M.D.Syl
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Chapter 53 colorless
🕑 Added 2023-02-11 16:04:52 +0000 UTCChapter 53 A name.
Never judge a book by its cover.
Never judge a man by his words.
judge a book by its story.
And a man by his deeds.
Tukado, the Creator.
{27} Mayan (December) the 28th
That night, the hag serves the meat from the animals I hunted as dinner. The rabbit and the fox taste amazing, but the badger has a horrible taste. The hag used a lot of spice and salt to the point it was almost inedible. According to her, it has a bad taste, and that’s the only way it can be fixed.
She pushes me to eat up half the meat of each creature, to make sure its soul would integrate well into my mana stream. In the badger’s case, eating so much disgusting meat nearly makes me vomit. By the time I’m done I feel bloated, but at least it’s not human meat.
In the evening after work, I take a soul bath. Again, the hag gets me to sit in her cauldron, giving me these three potions. Soon enough I am in deep meditation drifting into my world of fantasies. The mushroom soup taste of the ectoplasm bath is similar but different. Or maybe the difference is just in my head, and if she had put human souls in there, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. However, if she did such a thing she’d suffer a backlash due to her magical oath, so I know she wouldn’t do that.
{27} Mayan (December) the 29th
After twenty-four hours that feel like a single hour to me, I climb out of the cauldron and wrap myself in a towel. I have just formed my tenth mana pool of wood. I’m officially a 3rd stage apprentice now. One step closer to becoming a mage. Now I only have to connect all of my pools… the books say it should take even longer than forming them… I’m not looking forward to that… Doesn’t matter how long it’ll take! I’ll do it! And I’ll make it! I have to! It's the only way to go home!
I eye the pair of cages at the other end of the cellar. The old bone in one of them was removed, and it’s now housing the pixie in its purple dark form. She hisses toward me, but that hiss only brings a smile to my face. My little revenge for Sorer you bitch! He was good to me…
“Here. That is my gift to you for my pixie…” The hag hands me a thin silvery necklace. It has a large round diamond pendant at its tip. It’s a simple piece of jewelry, back home I had countless better versions. But this one was different, this one is magically enchanted. This necklace is worth to me way more than any other piece of jewelry I’ve ever held.
“Thank you!” I look at the diamond and the light it reflects, wondering if it will give up magical light as well.
“Put it on child!”
“Uh, sorry…” I put on the necklace with a large smile on my face, but I don’t feel anything different.
“kakaka… the diamond needs to touch your skin chicky!” the hag provides an explanation when she sees my puzzled face.
I open the towel enough for the diamond to touch my skin. It’s brimming with power, it feels like there is a new massive mana pool near my heart. “It feels like a mana pool…” I can tell this necklace holds a lot of power, at least twice as much as my gravity pool, possibly more.
The hag grins. “That’s because it is a mana pool yes? The diamond contains general mana of a hundred gems worth that can be used for any element. You can drain it through touch and it’ll fill by itself with time. Drain it slowly while you meditate, and it’ll speed up your process. Use it well child, you’ve earned it!”
I nod and get dressed slowly. The diamond suddenly feels heavier on my chest.
I don’t feel like I’ve earned it, I only gave her a name. In fact, I messed up, I let this creature escape. I let Sorer get killed... But if I got it in the end so it was all good right? I’ll always have this necklace as a reminder of how dangerous those creatures can be… And in the meantime, I shouldn’t be so harsh on myself because I got lucky!
And this necklace… oh wow… there’s so much I can do with this! My biggest mana pool holds forty gems… this is a hundred! I can learn and cast first level spells now! Yeah, I just need to learn how to increase the amount of mana patterns I can create…
“Thank you!”
“Kikiki… you are welcome my daughter.”
“About my lesson for this month? Can you teach me how to increase the amount of mana patterns I can create at once? I couldn’t find any books on the subject, other than this one book back at the tower but it wasn't very helpful…”
“You wish to increase your foci? That isn’t easy, our mind can be limiting sometimes, yes?”
I nod.
“Very well. I shall teach you. Take a seat.” She gestures at the dusty couch in her cellar.
I sit quietly, my heart drums in my chest. This is the first time she’s actually teaching me a proper lesson.
A familiar mana pattern forms in the air. It’s not made out of mana, I can’t see mana. It’s made out of lights, bright purple lights mimicking the mana pattern for ‘Minor Telekinesis’. “How well do you know this pattern?”
