AbyssalRoadTrip
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Abyssal Road Trip - 157 - Get what you need
🕑 Added 2022-01-23 08:08:02 +0000 UTCAmdirlain’s PoV - Limbo - Monastery of Will’s Hand
Master Tallis glared at Amdirlain and shot a look of hatred at Master Jarithä before she rose to her feet. “Know your challenge is accepted, and I declare it’s to the death for having insulted the Grand Master’s honour. Know we are fortunate that the Grand Master’s Champion accompanied the delegation, so we will not have to wait for her arrival.”
“Know that I’ll ensure Novice Amdirlain knows the rules,” Jarithä replied calmly.
“Does your successor know your burial preference, Master Jarithä?” asked Tallis. “Know it would be sad after your tenure for you to end scraped out along with this Elf’s remains.”
When Tallis stalked out, Master Jarithä waited a mere moment before the door firmly closed.
“Know for future reference, avoid mention of the Grand Master at all within challenges,” advised Jarithä. “Know that I have placed protections to stop anyone seeing or overhearing us if you wish to discuss anything outside the rules.”
“Is that the reason for the deathmatch?” asked Amdirlain. “My reference to the Grand Master in my challenge?”
Jarithä frowned, and after a moment’s consideration, shook his head. “Know she likely would have selected an option involving the chance of it somehow; she seems to loathe any non-Githzerai. Know with his Champion present, there won’t be an option for appeals to the challenge.”
“Master Âdaka said that a challenge could involve Chaos Shaping.”
At her use of his daughter’s title, Jarithä gave Amdirlain a knowing smile. “Know shaping can also be a lethal contest. Know if she had stopped to learn more about you, then it likely would have gone that route—a faulty assumption based on your Novice robes.”
“Why did you put me among the Novices?” asked Amdirlain.
“Know it was simply to give you a year of peace and stability while your healing started,” answered Jarithä ruefully. “Know if your healing wasn’t progressing, I could have held you from rising through the classes or dismissed you for others’ safety.”
“I thought as much even though my presence among them is disruptive,” replied Amdirlain. “Am I required to kill the champion to win the challenge?”
“Know that you are,” Jarithä said, his gaze focused gently on Amdirlain.
“Fuck,” Amdirlain growled.
“Know that isn’t an option for a challenge,” quipped Jarithä, but his attempt at levity didn’t gain any amusement from Amdirlain.
“Am I allowed a second or someone to stand by during the challenge?”
Giving a slight wince Jarithä replied with weighted words. “Know in a normal challenge each side appoints an adjudicator with authority to surrender on the competitors’ behalf.”
“But in this case, it’s unneeded—I get that. I’m just looking to bring in someone from outside the monastery.”
“It is possible, but why?” enquired Jarithä.
“If I kill them, what happens if they’re then restored to life?” asked Amdirlain.
Her question got her a puzzled look from Jarithä. “Know that once an opponent dies, that completes the challenge, you won’t need to kill them repeatedly.”
Amdirlain slowly forced her hand away from her braid, unsure when she’d started gripping it again. “If there are no Priests able to raise them, I know someone with the ability to restore life. Could I invite them to help?”
“Know the monastery has several Priests of Moradin able to raise the dead. Know if you win, I’ll request they do so.”
“If I lose, would Master Elliyna be likely to visit me in the Outlands?”
Amdirlain shifted her appearance and eradicated her hair when her hand twitched towards her braid again. The sensation echoed back to the ledge and had her inhale sharply, but the clear air broke the moment.
“Know that for both our sake, see to it you win,” replied Jarithä and immediately frowned. “Know I’ve not heard of a Fallen native to the Outlands.”
Amdirlain smiled before she answered. “I never claimed to be normal for a Fallen, Master Jarithä. Do you mind telling me what I walked into that this escalated so fast? Or was it simply my choice of wording that caused this escalation?”
