Chương 206: Things you hoped to experience

Ametrine Dreams Wreathed in Silk sat back in her chair, one well-manicured finger tapping her white porcelain mask. Along with the other two gold-rankers currently leading Discord's grand undertaking, she was receiving the compiled reports of their informants. Given that the time frame of the projects were - even with the accelerated schedule - still counted in years rather than months, most of these reports became quite tedious; mere small pieces in a grand mosaic.

But given certain other matters, Ametrine still had plenty with which to occupy her mind.

"Black Wood mask. It has to be her," she thought, regarding the other woman who sat with her usual poise. As it was intended, Ametrine knew less of her fellow council members than she was comfortable with. This put their operations at less risk, should one of them be discovered. But the lack of transparency also left plenty of room for individual initiative. Or ambitions.

"The threads around the Valors are faint, and those adventurers and their investigations keep interfering. This has your touch all over it," she thought, keeping her aura in check while letting her eyes cast vitriol upon the other woman.

"Was Breath of Valor your intended pawn, made to replace my King? Or does it go deeper than that? I will-""And now onto the next order of business," Gold mask said, his words pulling Ametrine from her thoughts.

"We have received a tentative positive response to our initial contacts with the Builder's cult, and they seem open to discuss the details of future collaboration." His words caused a slight stir of whispered discussion among the gathered clergy of the inner circle; devotees of Discord who had been initiated into the true scope of their plans while the rest knew only smaller bits and pieces. But Ametrine's reaction was another, as she sat straighter in her chair and spoke up.

"It shall be known that I remain firm in my stance that inviting further forces before the grand project reaches fruition is foolish," she said, her words and aura silencing her lessers.

"Your objection is once again noted," Gold mask retorted, the rolling of his eyes clear in his tone.

"But in this, you have been outvoted, Porcelain. Given the history of your recent projects, I find that this is for the best as your judgment has been found… wanting," he finished, seeming to enjoy driving the barb home.

"After our undertaking, these lands will be a haven for all who seek to leverage their own paths and stand by their own strength. And in providing them this haven, they will be our shield against the rest of the world who will surely want to force their stagnation back upon us," Black Wood mask said, voice sober even though Ametrine thought that she could notice a hint of gleeful joy in its undertones.

"The cults of the great astral beings are odd and alien, but can provide us knowledge we otherwise lack. And unlike with our fellow devotees to the other gods, we won't have to worry about them challenging us on pure principle of faith."

"And what will it cost us? Surely they won't need what we are offering, given how few in this world who actually knows of the Builder's cult and their presence here," Ametrine retorted. She meant it too, not just as a way to lash out at her weakened position within the council. The churches of the other shunned gods were a known quantity, as were other fringe groups like the Red Table or the different vampire clans. But the Builder's cult was alien and removed.

To them, the world itself was but a speck of dust next to their master's perspective, and Ametrine did not like the thought of inviting such a force into their territories.

"That is for us to find out," Gold mask said, gesturing with his hand as if to wave away Ametrine's concerns.

"This is just a first contact, after all. So keep your whining in check, Porcelain, at least until we know more. Now, onto the next-" As the congregation continued, Ametrine let herself sit back in her chair. She knew when she was beaten, at least for the moment. But that did not stop the plans and plots churning in her mind.

There were other ways to prepare for using any faults in the plans of her 'peers' at a later date, allowing them to set themselves up to fail before an unexpected nudge might make them fall in the right direction. She knew the others did the same, of course, and while the results currently frustrated her, it was the name of their calling. To do anything else would be to ignore the creed of Discord.

"Don't peek!" Dragonfly called from beyond the folding screens from beyond which could be heard the rustling of clothes.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Kite called in return, humoring his lover. As things stood, anyone who saw him sitting there - floating in the air with his eyes closed in meditation - would know the truth of his words.

"Why ruin a surprise, after all?" he thought to himself, smiling before returning to one of the more difficult meditation practices which Ardent Horizon Seeker had taught him during their first days together. Back in iron rank, Kite had thought that meditation would simply become easier with time and rank; the greater mental faculties allowing for greater control. As it had turned out, he had only been partly correct.