“Very well. I can do it almost without thinking.”
“And this?” A twisted rune-like pattern forms. An unfamiliar one.
“Not at all.”
“This is one of the patterns for ‘vines’, a simple wood cantrip. Now, I want you to form these two with your mana and merge them.”
I nod and do as she says. Except, they don’t merge at all. The gravity mana just dissolves when I attempt to form the twisting wood pattern with it.
“Kikiki… chicky. Use wood mana to form the wooden pattern, not gravity mana for a wood pattern, yes?”
I nod, my cheeks heating up. I repeat the process, draining some of my newly acquired wood mana. “Now what?”
“Keep doing that. Conjure various different mana patterns, and keep merging them. They have to be different ones, from different elements. One of them has to be a pattern you are familiar with, and the other one shall be a pattern you are unfamiliar with. Conjure as many as you can and pile them up. Here are patterns you’re not familiar with.” A group of glowing blue patterns show up in the air.
As I merge my 3rd pair I find out that it’s near impossible for me to do so. It’s odd since I can easily conjure and control 9 patterns, 10 are a stretch. But now I’m having trouble with 6. I normally merge them when I cast cantrips. How is the merging ones from different elements making it any different? Or is it simply because I’m not familiar with these patterns?
“Pile them up chicky! Merge them all together, not just pairs!”
I focus and merge them. Then I lose control, and the three unfamiliar patterns fade. They leave behind a stabbing headache.
“That’s it?” The hag’s eyes dim.
I take a deep breath. “I believe that’s my limit yes…”
“If you wish to continue this lesson, practice this technique in your spare time. When you can give me 5 merged pairs into a single ten pattern formation, I shall give you the next technique, yes?”
That’s it?!
“Wait! This doesn’t make any sense! These aren’t even spells! Just random patterns meshed up with each other!”
“Yeeess… This is a mere exercise meant to increase your foci, your control of mana. Not a spell. Although spells sometimes merge different elements, their patterns are constructed in a way that is meant for them to be weaved together. If you can weave patterns that are not meant to be weaved together, your foci shall become stronger.”
She creates a very complex formation made out of light in the air, without any symmetry, or a shape that makes any sort of sense. Oh wow… how many patterns did she even get there?! “It is an old technique, not many books mention it, yes? We shall speak again next month, after you practice. And if you hadn’t managed to reach the goal I’ve set for you, you may choose a different topic.”
“I see…”
“Now! Onto a different matter.” She claps her hands to attract my attention. “Tomorrow you’ll be coming with me, I have a task for you.”
*
{27} Mayan (December) the 30th
I give my profile one last look in the mirror. I’m wearing a gorgeous sleeveless sheath dress made out of dark green satin. My necklace disappears under the dress’ collar, and my hair is held up in a complex bun. The dress is a gift from the hag, but also a part of tonight’s mission.
Even if the hag said I won’t be needing makeup, I still had Sharla apply some, just to match the dress.
“You’re good to go.” Sharla pats my exposed shoulder. I haven’t talked to her in a while, and even now it’s not due to my choice. The hag brought her here to take care of my haircut and dress me up.
“…”
“Listen… I’m sorry, I… I didn’t have a choice about it ok?” Sharla stutters, fidgeting.
“I know…” I’m tired of those apologies…
“Then why are you avoiding me?” The chubby woman plays with a lock of her curled hair, shifting uncomfortably.
If there’s a way to go back to how things used to be between us, I don’t know it… “I’m hurt I guess? I also know that anything meaningful I say to you will find its way to the hag’s ears.”
“You still call her that… You know that she’s the most powerful person in this city right? She sits on the council of masks… she could snap her fingers and drop you in a cell, waiting for the chopping block… or put you in that cellar with these horrible fat people…”
Horrible fat people… You do know she fattens them right? “I know, but she won’t do it. She invested a lot of resources in me, she treats me like I’m her own child. While you are nothing but a pawn to her, just a piece on the game board.”
The freckled girl shivers, hugging herself.
She’s a victim in this… I shouldn’t take this out on her… “I’m sorry… I guess I’m still hurt huh? I also know I can’t trust you with anything private.”