”Know the Prime Anarch whose defection we reported is—well, was—the older brother of the current Grand Master. Know that when we reported his continued existence and activities, we didn’t include your involvement,” explained Jarithä hesitantly.
“I’ve no problem with that,” assured Amdirlain, and Jarithä nodded in thanks. “Though I take it the monastery getting credit hasn’t done you any favours with the Grand Master’s faction?”
“Know that is correct, it was but one of several upsets for them of late,” confirmed Jarithä, and the broad smile he gave earned a raised eyebrow from Amdirlain. “Know I believe your presence in the monastery prevents the Seers from piercing the veil into the future.”
“Which then gave the Grand Master an excuse to send a delegation? Would he normally have Seers monitoring monasteries?” asked Amdirlain.
Jarithä’s smile turned cynical in a heartbeat. “Why would you believe such is necessary? Doesn’t it require but a thought to warn others instantly if a problem occurs needing greater help?”
“Oh, of course, my presence must have been such a disruption that it called for the Seers’ attention,” drawled Amdirlain. “Is there anywhere I should await this challenge?”
“Do you need time to centre yourself?” asked Jarithä, and raised his hand to halt her reply. “Know we will have to wait; apparently the rest of the council conversed with her and didn’t inform me until now.”
“What’s going on?”
“Know everyone not on guard duty will witness the challenge in person—an arena is under construction,” replied Jarithä.
The sharing of perceptions seemed an obvious solution, but Amdirlain wondered what she was missing. “Why don’t they just share the view of it mentally?”
“Know the other person’s perception would influence things, and a skilled practitioner could show faked results,” replied Jarithä, and Amdirlain thought she saw a flaw in that logic.
“Couldn’t they override what someone thinks they’ve seen?”
“Know that it would stretch anyone’s capabilities to handle hundreds of slight alterations required from differing perspectives around the arena,” explained Jarithä.
Amdirlain nodded her understanding and motioned out the window where she saw a stadium coming into existence above the monastery. “All this just for my challenge? Aren’t the members of the council and delegation enough witnesses?”
“Know that after you deal with your challenge, I must answer a challenge to my leadership, and such is a requirement of that challenge,” admitted Jarithä. “Know I will need to push Master Vugharuk harder; clearly he has become too used to maintaining objects and his construction ability of new objects has stagnated.”
“So, we’re both a target of the Grand Master’s ire?”
“Know you are not a target, merely a course they made use of to get at me. Know you have my apologies,” Jarithä said softly.
“If I hadn’t come here, then they wouldn’t have reason to send a delegation,” objected Amdirlain.
“Know you are claiming responsibility for decisions that are not your own,” chided Jarithä. “If another tosses you in a pool, are the water droplets responsible for your clothing becoming wet, or just a component of the inevitable? Know this is merely politics and not the first challenge I’ve faced.”
The texture of the robes across her fingertips drew Amdirlain’s attention to the nervous twitch of her fingers against her sides. “I don’t normally fight in this form.”
Jarithä inclined his head in contemplation and after several minutes silence spoke again. “Know you have two options: fight to your full extent, or display only what is required to win. Know Liranë is one of a select few Warmaster Zerth among the Githzerai don’t underestimate her.”
“My Ki can carry Mana within my strikes, but what do a Zerth’s abilities allow for?”
“Know Zerth combat techniques normally allow for focused mental assaults, but also for metacreativity effects of acids and other harmful substances upon contact.”
Amdirlain moved to Jarithä’s balcony to better look up at the stadium mid-air above the monastery its seating tiers were coming into existence a layer at a time. The sheer size of it was a stark reminder that the monastery— composed of thousands of Githzerai under Master Jarithä—had risked lots of lives allowing her among them.
“I don’t want to kill someone for another’s hurt pride,” murmured Amdirlain. “I should have left and planned to meet Elliyna elsewhere. She isn’t part of the monastery.”