Long hours of practice and habit had made it easy to fall into the surface-level tranquility needed to start the process, but the techniques themselves? Reaching silver had meant realizing that what he thought had been deft spiritual 'motions' had been akin to Kite thinking that merely waving his arms around would let him swim. The greater heights opened up complex nuances of fine control which still sometimes boggled Kite's mind, as shown by the complex spiritual control he was currently attempting and failing.

Repeatedly.

"To project one's aura senses while keeping the rest retracted at the same time? Isn't that like asking me to name the color of a thing while keeping my eyes closed?" he thought, surfacing from another attempt just as Dragonfly pushed the folding screens aside with a snap.

"Well? What do you think? Go! To the mirror! Look!" she urged, all but dragging the object of her attention for the past hour or so towards the mirror on the other side of the room. Laevyeth accepted the woman's guidance, seeming quite distracted by what she saw in the reflective surface as they approached. And given that she was currently looking quite different from before, Kite didn't blame her.

"I… Heavens, as thou art prone to proclaim," the outworlder said, taking in her new looks.

"I felt the changes, but even so, I didn't…"

"The gods have given us many things, and alchemy has got to be one of the more nifty ones," Dragonfly said smugly.

"Do you know how in few of the really intense fights my hair comes through unscathed? The number is disturbingly low. Truly horrendous. And the hair-growth ointment always helps me, so I figured that it might as well work for you too, given how similar your humanoid body seems to be to ours." Laevyeth now had hair growing from her scalp like most other humans, elves and celestines around the world.

It had a pale blue color that made it look a lot like the veins of ice which suffused her spear form, and much like them the hair seemed to almost glow but without actually giving off any light. Dragonfly, taking the role of the hairdresser in their little venture, had apparently kept it simple so far with the initial trimming and pruning, which left Laevyeth with completely straight hair falling down to her lower back.

"Not everyone wants to take care of really long hair, but I thought that it would be the easiest to start off long and see what you think," Dragonfly continued.

"And honestly, it feels like it suits you. All long and straight like a - well - spear. But just say the word and I'll help you cut it some more."

"No… No, thou art right," Laevyeth said forlornly, reaching down to run her fingers along the strands.

"It's just the sensation of it… Another thing to get used to with this new body of mine. But I like it. I truly do. So I thank thee, Dragonfly, for not only humoring my request but for also granting it so thoroughly."

"Well, you did say there were a whole bunch of things you hoped to experience," the shorter woman said with a smile and a wink.

"And following this, we have something even better to go with your new hair; shopping! I have some things I want to pick up for Sprite and myself, and both Crow and Dove seem to want to come join us for a trip to Bastion which means that Raven will come too."

"Bastion? The city? Is… Will that be safe?" Laevyeth asked, looking to Kite.

"Unless we find ourselves in the presence of something most unexpected, then yes," Kite replied with a nod.

"Bastion is too low in mana-density for gold-rankers to stay there without burning through a ridiculous amount of resources in gold spirit coins. With your most impressive capacity in aura concealment, none should be able to truly sense your nature unless you wish for it." It made Kite happy to see that Laevyeth only hesitated briefly this time around, before nodding her acquiescence.

"Embracing freedom indeed," he thought to himself with a smile as Dragonfly started to explain to the outworlder the different stores and other places she wished for them to visit. Speaking aloud, he broke into the conversation once more as they reached the main house.

"I'll be visiting Peony, Sun and little Jasmine too. There are plenty of materials for her after this last excursion of ours. Unsurprisingly, they are rife with themes of ice and cold so I'm sure she'll be able to work them into something useful for both us and the guild."

"Sounds good! Then let's gather the others and be off. The ship will be a bit cramped, but we should be able to endure for the few hours it will take us. Bastion awaits!"

"What do you mean there are no portals to Hua-Xi? I thought this courier station was said to have some of the most well-traveled employees in the dukedom," Will asked, doing his best to school his impatience as he met the eyes of the older human lady manning the counter.

"Now, young man, don't be so impatient," she replied with a pleasant smile, looking up at him.

"As the sign says, we keep plenty of people knowing the locations of actual importance. Niche requests like this are rare, after all. I'm sure that Lin will be back soon with an alternate route for you- ah, here she comes." Will had already felt the younger woman's aura approach, but given the chagrin and slight worry he felt in her open aura, he wished that he was mistaken.

