the notes wrapped around the trio without warning. One moment they were standing there, and the following, perfect spheres dropped to the floor of each cell and bounced across the stone.
“I tortured them for nothing,” breathed Amdirlain.
“What you did was intended to help them,” refuted Moradin.
“I should pack up this place so it doesn’t get improperly used,” muttered Amdirlain, ignoring Moradin’s reassurance. “I should have asked you in advance; I thought I had a path, but it was one of ignorance.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself. It's not as if many of us have experienced redeeming celestials. I’ll assume you’re not going into the prison business,” probed Moradin gently to change the subject.
Turning, Amdirlain looked down at him with her cheek still pressed to the stone of Torm’s cell. “Life is frequently enough of a prison, and I’ve no intention of continuing to keep others locked up.”
Moradin grunted. “It would be odd if you’d continued being a gaoler given your old Mantle.”
Comments
Glenn Wright
thanks - fixed
Kristoph
explained Cyrus. --> explained Callen.
Glenn Wright
Restraining dad jokes and puns at present.
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter! So this chapter of her story also comes to an end!(pun intended😁) With her now seeking help to restore the three of them, we might get more of Nicolaus and their not quite "family-relationship"!