Jarithä snorted and came to join Amdirlain on the balcony. “Know a renowned Seer described foretelling as peeking over time’s chaotic waves where each is another’s choice. Know it was Master Tallis’s choice not to ignore your wording; Did I imagine it when you stated you lacked knowledge of our challenge process?”
“Choices! How ironic. I should be glad she can make them, but I dislike it means I’m put in the position of killing a stranger for her arrogance,” replied Amdirlain.
Pathways started reaching skywards towards the stadium from various locations throughout the monastery, and Amdirlain could see groups already collecting near them.
“Know they’ve sent out instructions for classes to be suspended for the day.”
“I wonder if it will annoy the Novices, or have them grateful for the disruption to their physical training?” mused Amdirlain. “What are the rules of the challenge?”
“Know the challenge rules prohibit the use of arcane objects or spells.”
“Does that include raw Mana, such as what I used on the practice target?”
“Know we do not know of such techniques among our teachings if you mean what you used on the strike plate for my daughter’s education,” replied Jarithä.
“I might keep it in reserve.”
Jarithä tapped his fingers on the side of his chair and looked at Amdirlain contemplatively. “Know there is something I had forgotten—it actually prohibits her escalation to a death challenge in your circumstances.”
Sighing in relief Amdirlain gave Jarithä a hopeful smile. “What do you mean?”
“Know that our traditions don’t allow a death challenge when either party is suffering from a mental injury of any kind,” explained Jarithä. “Know that I had forgotten since death challenges are infrequent, and normally a mediator would influence the challengers to fight the Slaadi instead. Know I’d certainly prefer argumentative types to compete via counts of Slaadi kills rather than against each other.”
“But I’m still allowed to challenge her decision to kick me out?” asked Amdirlain, and smiled at Jarithä’s quick nod. “What do I need to know?”
“Know once combat starts, it goes until there is a victor. Know in non-death challenges there are things to observe, stand away from downed foes unless grappling with each other, and avoid immediately fatal attacks.”
“Will healers be in attendance?”
“Know there will be some on hand and we can teleport them into place instantly, but she possesses abilities to heal during fighting.”
“I heal pretty quickly as well. What about other powers and skills?”
“Know that any combat-related ability you’ve gained is allowed. Know they would consider the Mana technique in poor form simply because the ability draws energy in rather than increasing your capabilities,” replied Jarithä.
“Alright, what about movement powers?”
“Know they are a skilled nomad, so they possess the ability to prevent teleportations, flight, and other such abilities.”
“Along with a bunch of other things,” groaned Amdirlain. “What if they just can’t see me?” asked Amdirlain.
“Know they might see you if you turn invisible,” countered Jarithä. “Know though your mental shields make determining if you remain in the arena problematic.”
“I hadn’t meant invisibility. I can move through stone and change into basically anything—down to a speck of dirt.”
“Know that since I’m aware of the possibility if any argue that you’ve fled when you utilise such tactics, I’ll vouch for your presence. Know you should centre yourself as best you can, she will take any advantage she can.”
“Should we not inform them a death challenge isn’t allowed?”
“Know it’s not to your advantage; rather let them work themselves up and then take their foundation away, it will unbalance them.”
A pair of seats appeared on the balcony and Jarithä calmly sat on one, after a moment’s hesitation Amdirlain took the other, and watched the stadium’s assembly continue. Novices moved up the pathways as the lower tiers finished forming, but it took over two hours before the stadium was complete.
Jarithä motioned to the last figures they could see on the closest pathway. “Know it is time we moved to the arena. May I teleport you?”
“Thank you, Jarithä.”
“Know this fight is because of my people’s politics. Know I have failed you by allowing you to be dragged into this farce,” replied Jarithä.
Amdirlain smiled and patted his shoulder. “Didn’t you point out it was other people’s choices that brought us here? I’ll let you move us to where we need to be.”
