M.D.Syl
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Chapter 139 colorless
🕑 Added 2024-03-21 15:00:44 +0000 UTCAuthor notes:
This chapter is dedicated to Thiago.
Thank you very much for your support! <3
Chapter 139 A Blade in the Dark.
Time flows through you all.
Time degrades you all.
Time shall set you free.
And time shall bring you death.
Tiyadi, the Silver Lord of Time.
{28} Rakisha (September) the 19th.
My heart drops, and I try not to move with the sharp metal pressed against my throat. How did I fall asleep?!
“You won’t scream, Milady. Not even a squeak. Nod if you understand.” A low masculine voice sounds in the darkness above me.
I nod fast. I can blow his head off! Not if that dagger is made of iron, no. I have no way to tell… it’s too dark… If only I could cast light… Spells later. Focus. Handle this! Why am I still alive???
He lifts his hand from my mouth, but not the dagger from my throat. I can barely see the burly figure in the darkness. I can feel his hand moving down on my body, groping my chest for a brief moment and then reaching my belt. He opens one of my belt pouches and lets out a confused whisper. “Are these flowers? Why do you carry flowers?” The smell of roses fills the air.
“It smells good,” I answer with a whisper and feel the pointy tip of the dagger prickling against my skin.
“Quiet! Where’s your gold?”
“Are you robbing me?”
He doesn’t reply. He goes through my belt pouches.
“Ozi, the PeaceKeepers are outside!” I hear a loud whisper from the window area. "Kill the rotten Jar! She's making too much noise!"
"Are you crazy? We're not here to kill anyone!" the man with a blade to my throat protests.
“You are robbing me.” I can’t help but let out a relieved laugh. Phew… I thought it’s an assassin… No way a common thug has iron on him. An assassin would’ve killed me already… Why Jerro thought it’d be a good idea to come to this rotten inn I’ll never understand.
“Quiet!” he whispers loudly, his face barely a centimeter from my own.
I hear the flute from outside again. "Kill her! Kill her kill her kill her!" The man near the window screams.
This flute... I don't have time for this!
I'm just about to form my Kinetic Burst patterns when a piercing pain in my throat blocks my ability to breathe. Blood gushes out in a violent stream, splattering the man, my face, and everything in sight. No!
The man who slit my throat open takes a step back, brown eyes wide in horror. "No! My hand moved! It wasn't me!" he shouts.
Gurgling, I reach for a potion. My heart pounds loudly in my chest. My shaky fingers fumble with the correct pouch, struggling to open it. I'm not dying here! Fuck no!
I rip the pouch open, tugging a metallic potion. My fingers run on the curving, and it's a pain resistance potion. Fuck!!!
I throw away the wrong potion as my fingers fumble in my pouch.
Ta-boom
My blood stream out more violently with each heartbeat. Fuck!!! I'm not dying here!
The man who slit my throat slices his own throat open, and a shower of blood covers my face as he collapses on top of me, gurgling.
“Ozi? Oswald!!!” The other man forgets he needs to be quiet as he screams his friend’s name.
I gasp, and only blood fills my lungs, along with odd noises I never thought I could make. The dark room is growing darker, and blissful sleep calls me.
No! I'm not dying here!
I force my eyes open. This feels like forever, but it's just a few more seconds until I find the right potion flask. Lifting it up between my dying body and the spasming man on top of me feels like eternity.
With a strangled gurgle I spill the potion on my throat, gasping for air that isn’t there. The violent stream of blood now oozes out as my flesh and arteries knit themselves close.
Ta-boom
Another heart beat, and no more blood leaves my veins. My throat is healed, yet I’m struggling to breathe.
“You snaking jar!!!” the friend screams.
“Reviss kas.” <Energy feed.> I gasp, pointing my hand at him from under the heavy body. The room lights up in flashing blue as a spark of lightning flickers near my palm. It’s not long enough to reach the man who’s a meter away but he still convulses before collapsing when the spell runs its course.
“Myrsha kalfit.” <Gravity lightweight.> I move the heavy bleeding body above me and get up, coughing blood. I massage my throat making sure I’m alright. I really need to stop looking down on common people… I could’ve died to a pair of snaking robbers… I should've given them the damned gold they wanted... And what the fuck is this damned flute???