“Do we have to talk about something private all the time? Can’t we just be friends without sharing intimate details you don’t want the mistress to know?!” Sharla bursts out. Her accents gets heavier when she loses her calm, I have the same accent, it’s the same accent of the Mansel’a kingdom. “I really like you Marisha! And I don’t have anyone to talk to. I know you’re lonely too, I can see it in your eyes. Why does it have to be all or nothing with you?! Why can’t we meet halfway in this?”
She… she’s not wrong… I just… “I’m sorry, you’re right…”
“So… friends?” She asks with a shy smile.
“Friends.” I smile at her and she pulls me into a tight hug. More human warmth from someone who cares… This is nice… I need this… I’m way too lonely…
Speaking of warmth…
“Any idea why I have to dress like this in the middle of the winter?” I ask her when we break the hug. I don’t bother to hide the annoyance in my voice.
She shakes her head. “I can’t say for sure… but: Tonight the council of masks holds a meeting. If I had to guess it has something to do with them.”
I nod. “Makes sense… the hag probably want me to assassinate one of their members again…”
“You’ve already killed a member?” Sharla’s blue eyes are open wide.
“Yeah, a guy with a lion mask…” That was probably a bad idea to say… venomous snakes! How does she keep causing me to lower my guard like this?! I sigh. “Are you going to tell her I told you that?”
“What?! No! No! Are you kidding me? She’ll kill me for even knowing that kind of detail, I’m not dumb ok?”
Good point… “I better go talk to her, see what’s this about. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah… later… and Marisha, I’m sorry! I truly am!”
I’m really tired of these apologies! “This is the last time you apologize to me! You don’t have to repeat it, and I already said I forgive you. I’m hurt, but I’ll get over it. I’ll stay your friend and learn how not to talk about things I shouldn’t… I don’t know why I always lower my guard around you… you remind me of home too much I guess… Anyway, I should go.”
She opens her mouth.
“And stop apologizing!” I cut her and leave.
*
An hour later I am seated in a fancy carriage with the hag and Sharla.
Unlike the hag’s normal black tattered robes, she now wears a closed up black dress that somehow fits her like a glove. Since she’s seated, her hunched figure isn’t noticeable.
She also wears a lot of jewelry. A thick necklace of pearls, above another made of emeralds, and another of sapphires. She has at least seven different bracelets on her wrists and multiple rings with different kinds of large and small gems. A pair of long earrings hang like chandeliers of topazes from her ears. With her white hair tied up in a golden comb.
On anyone else; this much jewelry would be in bad taste, but it fits her perfectly.
There’s one more odd thing I notice about the hag, she has no smell. Perfume is a must in most cases, but in hers there is no hint to the faintest of scents. Not even a whiff.
Sharla is also dressed up in a fancy green dress, but unlike my own, she has sleeves.
The hag still hasn’t told me a word about this mission… I shift my attention to the hag. “Are you going to tell me what I’d be doing? Or am I going in blind?”
“Kikiki… I’ve heard you picked for yourself the name Ritsa <repulse>.”
She even heard about that?! How the snake did she hear about that? It was a bunch of street boys... “What about it? It was a silly idea…”
The hag points her talon in my direction. “No young woman. You have the right idea but the wrong name, yes?”
“What do you mean?” I raise my brow.
“When mages ascend - sometimes even before their ascendance - their master shall grant them with a name from a magical language. The name is meant to shield their true name, yes?”
I nod. It makes sense.
Her wrinkled face crease into a kind smile, as much as kindness go for cannibalistic hags. “The name you picked however is wrong for you. You are not Ritsa, you are not repulsive. You are attractive, and you don’t wish for isolation. You are lonely, and you are looking for friendships.”
She has a point there… “Does the mage name has a meaning?”
She snorts. “Oh yeeess. Otherwise it wouldn’t stick.”
“You can’t call me Myrsha <attractive>, that would defeat the purpose.”
“Kikiki… no. The language’s name is too powerful for anyone to use as their own name. Naming an apprentice isn’t easy. I’ve given much thought to your name. Normally, I pick an animal’s name for my children. But you are not an animal, you are not a predator, you even refuse to dine on other mortals…”
“What did you call your first apprentice? The one who refused to eat mortals?”
“Kynator. It means ‘a hunter’ in the language of Fotyr <fire>. He is a predator. But one who picks and chooses his prey with a purpose. A hunter, yes?”
I nod. I guess it makes sense. “So you're going to call me huntress?"
She shakes her head slowly. "You are not a huntress."
"So what am I?”