Their position shifted to a perspective overlooking the stadium floor, reminding Amdirlain of box seating overlooking a gladiatorial arena. The flexibility of Limbo was apparent in how various balconies jutted out at odd angles to give unobstructed views with only the bare minimum of support. Past a row of seated masters, Tallis and a hard-faced female Githzerai stood locked in a silent exchange; their attention focused solely on each other.
Amdirlain couldn’t help wondering at the extent of fury she saw in other female’s posture. Her intense fiery gaze didn’t shift from the delegate, despite the words murmured at their arrival. Analysis confirmed her suspicion that the other female was Liranë, but didn’t offer her confidence in how the challenge would resolve.
She wore a sleeveless top and short pants, her exposed skin tight over whip-cord muscles, and her posture balanced perfectly. The slightest hint of black stubble that capped her scalp reassured Amdirlain that she’d made the right move in removing her hair.
[Name: Liranë
Species: Githzerai
Class: Zerth / Planar Zerth / Warmaster Zerth / Battle Zerth
Level: 84 / 81 / 76 / 76
Health: 207,815
Defence: 1,603
Melee Attack Power: 1,249
Combat Skills: Halberd [G] (14), Zerth [G] (54) - Various Psionic Abilities
Details: A graduate of Zerth’Ad’Lun’s inner sect, Liranë has spent years travelling multiple planes and planets, extending and challenging her combat skills.
]
Fuck, Master Farhad would love to exchange pointers with her, I’m sure.
[Battle Zerth
This evolved base class focuses on the physical combat aspects of the Zerth Class. It extends the Class’s Psi armouring and develops additional mental attacks into innate powers as the Class progresses. ]
It was only when Tallis looked their way that Liranë turned her attention towards them. The amber-eyed Githzerai possessed the same angular gauntness of her fellows but with the air of a weapon fashioned by a master smith’s care. Liranë gave a bow of respect to Master Jarithä, and—unexpectedly—Amdirlain, before striding towards them. Her movements flowed with a dancer’s grace every instant in balance.
“Know I object to such a minor matter being a death challenge, Elf. Might I know your name?” asked Liranë once she’d stopped a conversational distance away.
“Amdirlain, I’d prefer to be learning and healing, not fighting someone I just met for an arrogant delegate’s ego,” Amdirlain replied, surprised by her greeting.
“Healing?!” Liranë exclaimed and shot a look of disgust at Tallis. “Know Tallis did not inform me you had a pre-existing injury; then again, she also didn’t bother to tell me your name. Are you still undergoing treatment?”
“I’m here studying while Master-”
“Know this is not the time to play for sympathy when you’ve insulted the Grand Master’s decisions,” hissed Tallis.
“Know that the only person I insulted was you, and I’d be happy to insult you further,” replied Amdirlain, giving Tallis a broad, mocking smile.
Tallis went to retort, and Liranë’s hand clamp on her shoulder earned a hard grunt of pain.
“Know I apologise for Master Tallis’ interruption, but this could change much. Are you still undergoing treatment? What is the nature of your injury?”
“Know Amdirlain is dealing with the absorption of others’ memories; memories that I would classify as particularly horrific, Liranë,” Elliyna said, slowly wobbling along the pathway at the back of the seating. A hand trailing the stonewall aided her balance, and the reason for her unsteadiness was clear; the structure of her legs below the knees shifted and flexed in appearance as Limbo’s energy mingled with her flesh. When she reached the aisle, one foot had transformed into tentacles writhing and braiding around each other, the knee on her other leg suddenly hinged in reverse.
“Master Healer Elliyna! Why did you leave the Elemental Conflux?” asked Liranë and stepped towards the healer.
Elliyna waved her aside with her gaze fixed on Jarithä. “Know we can speak later, youngster, but I arrived before you did. Master Jarithä, you will explain immediately how a death challenge came to be issued to my patient?”
“I issued a challenge to delegate Tallis’ decision that I needed to leave the monastery at once,” explained Amdirlain, quickly cutting off Jarithä. “She declared I’d insulted Grand Master’s honour during the issuing my challenge and that it would be combat to the death.”
