Chương 12

After the morning patrol, Kirk returned to his tent. For the second day in a row, he flopped back on his bedding and stared at the passage of cloud shadows across his canvas shelter. Spending time with the two other fresh levies during the patrol, they settled into a certain sort of comfort. Even if Rufus was begrudging and surly about it, he at least glared directly at Kirk. Despite the strange misunderstanding, he at least had his focus on the current him, not the shadow of his past or name.

Like with the Merchant Tafaro, Kirk began to develop his own relationships. But can I blame other people for judging me? Kirk grimaced. Many of the people I've met- He recalled the hollow eyes of the Healer in the courtyard. The sudden darkness and distance in Zuri's expression. Tafaro, posing for a portrait for his wife. To have a past is to carry its weight. Kirk thought. In a way, having forgotten mine is an advantage. Yet it's difficult. Without a past, there is so much I don't understand.

And no previous experiences to guide me. All I have-"This sky is unjust." Kirk's eyes flashed. Energy filled his limbs. Kirk threw himself to his feet and marched out of the tent. He plucked up his short spear and shield and forced his body through a rigorous series of training movements. He had no formal rigor, but he did have the hisses of distaste and purrs of approval from his Beast Archetype. Shuffling back and forth, Kirk stabbed, blocked, and dodged against invisible foes.

And when he finished with that, he put down his other equipment and plucked up the Larian Saber. Kirk held it aloft and admired the sheen along its edge. Then he began to cut. During the second bout of training, there were moments when he wished to stop. His arms practically begged him to. But he remembered the emptiness in that woman's gaze, right after he came into his consciousness. He remembered his frustrated helplessness in the face of the world's unfairness. The only thing you can rely on is suffering.

After, he dumped a bucket on himself. He didn't wish to get his bedding wet, so he stood for a while in the afternoon sun. Only when he was dry enough did he walk forward and faceplant onto the bed. He fell asleep instantly and slept until sunset. His eyes snapped open. At this point his stomach was growling and his body complained about the thorough workout. It made Kirk grin like a wolf. The stars were dim, shrouded by a thin layer of clouds. Yet they were enough for Kirk to wander around the hold at night.

He saw Conduits drifting back through the gates. A few were bright eyed and laughing, hauling sacks of rare goods. Others sighed and dragged their feet. Most were covered in the stone dust from the alien world. The torches by Peakhold's gates were replaced and relit. The flow of Conduits back from the Rift slowed. Kirk looked around, his skin buzzing. Three groups of a dozen individuals spared him glances, but then turned back to the gates.

Each group had their own matching emblem sewn onto the shoulders of their leather armors. Finally, a slender young woman with dark hair walked down the path with two armored men at her sides. She stepped through and blinked. The waiting groups moved forward. With frowns on their faces, the men closed ranks to protect her. Kirk felt a small release of tension-- he much preferred observing to being the object of attention.

"Hymna Wild! I hope you've considered my offer." One Conduit swaggered forward with his subordinates. A hawk nosed man from another group snorted.

"I'm sure it made an impression, for its lack of sincerity, Canwick. Meanwhile, our Troop-""The Infinite Wings Troop will provide twenty gold to help with the Ascension costs." Both of the other Troops froze when the leader of the third Troop finally spoke. Instantly, the other two leaders glowered.

"Heron," The swaggering Troop leader snarled.

"Are you mad? Twenty gold, for a Tier I? What if the resulting Archetype is insufficient? You certainly are willing to spend money-""I accept." The young woman, the one these three Troops gathered to see poked her head around her companions and spoke. She smiled at the leader of the Infinite Wings Troop, who smiled back.

"I urge you to reconsider." The other Troop leader interjected. The dark-haired woman, Hymna looked at him.

"Will you offer more?" The man's lips twitched, but he had nothing to say. He cut through the air with his hand and his Troop, all with harsh expressions, pivoted and departed. The swaggering Troop leader was even more direct; as he swirled a finger to signal his Troop to depart, he offered the Hymna young woman a cold smile.

"Be careful in the Rift. No one is so powerful that they can be generous with weaklings, there." Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The man pivoted and left. The woman stumbled forward.

"Twenty gold, that offer- you don't need-""I said it and I meant it. Therefore, I'll give it to you," The woman who led the Endless Wings Troop smiled.

"It is a price worth paying for you to join us." The young woman gestured to the two beside her, who hovered around.

"What about my cousins? Can they also…?"

"I'll make spots in the tryout, whenever they want them," The Troop Leader said. Yet even Kirk's ears perked up at her tone. Hymna's face fell. Beside her, the two men's faces were curiously blank. In the end, the woman nodded.

"I understand. That much is already generous. Can I have a few days to think?" The group drifted away. Kirk just watched them go; he knew the pressure exerted by attention. He was willing to watch people nearby, but if they departed, he would not follow. Instead, he pivoted and began to walk toward the merchant quarter. As Kirk considered, the Beast Archetype phantom manifested in the surroundings. It bounded around and sniffed the various Conduits who walked around without noticing its presence.