I hear someone running outside the inn. “In the Queen's name, you’re under arrest!” I hear Kolag’s echoing voice outside. I rush to the window. The flute finally stops, and I spot Kolag’s Peacekeepers chasing after a pair of dark figures in the street’s torchlight. A few nets are thrown and one of the thugs is down in the mud. A flute starts playing again. One of the armored Peace Keepers stumbles, but the rest keep charging at the man with the flute against his lips.
I grin when multiple javelins pierce his body. He falls to his knees while the rest secure the thug in the net. "Good job, Yalvin." A Peacekeeper pats the back of his friend. Where is Kolag?
My door opens with a kick and my boyfriend enters with a torch that lights my gory room. “Inara! Are you alright?”
Is he dumb or what?! “Yes, thank you.” I reply stiffly, "I don't know who Inara is, Sir."
"Ah I'm sorry, I..." his words die out on his lips when he notices the innkeeper standing there, wide eyed. Oh snakes…
“You’ll speak of this to no one.” Kolag's voice echoes.
The innkeeper nods fast. “Lips sealed. Oh, Ozi and Ker… You fools.” She shakes her head.
“Wait. Did you know these robbers?” I ask.
“Yes, your maje… Ma’am. Yes, ma’am, they were regulars. Thugs, a pair of rotten jars if you ask me. Been robbing around helpless women and children.”
“And you still served them?”
“Money is good no matter where it came from, ma’am.”
“Stop calling me that. Just keep calling me lassie or whatnot. I’m not here to impose… I’m sorry for bringing trouble here.” I give her a handful of gold coins. “For the trouble.”
“And not a word,” Kolag adds.
“Yes, Lord Sir Kolag. Your… l-lassie…” Her eyes brighten when she looks at the gold in her hands. “That’s more than the Queen’s Rest makes in a month! I… Thank you, lassie.” She wears a large smile on her face like a mask, a smile that turns into a teary wince.
“Jerro led us. We caught the assassin the moment she left the inn. Jerro and Berthold killed her together…” Kolag shakes his head. “Jerro told me not to come here, but I thought these four were also assassins. Jerro also said that you get your throat slit if they enter, but that you'll be alright. I really don't understand how's that even possible.”
I guess Jerro was prepared after all… “He wasn't wrong. I healed myself in time. Kolag you should listen to..."
“Watch out!” Kolag pushes me aside and blocks a pair of flying daggers with his armor. A hooded figure crouches on my window sill. The figure throws something on the ground with a flash, and heavy dark smoke covers the room.
“Felul!” <Wind!> My breeze clears the smoke just as the assassin attempts to circle Kolag and reach me.
Kolag steps in and punches the lithe man in the face. With a crack of bone, the punch sends him reeling back. The assassin barely manages to maintain his balance. In the small room, Kolag cannot swing his massive claymore. He lets his weapon go and steps forward, instead of reaching for his arming sword, he swings for another punch.
The assassin ducks under the punch, and stabs Kolag’s armor with a thin stiletto dagger.
The dagger bounces off the adamantine armor, and the assassin loses his balance.
Kolag catches the assassin’s hand and punches his face repeatedly.
"Revissor." <Light.> A ball of light appears above my palm. I wonder if there’s a spell that actually lets me see in the dark without lighting the area… I’ll check that later… At least I unlocked the damn thing now, and I need to be careful with what spells I pick...
“Your Majesty! Behind you!” The scream behind me makes me turn sharply. Just in time to see a female assassin stabbing the innkeeper’s back. The assassin throws a dagger at me right when the poor innkeeper collapses to the ground. Knowing it’s iron I dodge and hear it clings on Kolag’s armor behind me.
Focus!
“Tans fiuak!” <Loud bad sound!> I scream at the assassin. She stumbles, covering her ears. After the assassination attempt and the weird glassy object, I had a little time to test magic on Kolag’s object, and I am pretty sure I figured out how their magic cancelation item works.
If I conjure a physical manifestation via magic, whether it’s a firebolt, a water jet, or even conjuring a copper bolt, their magic nullifying item will negate it. But if I use my magic on existing materials or energy, like a copper bolt spell using my bronze arrowheads. Their glass object won’t negate it.
Sonic scream amplifies my own scream, it’s actually a spell that mostly female casters can use due to the higher voice pitch required. It uses existing energy, it doesn’t create one out of thin air.