“You are ambitious. Stubborn. Cunning. And your lifespan is longer than the average mortal. Yet. Not a predator, nor a prey. I bestow upon you the name of ‘Inara’ <Water>.”
“Why are you calling me water?”
“Kikiki… Inara is one of the words in Myrsha that have many meanings. Water is simply one of them. Inara means: water, eternal, stubborn, determent, immortal, and patient. Just like how ‘Dian’ <fire> means strength, vengeance, pain, and cruelty. You also have some affinity for water magic. The name fits you my daughter. You shall be called ‘Inara, Daughter of Mysteries’. Wear the name well, and wear it proud.”
“I… I see...” I don’t mind being called eternal or immortal… and I’m definitely determent to get enough power! Determent to see my family again! To live free of any powers above me, anyone who could control my life… Something clicks in my heart the moment I accept the name, like a strained muscle.
The hag leans forward, her golden eyes blazing a few centimeters from my face. “For all purposes. You are forbidden from revealing your true name. If you are forced or wish to reveal your name tonight, you shall use the name Inara. From this day onward you shall no longer use the name Marisha. That’ll remain hidden yes?”
“But what about people who already know me as Marisha?”
She leans back in her seat. “Leave that worry to me… kikikiki…”
“You’re not going to kill them right?!”
“Oh no, I don’t have to kill them. Kikikiki… little mouse?” The hag raises her chin at Sharla. “Tell me. What is the name of this young woman?” The hag points her talon at me.
“I… I can’t remember… I know her alias is Inara, but I can’t recall her name…” Sharla mutters with a shudder.
She’s kidding right?! “You don’t remember my name?!” I ask, startled.
“I’m sorry Inara! I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you! Now I can’t even remember your name! I’m such a bad person! I don’t deserve to be your friend! I… I…”
Poor girl… I take her hands. “It’s ok… I’m not angry, and you can’t remember it because of some spell. Stop feeling guilty about it.”
“Kikiki… As you can see my child, you have nothing to worry about.”
She can’t wipe my name from everyone’s minds? Can she? What about Kolag?! Will he remember my name? What about my family?! Will they recognize me without remembering my name? How does it even work? How can she wipe my name from memory from everyone around the world? Or is it a spell she sticks to me and automatically wipes my name from the heads of those I encounter? “You still haven’t told me about my mission today?” I clench the hems of my dress, trying to shake away my anxiety.
“Ahhh yeeess… you know how the politics work in this city, yes?”
I nod.
“The slave girl told you I own a mask, yes?” The hag gives Sharla a questioning look.
We both nod.
“Good. Here, take this little mask kikikiki…” She hands me the lion mask, the same one I saw on my first assassination mission. “Wear this before you leave the carriage. Your task today is to vote the same as me, yes?”
I nod. Makes sense…
“After that. Your job is to survive. If you still have the mask in your possession by morning, and you are unharmed and unbound: I’ll gift you with three hundred gems. Every life you take on the way to your survival shall cost you fifty gems. If you lose your mask: You’ll pay me two hundred gems. If you end in the hands of another mask owner: I won’t pay you anything, and I’ll leave you to your fate for three days…”
“What if I die?”
“Unlikely, but possible. We all have to take risks, yes? If you don’t wish to risk your life you can pay me two hundred gems and exit my carriage now. Your pet, the slave girl shall take your place.” She glances at Sharla who visibly shivers under the golden gleaming eyes.
Two hundred gems and avoid risking my life… but also sending Sharla to a possible death… As much as I’m hurt by Sharla… having her die for it feels wrong… She’s a victim in all of this, the hag picked her… and used her…
So am I supposed to risk my life for her now?! Is that it?!
No. This is a bigger issue. Also another test by the hag. The hag doesn’t want me to become a coward, but also test how much she controls me through Sharla. If I’m willing to send Sharla to her death, it means…
Wait… this test isn’t just for me… it’s for Sharla… The hag must’ve ordered Sharla to befriend me, and failure… I’m not sure what failure means to Sharla, but let’s assume it means death. If I’m willing to send Sharla in my stead, it means she failed to befriend me… It also means that someone like Sharla can’t be used against me anymore, and the hag will look for different means to manipulate me… causing pain maybe? No, she already tried that one, she knows it won’t work… I’m sure she’ll find something…
I sigh.
“What shall it be chicky?” The hag taps her foot impatiently.