"I'm sorry, honored adventurer, so terribly sorry!" she called as she entered the room, even throwing herself to the floor while pressing her head to the wooden planks.

"This is the closest route I could find through our connections. Unless you wish to turn back to Rimaros and find a gold-ranked courier, please accept this with our apologies," the younger woman finished, holding up a sheath of paper. Will accepted it, reading the proposed planned route in the trade script.

"Two portals over… Travel by boat… Stay in Khignai for an undetermined amount of nights, depending on when their couriers are made available by the local ruler… Travel by boat again?!"

"As I said, honored adventurer, we are sorry that we cannot offer you more, but as our humble station-""No… No… This… This will have to do," Will said with a sigh, adding several more days to the date of his intended homecoming. At that moment, he deeply regretted his choice of grabbing the first portal out of the Storm Kingdom rather than to actually plan out his trip a bit better.

"This is surely a tribulation of the heavens… Yes, a trial for my path." Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"Why would you even want to go to such a rural place?" the old lady asked from across the counter, apparently sharing none of the younger receptionist's fear of the essence-user.

"Had I not possessed the map, I wouldn't even have heard of this… U-shi…?"

"Hua-Xi," Will corrected, mind elsewhere.

"It might just be a place on a map for you, but for me, it is home. And as it happens, destiny might be awaiting me there. So I thank you, and will accept the offer. May your paths guide you to the heavens and beyond."

"What? You're expecting another already? That's wonderful!" Dragonfly exclaimed, ignoring the dark-haired toddler - Jasmine - who was currently climbing up her back while using Dragonfly's hair as handholds.

"We are indeed. The years have been kind to our household," Patient Sun replied, glowing with pride.

"Now that Peony's esteemed parents have their essences and are making their way to bronze, they are most happy to take care of Jasmine and however many siblings we would like to give her."

"At least that's what they say now. We'll see how long they sing that tune as the numbers of little ones increase," Peony called from where she and Kite sat sorting through the equipment he had brought her.

"And speaking of little ones…. That is a most interesting dagger," the crafter continued, picking up a long, thin blade and flicking through her impressive array of lenses covering her eyes as she started analyzing its enchantments, cooing at the weapon.

"Oh the things I could do with you when I pick you apart."

"I am starting to have some more ideas for things I'd like to put up for commission," Kite said, playing idly with an odd, many-pointed weapon somewhere between a sword and an axe shaped like a jagged snowflake.

"Another shield, for example. And perhaps a new suit of armor, or perhaps an improvement of the spellplate so that you might eventually find it in your heart to forgive my straying."

"Don't hope for too much now, dear Pathbreaker," Peony replied sweetly, using Kite's title most pointedly.

"But it would be a most appropriate peace-offering. Perhaps even one worthy of bringing out another of the treasures you brought out from the gate. I'll start with some drafts and concepts as soon as I finish the order for our esteemed guild master."

"Oh, so Uncle Walker finally took up my offer? Which one did he pick? The Singular Seed for his plant conjurations?"

"Indeed. Perhaps not the most out-of-the-box pick, but Walker does seem to value keeping his path close to its core. I'm happy with how the bracers are coming along too."

"And I'm happy to hear that Uncle Walker finally accepted some 'pampering', as he's prone to calling it," Kite said, scooping up the seemingly fearless Jasmine who had abandoned mount Dragonfly and come wandering over in search of a new challenge. He started to create a simple set of barrier tunnels for the toddler with the channeled application of Leyline warding, complete with a slanted slide at the end, and the bubbling laughter was proof that his offering had been well-received.

"What about you, Dragonfly?" Peony asked as the woman came over to join them alongside Sun, who joined his daughter in playing as he scooped her up with his prehensile monkey's tail.

"Anything you want? With the right base-materials and quintessence I could perhaps give you something which causes your flames to burn cold instead."

"Ooooh, tell me more!" Dragonfly said, and the planning session began anew.

"Oh Laevyeth! You look marvelous!" Dove called as the outworlder emerged from the tailor's shop along Dragonfly and Kite.