I run out of breath for my scream, but I am not just standing idly and screaming at her. I float my copper bolts out of my belt while screaming, and now. “Kushgari yefa!” <Metal fly!> I send them flying at my dizzy target at point blank range.
The bolt headed for the woman’s head bounces off with a cling when it hits a metallic surface under the hood. But the other two pierce the woman’s thigh and abdomen, and she collapses with a pained groan, hands covering the bleeding hole in her stomach.
Behind me, Kolag knocks his assassin down. I lean on his metallic back for a brief moment, finding comfort in his presence.
Two new hooded figures show up. One on the window sill, and one in the doorway. The man in the doorway holds a quarterstaff, while the hooded woman on the window pulls something to throw at us.
She never manages to throw it, an arrow sprouts out of her eye and she crumbles into the room, her body crowding the small pile of sprawled corpses. The object in her hand creates a flash and heavy obscuring smoke. Similar to Ryon’s device.
They never learn. “Felul!” <wind!> The breeze clears out the smoke. Just in time for me to see the bald man swinging his staff at me. I dodge in the last split second and the world turns white as something hard hits my head with force.
I wake up on the ground, my sight blurred, my ears ringing. Kolag is fighting the man with the quarterstaff. Each of Kolag’s punches and kicks is dodged with perfect unpredictable movements. Kolag rushes at the man who dodges and taps Kolag’s leg with his quarterstaff.
Kolag steps back and stumbles on one of the bodies. He topples over and falls on his back with a loud metallic crash.
Another arrow whistles through the window and the hooded man catches it midflight, a centimeter from his eye.
“Tans fiuak!” <Loud bad sound!> I scream at him, but he lets the arrow go and covers his ears before I even scream. “Kushgari yefa!” <Metal fly!> The man dodges my three bolts perfectly. He shifts to the right to narrow his profile, bends his back, and leans his head out of the way of my bolts.
I weave a silent ‘Minor Telekinesis’ to catch the arrowheads I just sent, and a silent ‘Repulse’ to make my bolt fly at him from three sides around him.
He dodges my attacks yet again, twisting his body in an unpredictable manner. It’s like he knows where the bolts will be before I even throw them! “Rod’ena!” <Vines!> My vines grow from the wooden floor but they do not get close to him, they turn to dust. If I had controlled existing vines they would catch him, but I forget that in the heat of the moment.
Using the time my failed spell gives him, he jumps closer, waving his quarterstaff toward my neck.
“Latsa ni!” <Lift me> I cast a panicked ‘Jump’ and jump backward, crashing against the wall in the hallway. The middle-aged innkeeper is dragging herself forward on the ground with her hands alone, leaving a trail of scarlet on the floorboards behind her.
“Fotyr folo!” <Firefly!> I summon my fiery arrows from the nearby torch, but the man dodges perfectly while Kolag gets up behind him with a creak. I weave a silent ‘Minor Telekinesis’ and float the torch to my hand. I move the flames in front of my mouth, the heat warms my face, and the smell of acrid smoke enters my nostrils. “Folo fotyr!” <flying fire!> I breathe a cone of fire in the man's direction, forcing him toward Kolag with a screen of blazing flames.
The bald man hops back and ducks under Kolag’s fist. He spins and trips Kolag again with his quarterstaff. He swings the quarterstaff around and deflects another arrow from the window. He then hits the back of Kolag’s head in a smooth motion, knocking him down again.
“Now!” I hear Jerro’s shouts from the outside.
Ryon pops up on the windowsill, green glowing eyes flickering with joy. He throws a couple of waterskins with a small thin object at the man, and jumps off of the window.
BOOOOOOM!
The blast shakes everything. My back hits the wall hard and my teeth clatter in my mouth. I shake my head, all I can see with my blurry vision is fire. Fire everywhere. My ears ring loudly, and it feels like someone is constantly hammering my head.
“Kolag!” I panic when I regain my wits. I let out a relieved breath when I see his armored silhouette aflame staggering to his feet amidst the raging fire. “Nimuwal!” <water unlimited!> I aim my water jet in his direction, dousing the flames and cooling his armor. Thick black smoke envelops the room. Kolag stumbles toward me. I can barely hear his echoing voice, much less what he’s saying.