The steel glare Elliyna had fixed on Jarithä didn’t waver but lashed across to Tallis. “When your Grand Master, in all his hurt, prideful, stupidity sent you, did he perhaps remove your fucking brain?”
“How dare you speak-”
“Shut up!” growled Elliyna, the muscles in her neck snapping taunt in anger. “Know that I am not a member of your order—I am a Healer. Are you familiar with the Healer’s rights towards our patients? Or are you the imbecile child who forgets all her lessons? Know Master Jarithä just shared the conversation you had with him, Tallis. Did you think I would not extend that care in Amdirlain’s case? Did you not remember that since our forerunners, our laws confirm a Healer’s right to protect patients?”
“Surely you can’t mean to extend that protection to an outsider?”
Elliyna’s glare turned hot with rage. “Know your decision to declare this a combat to the death is a personal attack on my rights, therefore I challenge you to the death, delegate Tallis. Know that you disgust me, and I will not let this attack on a Healer’s rights stand!”
Tallis flinched, and Amdirlain fixed her with a contemptuous look of her own. “Don’t think you’ll be able to say she’s-”
Before she could finish Elliyna’s glare had fixed on Amdirlain. “Will you hush up Amdirlain? Know I’m extremely cross with you. Did it not occur to you to tell me of this situation yourself?”
“In my defence, I had other matters on my mind, Master Elliyna,” Amdirlain replied meekly under Elliyna’s glare. “I’d prefer no one die over this matter.”
“Know I can’t allow this to stand as a precedent. Know it risks future patients—those of others if not my own.” replied Elliyna.
A Master along the aisle stood and offered an arm to help Elliyna sit down. Grimacing in pain, the old Githzerai sighed when the stone adjusted under her into a comfortable-looking cushion. “Know I’d prefer you don’t take all day beating on each other.”
“You don’t want the challenge called off?” asked Liranë.
“Know it should only be a normal challenge, not a deathmatch, foolish girl. Do you think I care if she stays here? Know she’s my patient. If Amdirlain leaves, hopefully, it’s to another Plane, and the better for my legs,” replied Elliyna sharply. Her gaze softened, and she returned her attention to Amdirlain. “Know you’ve much pain to release; such emotions can crush you or serve as fuel to reach greater heights. Why not burn up some of that pain and awfulness you’ve been holding inside? Know it will allow access to the actual injuries faster with less of that mess festering away.”
Liranë looked between the two of them unconcerned and turned to regard Tallis. “Know that if you survive Tallis, I will challenge you next. Do you know what the penalty is for an illegal challenge?”
“She’s an outsider,” hissed Tallis.
“Know the law makes no distinction,” rebuffed Liranë.
“Why should an outsider have the protection of Githzerai laws?”
Liranë upper lip curled, and she fixed Tallis with a furious glare. “Know exceptions for who they protect weaken them.”
“Do you think I won’t have you stripped of your position?” threatened Tallis.
“Know after this gambit, I’ll need reassurance from the Grand Master or I’ll be resigning it,” declared Liranë. “Do you have an adjudicator appointed?”
“Master Jarithä, are you allowed to handle this for me or should I call for someone I know?”
“Know I’d be honoured to be entrusted,” replied Jarithä, and Amdirlain smiled her thanks.
“Shall we move to the floor and begin?” asked Liranë.
Giving her a nod, Amdirlain teleported herself to the floor, and Liranë appeared a distance away. Mauve crystalline energy manifested around Liranë, and Analysis showed her defence jumped to over two thousand, two hundred, and fifty. Brutal psi spikes forged of screaming nightmares given form sheathed her limbs and her attack power doubled.
Her raw attack power is under my defence rating with Ki Armour.