By now, he had noted that even if it appeared around others, they were unable to sense it. That's the power wielded by the Troops. A group can entice a Conduit to join by helping to pay for the costs of Ascension. But… without assistance, it must be difficult to join. He walked past a group of Conduits crouched down, throwing dice. Kirk's eyes roved over them, but his mind was elsewhere. The more you know, the more you can look around and see the penumbra of a world's truths in everyday interactions.

It is not unlimited power, but knowledge is a worthy pursuit-"Kirk Albion, my bosom friend. Look at this, fate has brought us together once more." Hearing his name, Kirk turned. From the group of crouched individuals, the graceful Maett stood and offered a dazzling smile. He began to stride quickly in Kirk's direction, flicking his fingers at the dice companions behind them.

"Unfortunately, I must listen to the whispers of serendipity. Let's head somewhere private to chat." Before Kirk could even nod, Maett had slipped his arm through Kirks and pulled him away. He examined the easy smile on Maett's face. Compared to the bluntness of Zuri, as she alternated between shock, thankfulness, and raw suspicion during their first meetings, Maett's emotions seemed more mercurial. Kirk suppressed his dislike. He decided he should give the man a chance.

Behind them, several loud shouts split the night. Maett chuckled. When Kirk tilted his head in confusion, he said.

"They finally inspected my previous roll. A disastrous one, to be sure. Without the timely distraction of your presence, I would already have been forced to divest my meager savings. For your assistance in this matter, my debt to you grows."

"But you ran away from another debt," Kirk pointed out. Maett pivoted and met Kirk's eyes. His gaze was bright and determined.

"Even I must admit that there are aspects of my existence that do not fill me with pride. Yet while they were playing dice, the whole time, I was playing 'Conduit'. There is no other way to advance in this world." Kirk pursed his lips; he did not agree. But also, that frank answer extinguished the dislike in his heart. They had not chosen the same path, but Kirk had to respect Maett's resolve. Maett cleared his throat.

"So, on the subject of debt?"

"What?" Kirk said. In a slippery movement, Maett removed his arm from Kirk's as quickly as he had put it there. Kirk's senses could barely catch him. Kirk twitched in alarm, but Maett stopped a short distance away.

"Allow me a monologue. I admit to taking advantage of circumstances, but I'm also willing to begin my repayment immediately. My Ascension Quest is quite unusual- I must follow my heart for two hundred days. On not a single day can I have regrets or hesitations. So it is indeed queer, but my heart demanded I speak up."

"Ah," Kirk nodded, considering his own task of Cultivating Fire.

"Just for the time it would take to complete, that's a difficult Ascension." Maett's expression turned strangely brittle.

"I've been stuck at Tier I for two years. You'd be surprised how difficult it is to stay true to oneself. Or how easily you can believe in a decision in the moment, but then find it curdles into regret only hours later." As Kirk digested that, Maett pointed at him.

"So, this debt. I'm willing-""Do you know how to earn Feats related to Runes?" Kirk asked, struck by sudden inspiration. Maett paused.

"For these minor matters, you don't even need to consider it repayment. A primer is simplicity itself. Now I know you've been instructed from a young age on these things, but I just want to give you my personal context-""Can I say something first?" Kirk interrupted. The animated Maett restrained himself with a visible effort of will. He offered a small bow and a sinuous wave of his fingers. Kirk took a deep breath. He had said this before- without quite understanding. This time, he wanted to be believed.

"I actually haven't been educated- or rather, I don't remember it." Kirk said. His gaze was intent on Maett, observing reaction.

"When I entered the Rift for the first time, a reaction occurred. I have no personal memory of what transpired before that. I just have a vague recollection of the world and mundane life. Perhaps even more important, I received a second Archetype. If possible, I would like your full explanation of what it means to be a Conduit and how to earn Feats."

"You…" Maett squinted.

"Is this true?"

"It is," Kirk said. The two looked at one another.

"That's…" Maett's elfin features scrunched up for a second. Kirk felt his shoulder tense. But then Maett threw his hands into the air.

"Miraculous! Has your Archetype mutated?"

"Not mutated. I have two Archetypes." Kirk said. He felt vaguely bewildered.

"You believe me?"

"Two archetypes in tandem? I wonder how that affects the accumulation in your body-" Maett's eyes glittered and he flicked his fingers at Kirk, almost annoyed.

"You expected disbelief from me? Well, certainly, I've not ever encountered someone like this-- isn't that exactly why it would be very cool to believe in it, for a while?" A little bit of grimness squeezed Maett's lips together, even while he tried to keep smiling.

"Having something to believe in is a powerful thing, in this world.

"Besides, do you know why I like you? Because three years under the onus of this Ascension has given me uncommon insight!" Maett jabbed the air with his finger.

"What you say rings true; one who has cut through the fickle currents of the human heart knows its tricks. Sport recognizes sport, as they say."

"Thank you?" Kirk said, even though he felt like he was missing something.

"You are welcome." Maett's mouth stretched wider and wider, revealing more teeth.

"How intriguing; no wonder your curiosity turns toward feats. Two Archetypes- the Ascension requirements will be onerous. But- so you lack all the relevant details? Then there is only one recourse: I need to monologue. I've been waiting for this opportunity- ahem, preparing for this trial my entire life."