I drink a healing potion. The headache is gone, and the ringing in my ears replaced by a proper sound. “Sorry. I couldn’t hear you, my ears were ringing. What were you saying?”
“By Noxi! What was that?!” Kolag asks, breathless.
“I already told you, Knight. That. Was a Shaf, a Battle Cleric of Tiyadi God of Time and Death,” Jerro replies from behind me.
“No! Inara! What did you do?! What in the name of all the gods was that magic?”
“That wasn’t me!”
“That was the rogue. He’s waiting outside,” Jerro replies coldly. “It was the only way to ensure the Shaf’s demise.”
Now that the smoke has cleared, I spot numerous charred bodies in the room. The furniture is wrecked, even Kolag’s adamantine armor has scorch marks on it, and his eternal steel claymore is bent oddly.
Turning my head to the hallway I notice that the middle aged innkeeper is still crawling on the floor, leaving a trail of blood behind her.
I rush to her side. I’m down to my last healing potion. I need this for emergencies. "Kolag, give me a potion!" I did give everyone in my close circle healing potions for emergencies. He hands me a potion wordlessly. I apply it and watch with satisfaction as the wound on her back closes up. Then chant ‘Lesser Cure Poison’ just in case. “Sefius, rod’e, mo’ento sho rod’eshil xsi si to sha sus mo’ento xsias. Sals si to xalias.” <Life, wood, focus all poison in this one’s body and force it out. Heed this one’s plea.>
Learning Life Magic was definitely a better choice than whatever necromancy could’ve offered me… Even if potions can replace this, they require materials and time to craft or money to buy… Life Magic also doesn’t spend any materials other than blood… I should really learn a Lesser Heal spell too... Just in case I run out of potions... I wonder if there are ways to kill with Life Magic... But I have plenty of ways to kill. I need more utility. The only question is whether or not a simple healing spell is worth a precious page from my grimoire when I have potions. But if I'm going by that argument, I shouldn't have learned Life Magic at all.
“T-thank you, Your Majesty… Ah… I thought I was dead for sure. By the gods!”
“I’m sorry… This is my fault.” I apologize. “They wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. The men below were your sons, right? Are they poisoned? Are they still alright? I'll heal them."
"They're alright, Your Majesty. Just sick? Poisoned. I'll lead you to them."
"They are insignificant," Jerro states.
"They're people," I reply. "But thank you Jerro. You saved my life yet again. Everyone is alright, correct?"
“Indeed. We have achieved our goal. Their two Shafs are dead now, and I can tell where the rest of the assassins will be.”
“Where?”
“In your palace.”
“What about Sharla? It’s not autumn yet, they were supposed to attack in a few days. She won’t be able to fight them! Get going, I'll heal the men here and be right behind you!”
~~*
interlude 139.1
Jerro Berthold and Ryon leave Inara’s room, and Sharla shifts back to the exact image of Inara with the closed up green dress her friend likes to wear so much. Inara should learn how to have some fun and wear something a little more revealing. Sharla will never understand why her friend likes these closed up prudish dresses.
A friend, uh? Since when did Sharla considers her as such? Sharla does not know.
But Inara is Thuan-In-Dos <Fae-’s-Blood> She is one of her kind, it is ok to befriend one such as her, and in the passing months, she had not fed on Shar-La-Fyn-Wyn-Yeslun-in-ubrih’ <White-Near-River-Dew-Thorn-‘s-essence> even once! Nor will she age as fast as the rest of the Dul-On <mortals>.
Sharla could do without Inara's insecurities. Never mind her misleading appearance, most people would mistake her for a juvenile based on her insecurities alone.
She is a juvenile. Sharla reminds herself. Inara is Thuan-In-Dos <Fae-’s-Blood>, and she’s only in her twenty eighth bloom, that’s juvenile, hopefully, she’ll grow. She might even grow bigger breasts too, she seems to want them bigger. Sharla shakes her head at the insecurities of young females.
Wait.
Breasts… That’s it! Liquid that’s not liquid! Sharla's face twists into her real smile. A smile that stretches all the way above the corner of her eyes and her temples. A smile that would never appear on Inara’s original face. A smile, that anyone with normal facial muscles cannot possibly wear. A smile that would chill the bones of every Dul <mortal> who would witness it.