Amdirlain activated her Ki Armour and Aura and feed them raw Jade Court Mana. The armour that a moment before covered her entirely in an ice-blue light came alive with red flames and consuming voids that swirled around each other. As the power within it grew, where ever the aspects touched, bursts of golden light came into existence rippling outwards through her Ki Armour and into her Ki Aura’s upper layer.
“Know I thought I’d have to hold back,” remarked Liranë.
“Know I’d thought the same,” quipped Amdirlain, before she bowed respectfully, and Liranë returned the gesture.
No sooner had she straightened than Liranë surged forward—though slower than Amdirlain had expected—and she activated Angelic Aura as well. The surge of bloodlust and rage within it swept across the peacefulness of her previous aura like a forest fire that consumed sanity in its wake. The energy scratched and clawed incessantly at Liranë’s control and chewed at the stadium’s internal psi barrier. Emotions rocked Liranë for a moment and distracted, Amdirlain’s front kick struck her thigh hard, but the brunt of it slid across her crystalline aura.
Spinning with the impact Liranë used its momentum to launch a kick of her own. Battle precognition had Amdirlain tumble away from a psi blade that scythed out from Liranë’s kick. Its course cut the air through where her ribs had been with an acidic hiss.
A barrage of potential attacks flooded Amdirlain’s precognition, each of them with the intensity of fact. Against the distraction of psychic feints, it was only Amdirlain’s advantage in speed that let her slide aside a flurry of punches before a knee strike smashed against her ribs.
Her aura absorbed most of its force, but the strike had used her momentum against her to crack hard against bone. Barbed blades tore apart cloth but failed to find purchase in her flesh. The pair flowed through moves, not with the simple mechanical precision but inside instants of adaptation and inspiration. Blows slid away, deflected by attacks that turned into swift defences before their movements twisted back into attacks again. Zen State settled about Amdirlain and aided Death Strike seeking weaknesses to exploit. Liranë’s knee struck again, only to be met this time by a turning elbow strike. Amdirlain’s strike cracked hard against bone, and a surge of pain carried upwards through Mortal flesh.
A teleport carried Liranë away, and Amdirlain added concealed eyes about her again. Not waiting for Amdirlain to turn, Liranë leapt to attack only to find Amdirlain ready her body contorted through impossible motions. Without looking, her heels blocked kicks that could have broken her spine. Joints and limbs bent in improbable ways to oppose Liranë’s attacks.
Repeatedly, they exchanged minor wounds through the vastly different auras that guarded them both. Amdirlain’s speed countered Liranë’s psi fields as she used her barbs as leverage to inflict wounds instead. It was anticipation from skill and innate foresight that led Amdirlain’s blinding speed into dangerous traps that brought her greater speed low. Fallen flesh impaled on psi forged barbs, only to grasp and grind Liranë’s aura or flesh in a vice of pressure. The mental and physical efforts were a slow glacial wearing down on Liranë while Amdirlain’s onslaught barely slowed from any wound sustained.
The wounds inflicted on Amdirlain’s flesh didn’t cease to heal, while Liranë’s recovery wasn’t as swift the infrequency of her wounds gave her the needed time. But each of her wounds wore away her psi energy, which was also sapped by her ongoing attacks. Liranë’s anticipation of Amdirlain’s counters or assaults slowed while the hours steadily ground on.
Within the battle’s fury, Harmony allowed Amdirlain to cycle Mana and Ki alike. The continual assaults battering at her auras, forced her to work them in sync with each other.
Exhaustion gripped those among the crowd more than the pair that continued to blur about the arena’s floor. Snippets of moments replayed through psi-crystals were all that allow many to follow the combat. The price records of them would fetch had Novices from poorer families strain their own mental reserves to be the first to share the records far across Limbo.
Elliyna’s PoV - Limbo - Monastery of Will’s Hand
All the day’s bloodshed wasn’t on the floor itself, and Elliyna retired as the conflict reached evening, leaving the deceased Tallis to be removed as well. A psi-crystal had recorded the psychic manifestations exchanged between them, but Duurth had to nurse it carefully to keep it intact in the aftermath. The barrage of scalpel sharp power unleashed by Elliyna having left the construct fractured under the extreme backlash of Tallis’ mind-death. A pair of trios—from the delegation and the monastery—completed the copying of its fragile record in haste and others endeavoured to re-check each impression taken.