“I’m thinking.”
“Is there much to think about?”
I cross my hands. “Actually yes there is. You’ve ordered Sharla to befriend me, didn’t you? If I send her in my stead, it means she failed her task. Which means possible death or some other form of punishment for her. Yet, if I go just to make sure she won’t be harmed, she’ll become an easy way to control me. You can threaten her life whenever you want me to do something. Your games are starting to become clearer by the day, old hag…”
What the hell am I thinking?!
The edges of the hag’s lips twitch, deepening her wrinkles for a brief second. “I fished a smart one indeed. Yeeessss… you’ve seen right through my scheme young woman.”
“If you’re admitting that I’ve seen through your scheme, then there must be something I’ve missed.”
Her twitching lips form a wide smile that turns into a cackle. “Kikikikikiki…Kikiki… Former nobles are so fun to raise as children, they see schemes everywhere kikikiki…” She rubs her hands together. “So, what shall it be? Should you go? Or should you send your pet slave girl in your stead?”
I don’t have to kill anyone, and I only have to get away from a bunch of guards? Shouldn’t be too hard… I shrug. “I’ll go, I could use the extra gems. But three hundred is too little, give me five hundred if I get away.”
“Yeeeessss… for seeing through my scheme I’ll give you five hundred gems. Young woman, do not disappoint me.”
I smile back. “When have I ever disappointed you?”
*~*~*
Bits of lore.
There are seven different magical languages.
Don’t confuse ‘Dian’ <fire> with ‘Fotyr’ <fire>
{Fotyr} Fotyr = Fire/flame/transformation/hunger/digestion/excess consumption/consume/eat/swallow/Fire language’s name.
{Myrsha} Dian = Fire/strength/blind power/cruelty/vengeance.
Don’t confuse Inara with Nim.
{Nim} Nim= water/with/and/of/together/togetherness/a group/many that are one/hive/nest/home/language of water’s name.
{Myrsha} Inara= water/forever/eternal/persistent/stubborn/immortal/patient/built to last.
In fact, each of the seven languages has names for all the other seven elements. And each of these names represent how the elemental of the said language view the other element or its own element.
*~*~*
Power level: 3rd stage apprentice.
Mana pools status:
Crown-knot: Affinity 10: formed: 1 gem replenished per five minutes.
Neck-Bridge: Affinity 6: formed: max amount of gems drained per day: 66
Abdomen-storage: Affinity 5: formed: 6 gems. Conversion ratio: 6:1
Air: Affinity 4: formed: 18 gems
Fire: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems
Light: Affinity 3: formed: 14 gems
Water: Affinity 6: formed: 27 gems
Earth: Affinity 1: formed: 4 gems
Wood: Affinity 2: formed: 9 gems
Gravity: Affinity 9: formed: 40/41 gems
Cantrip known:
Air: Shavi’s Breeze, Shavi’s Sword. Shavi’s Hair Dryer, Aria’s Enhanced Hearing.
Fire: Nuriss’ Flame. Effrat’s Firefly, Effrat’s Fire Breath. Sorladika's Lesser Heating.
Light: Noxi’s Light, Lako’s Blinding Light.
Water: Water Evocation, Water to Ice, Ice to Water, Water to Vapor, Vapor to Water, Mayan’s Icy Spike, Ayla’s Water Jet.
Earth:
Wood:
Gravity: Lumina’s Kinetic Burst. Tukado’s Repulse. Tukado’s lesser shield. Imari’s Minor Telekinesis. Imari’s Jump. Leo’s Pull. Leo’s Grounding. Alino’s Light Body. Alino’s Heavy Body.
Spells known:
Gravity: Alino’s weightless bodyb.
Focus capability: 10 patterns
Social status: Inara, Daughter of Mysteries. Apprentice to the Maven of Mysteries.
Wealth: 900 gems. 1952 golden peas, 14 silver scales, 20 copper bits.
Items:
Magical necklace. Contain a 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 simple healing potions.
1 potion of lightning body.
1 potion of mana, medium grade.
An enchanted belt with eight pouches, the enchantment keep the pouches’ content fresh.
Fresh rose petals, 8g
Companions:
Languages:
Toml’a <People’s tongue> Fluent
Sinteo <Speech> 9/10
Myrsha <Gravity> 5/10
Felul <Wind> 1/10
Injuries and scars: Back, lightning scar.