A pair of Dulaim-Nugle-Dos-On <Human-Shadow-bloods> jump into the room from the window. Sharla wipes the smile off her face and pretends to be in deep meditation, just like how Inara would be if she was here. Sharla had watched Inara’s behavior enough to copy it without a fault.
Only, Sharla grows a third eye on her nape. A Shavasi Cat's eye, capable of seeing through fog, darkness, or thick hair. The eye hidden under the lush auburn hair is sharp enough to see the approaching Dulaim-Nugle-Dos-on <Human-Shadow-bloods>.
The Dulaim-Nugle-Dos <human-shadow-blood> Stabs his dagger at Sharla's nape, aiming to sever her spine.
Sharla shifts into a slime, just in time. The Dulaimin <human’s> hand sinks into her nape, but it’s no longer flesh.
It is ooze.
Sharla wraps herself around the Dulaim <human> pushing her slime into his mouth, blocking him from breathing or breaking his poisonous tooth.
The second Dulaim-Nugle-Dos <Human-Shadow-blood> lets out a high-pitched scream and jumps out of the window. She’s not important, Sharla had captured an assassin alive. Her mistress will be happy. No, not a mistress. Her friend will be happy. Sharla wants to make her friend happy.
The Dulaim-Nugle-Dos <Human-Shadow-Blood> loses his consciousness and collapses. Shar-La-Fyn-Wyn-Yeslun <White-Near-River-Dew-Thorn> is forced by the seasons to unwrap herself from his mouth before he chokes to death. She cannot kill, it is not autumn yet.
But when autumn comes… Her face twists into an excited smile no Dul <mortal> can wear, a smile that stretches over her face and nearly reaches her hairline.
This is her natural true smile, one that not even Inara can see without having the wrong opinion. Inara may be Thuan-In-Dos <Fae-’s-Blood>, but she grew amongst the Dulaim-on <humans>. She’ll need the years to grow accustomed to the Thuan <Fae>.
Sharla now holds the poisonous tooth in her hand. It's not even shaped like a tooth, it's an odd metallic device one can open with the correct tongue movement. Her young friend will be happy. Now, let’s add some bruises to her original form’s face, the Suna-Yak-Nash-Berthold <Little-Earth-Gem> will pity her for sure, he'll regret not staying to defend her, and he'll feel guilty. She does need her daily serving of delightful Irh’a-Lun <emotion-food> after all.
~~*
Interlude 139.2
Salik
“I Zoe daughter of Niman, solemnly swear before the goddess: To take the man Salik son of Mjol as my husband and to make him happy to the best of my ability.” Zoe holds onto Salik’s hands as she makes the last of her marriage vows, her brown earthy eyes looking deep into his.
Salik hesitates. Should he really take these vows? Is it the right thing? Why is he so undecided?
The temple hall disappears. Zoe disappears. Salik panics for a brief moment before he controls himself. A god is meddling with his life, again, what a surprise.
Salik finds himself in a dark empty void, and a beautiful woman appears before his eyes, floating in the endless void.
A pair of brown familiar eyes peer into him knowingly. The rosy cheeks are dotted with a single blemish right above her luscious lips. A long wavy brown hair frames her face, falling down on her ample chest and thin shoulders.
Salik recognizes this woman, how can he not. He was married to her for years.
Anixa.
But this isn't Anixa, it can't be. Anixa is either dead, or a very old woman right now. No. This is a trick of the gods, probably Koshavi who infests this temple like a viper ready to strike.
"Comparing me to my own divine animal and doing it with such distain. I'm impressed, My Oak." Koshavi speaks with Anixa's own voice, she even calls him 'My Oak' like Anixa used to do.
"Impersonating the woman I used to love does not earn you any worship or favor with me, Koshavi. I've said no to one goddess, and I'll say no to another." Salik states. He knows what she wants, he knows what the gods want, and the answer is no. Fates help him, the answer is always no. Not again. Never again.
"Oh this?" Koshavi looks at herself. "I did not pick this form to upset you, I simply take the form a mortal's mind considers to be the most beautiful. Your mind creates the way I look like. Beauty is subjective. And if I resemble your departed wife, it's because your mind still considers this woman to be the best looking one."
Salik doesn't buy that. Koshavi could force herself to take other forms if she wanted to.