Her unsteady steps made slow work of covering the route to the stadium’s side passage. The place’s steady lighting lit up by a burst of energy when Liranë’s strike drove Amdirlain momentarily against the floor’s barrier. Phantasmal flames licked across the tormented child’s strange aura and hissed at the barrier’s differing energies. Those flames that made it past were no longer laden with the fury that saturated the air within the barrier.
Elliyna wobbled her way down the pathway, supported by Âdaka’s arm. “Why did I think either of them would declare quickly? Know another could have served as my escort, Âdaka; I’m fully aware you’d prefer to be recording every moment.”
“Do you think others will let any moment go unrecorded by multiple psi-crystals?”
The question drew a snort from Elliyna and she stopped to lean against the railing. Staring down the path that ignored gravity to plummet straight towards the ground, she murmured to Âdaka. “Know that these events will shake some political animals about.”
“Is that why you challenged Tallis?”
“Know I challenged her because parts of your order are rotting, Âdaka. Know that the order’s primary families needed an example to remind them they’ll be held to account,” grumbled Elliyna, and she looked at Âdaka seriously.
Âdaka fixed Elliyna with a look of disbelief. “You killed her because you needed to make an example? What does that say about you?”
Elliyna struggled forward for a few moments before she spoke again. “Know when a limb is badly diseased and magical healing isn’t available you need to excise a measure of good flesh and bad. Though are you sure she was good? Know based on what I saw in her mind I have my doubts. Know it might be best to establish an order of your own rather than follow in your father’s footsteps.”
Her disbelieving expression not having shifted Âdaka shook her head. “Why would I want to do that? Know that I don’t believe things are that dire.”
“Âdaka, do you truly believe someone didn’t deliberately misreport Prime Krlakai’s death originally? How did their death get reported and none involved found a flaw in the false report? By accident?” asked Elliyna. “Know someone had to have known he was still alive. Were they hoping to avoid shame, or gain some sort of benefit? Have you considered the power the Grand Master holds over the order’s members? Know more isolated places of learning are becoming settlements ruled by the order than they have for generations past.”
“What is wrong with that? Know the monasteries are always willing to protect those Githzerai that live nearby.”
Elliyna glanced at her before she started back down the path. “Know with such blindness you have no place on your monastery’s council. Do you desire to be another’s puppet? Have you considered the army this provides to the Grand Master if he—or someone in the future—desires rulership beyond the monasteries? Should we allow them to force all Githzerai to bend a knee to the rulership others choose for them?”
Not saying anything further, the fatigue worn Healer continued along the pathway. Once they arrived at her quarters she shut her door without a further word to Âdaka. Step by difficult step, she made her way painfully between the furnishing she’d brought with her. Though they cluttered the place, they served the purpose of giving her plenty to lean against without resorting to a cane.
Fighting against the wounds she’d taken from Tallis’ psyche she collapsed onto her bed at last. Unfurling the blanket across her body, she felt the strength of its protections force her legs into their original form. Her fatigue aggravated her old aches and pains, but she chanted soundlessly to keep her focus and set to work. She had a long night ahead to heal the mental injuries Tallis’ attacks had inflicted and revitalise her chakras.
“Did I make a mistake when saving his mind?”
Old memories offered distracting doubts, but Elliyna simply rechecked the memory of his treatment and returned to the task at hand.
Comments
Glenn Wright
For Patreon I release the chapters as soon as I have them ready. I must admit they don't always stick to a schedule, as it will depend on when I get my writing time during the week.
Atigasgas
Does this chapter count as Tuesday's chapter or this an extra? If it is, thank you very much for the pleasent surprise!