"Oh very well, if you want to be a child about it." The goddess pouts and shifts. Her hair turns colorful, every color in existence stripes her long now smooth hair. Her face grows sharp, eyes turn purple and take the shape of upturned almonds. Sharp ear tips jut out of her striped hair. Surprisingly her curves are gone entirely and her figure takes an androgynous form.
"Why am I here" Salik asks tiredly.
The goddess smirks. "You're doubting whether or not to marry Anixa again, don't you?"
"This is Zoe, not Anixa."
"The woman you knew as Anixa died twenty three years ago. In her last ten years of her life she worshiped me devoutly. Her regret was heartbreaking. She'd dedicate an hour everyday to you. In her prayers she asked for a second chance with you, my dear. I decided to answer those prayers and place her in your path. You're not imagining it, dear. Zoe does not only resemble the woman you once loved, it's the same soul."
"Then I shouldn't marry her. Thank you for helping me decide."
The goddess raises a thin curved colorful eyebrow. "O' really? While she's the same soul, she has none of the memories Anixa had. She is not aware of what she did and has no intentions of doing so again. This is Anixa, but with a clean robe and no stains on them. Didn't you want that more than anything?"
"Yes. But not when your meddling hand is in the mix."
The goddess crosses her hands with a pout. "Not all of the gods are the same. If one tavern sells you bad ale, do you assume all taverns sell bad ale?"
"All taverns sell bad ale," Salik states. "People just love drinking bad ale."
The goddess bursts out in laughter, patting the head of the serpent that rears its head from between her thick long hair. "You're good, my dear. Keep making me laugh like that and I'll consider making you my consort, that is if you don't want Zoe. So then. Shall we make a deal? I will tell you exactly what I want from you, and you decide whether or not to take this deal."
"I'll hear you out."
"One. I want you to worship me so I can steal you from that bloody harpy, Nuriss."
"I'm not hers anymore."
"That's what you think, my dear. That's what she wants you think. You're hers until you chose another god," she preens, "or goddess. Two. I want you to love Zoe with everything you have. She does not remember and she will never remember her past life. Not even I can change that rule about reincarnations. There's no reason to be harsh on her for what her past life did."
"I do that anyway. These things come in threes, what's your third request?"
The goddess preens and turns to look in a mirror. She seems to be distracted, admiring her own image. "I want you to make sure Kolag and Marisha, oh you remember her as Inara, yes. Kolag and Inara stay together, love each other, and wed. Be their pillar of support when they need."
Interesting. What's Koshavi's interest in Kolag and Marisha? Marisha. How could her name slip away like this? Must've been some rotten spell to wipe that out, he doubts she cast it with how awkward she was about her new name. No. This must've been the Maven.
Who from the poor kids is Koshavi after? Kolag? Or Marisha? He hopes to fates not both...
The goddess applies color to her lips in the mirror and continues talking. "Now let's talk about what I can do for you, my dear. You shall receive three blessings, the first..."
"No."
The goddess turns sharply from the mirror. "No?"
"No. I will not worship you. I was going to marry Zoe anyway, and I don't care who she's been in her past life. She doesn't remember and that makes her a new person." But it's different now, isn't it? "As for Marisha and Kolag, the kids can take care of themselves. Now you can give us your blessing for my wedding or you can snake off with that pet snake you love so much."
The goddess frowns and snaps her fingers. The void disappears and Salik finds himself in the wide hall of the bitch's temple.
The priestess wraps the purple silk around and Salik’s and Zoe's hands and Salik can't help but notice the black drawn snake on the silk stripe around his wrists. “Koshavi witness, Koshavi knows your heart. Your marriage is blessed, walk in her winds.”
~~*
Interlude 139.3
Zoe.
The wind breezes in Zoe’s hair, the goddess herself blessed their union. It doesn't happen to just anyone! She can't believe the goddess blessed their union!
Zoe is married!
She still can’t believe it, but it’s true!
She never thought she’d marry in a small and quick wedding, but who is she going to invite? Her master? She can’t bother Inara with this, not to mention she’ll protest to this marriage based on Salik’s age, Inara has some odd standards. Zoe's family? If they aren’t dead, they aren’t responsive. It’s not like her sister would care enough to show, and her brother in law hates her anyway. Zoe misses everyone. If Jalier hadn't put their souls in new bodies yet, she hopes they watch her from above. She hopes they're happy for her. She would do. But Zoe has no one. Not really...
Traitorous tears sneak into her eyes and trickle down her cheeks.
"Are you alright, Tulips?" Salik asks, worriedly.
"Mmhmm! I'm happy!" Zoe lies. She wishes her family would still be around.
No. Zoe only has the man in front of her to count on, and he’s the only one that matters. He's her only family now. Him and her Nephew, Olsan. The only family she has left...
~~*
Power level: 3rd stage apprentice.
Mana pools status:
Crown-knot: Affinity 10: connected: 1 gem replenished per minute.
Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 91
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: connected: 41 neutral gems. Conversion ratio: elemental : neutral-3:1, neutral : elemental-1:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 34 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 17 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 22/26 gems
Water: Affinity 6: connected: 75 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 8 gems
Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 17 gems
Gravity: Affinity 9: connected: 102/113 gems
Cantrip known:
Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing. Aria’s Sonic Scream. Aria's Increased Voice.
Fire: Nuriss’ Flame. Effrat’s Firefly, Effrat’s Fire Breath. Sorladika's Lesser Heating. Nuriss’ Ignite. Oniga's Soap Creation.
Light: Noxi’s Light. Lako’s Blinding Light. Rika’s energy hand.
Water: Water Evocation, Water to Ice, Ice to Water, Water to Vapor, Vapor to Water, Mayan’s Icy Spike, Ayla’s Water Jet. Ayla’s instant freezem. Ayla's Flowing Shield. Ayla’s Freezing Vapors. Hot Water Conjuration. Boiling Waterjet.
Earth: Alice’s Oil Summoning, Reiko’s Acid Spray. Alf's Copper Bolt
Wood: Arigor’s Lesser Vines. Kolosu’s Vegetable Summoning.
Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burstm. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s Lesser Shield IIm. Imari’s Minor Telekinesism. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pullm. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body. Alino's Orbiter.
Transmutation: Oniga's Laundry.
Spells known:
Light: Wassho’s invisibilityb2 Rika's Electric Channelb1x2
Gravity: Alino’s Weightless Bodyb1x2. Tukado's Pushb1x3. Tukado’s defense IIIb1x4m. Imari’s Lesser Flightb2m.
Life: Brigit’s Lesser Cure Poison. Brigit’s Skin Restoration.
(Little letters by spell sides: m=mastered. a=advanced. b=bound spell, number near the b is how many gems of the mana pool binding the said spell takes.)
Focus capability: 21 patterns.
Social status: The Queen of Red Cedar City. Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. Apprentice to the Maven of Mysteries. Sorceress.
Carried Wealth: 5 Golden Peas, 27 Silver Scales.
Personal Items:
Magical necklace. Contains 100 gems of general mana, can be drained like a mana pool. It’ll recharge by itself at the rate of five gems an hour.
1 potion of lightning body.
1 potion of mana, medium grade.
1 potions of Lesser Healing.
5 potions of Pain Tolerance.
An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keeps the pouches’ content fresh. Each pouch may contain 10g of petals or six potion flasks.
40g Rose petals.
4g Lavender petals.
10g Sowbread petals.
10 empty soul bottles. Glass with a diamond stopper, put in scaled leather wrapping.
The Great White Egret grimoire. Dedicated by the Maven of mysteries to Inara. 31/100. Unlocked.
Present Companions:
Kolag of house Befar.
Jerro.
Sharlafyn Nettledew.
Berthold.
Ryon.
Languages:
Toml’a <People’s tongue> Fluent
Sinteo <Speech> Fluent
Myrsha <Gravity> 8/10
Felul <Wind> 1/10
Nim <Water> 1/10
A'arkalu <Wolf Tongue> 4/10
Injuries and scars:
Curses: unknown extracted parasite, possibly bloodline related. Gone due to an unknown bloodline magic.
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Kingdom’s treasury: 26,123 Golden Peas. 965 Magic Gems.
Kingdom’s citizen:
Red Cedar City: 3,609 adults. 1,654 children.
Apricot City: 1,877 adults. 504 children.
Total: 5,990 souls.
Kingdom's army: 123 Footmen. 16 Peacekeeper Knights. 500 Blood Spears.
Notables at Court:
Tasiya Keyholder.
Jolla SilverQuill.
Talbot Bookkeeper.
Aisha?