"Dost thou think so, esteemed Dove? I am yet too new to the concept to truly have a grasp of what you call 'fashion'," Laevyeth replied, looking down at her attire.

"It does seem to fit though, does it not?" she finished, and no one present missed the slight smile of wonder playing at the outworlder's lips. She was now dressed in a dress in the Hua-Xi style, but rather than the looser robes she had borrowed from Kite, the pale cyan garment was cinched tight to her tall form, buttoning up the side to a stiff collar. The skirt was slit down one side though, allowing for some range of motion.

Overall, the attire just enhanced the outworlder's tall, thin frame in the way that seemed to have resonated with her so far.

"This young mistress agrees, of course, or I would not have allowed her to leave this establishment," Glint called as she too emerged from the store, her own dimensional bags filled with new acquisitions.

"Glint… does have a better eye for this, I'll admit," Dragonfly agreed, turning to the familiar.

"It's really amazing how fast you've picked up fashion."

"Oh it is quite natural, I assure you. The potential was always there. I just needed the prerequisites to properly embrace it," Glint replied.

"The fashions of the capital are, of course, the most progressive, but there is still a subcurrent of embracing elements of the more traditional-" The familiar continued into a more lengthy explanation, but Kite's aura senses - even mostly retracted as they were - had picked up something familiar. Or rather, someone.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back," he said, nudging Dragonfly's aura to let her know that it wasn't something serious or dangerous before he moved off among the crowded streets of Bastion. His target wasn't far off, fortunately, and Kite only had to venture down half of the length of the Sixth Step to find the person emitting the familiar aura.

"Apparently the heavens smile upon this vagabond as it lets his path cross with that of the knowledgeable sage once more," he called in greeting to the woman who stood waiting in one of the small sculpture-laden parks and looking off into the other direction. He accompanied it by a gentle nudge of his spirit, careful with the core-laden bronze one of his counterpart.

"Oh- wha- who- Kite?" Still Brook in Blooming called, jumping at the spot at his sudden arrival.

"The vagabond is pleased that you still remember him," Kite replied with a smile.

"How have you been? As you might have noticed, it has been some time since my path last led me to the city."

"Oh, I… I have been well," Brook replied, her usual slight shyness after a few months apart back as usual.

"Honestly, I can tell. You're progressing steadily through bronze-rank, so I assume that the Magic Society keeps appreciating you. And those are most flattering robes too," he noted.

"Planning for a night out?"

"Well, thanks, Kite. I… do, actually-," Brook began, but was interrupted by another call as a human man around their age came walking up towards them. He was tall and thin, black hair kept short along with a neat mustache and beard, and a Magic Society pin was fastened at his collar.

"Brook! Apologies for my tardiness! The samples had to-" the iron-ranker - also a core-user - began before finally seeming to notice Kite as he came close enough to catch a hint of the mostly retracted and concealed silver-ranked aura. He started, looking to Kite with a frightful expression.

"Oh heavens, I am sorry Master Silver. I was remiss in not offering my greetings to you. I am named Reaching Branch finds the Morning, but would be pleased for you to call me Tall Branch. Most everyone does," he hurriedly said, bowing deep in greeting as he stopped at Brook's side.

Kite did his best not to sift through their auras on any deeper level, but from the stirring feelings of anxious attraction between the two - now accompanied by a whole slew of worry and other more anxious ones from Brook as she looked between the two men - it was hard not to piece together who Brook had been waiting for and the purpose of their planned evening together.

"Greetings, Tall Branch," Kite greeted in return with the appropriate bow.

"I am named Kite Flown in on Winds of Fortune, but would be pleased for you to call me Kite."

"Wait, as in Kite's aegis? With the actual kites?" the man asked, understanding dawning in his eyes.

"The same, although it feels like half a life ago since those particular… events," Kite replied.

"Oh heavens, it really is you! And you know him, Brook? How?" Tall Branch asked, baffled and seemingly awed at the same time, a sentiment which Kite realized that he was a bit unused to these days after having moved more frequently in settings where a silver-ranker wasn't anything too special.

"Well… I- We-" Brook began, and Kite could see the worry in her aura spike as she floundered for words. And as he felt that certain comparisons wouldn't be helpful in the slightest, no matter if they might be from the past or not, Kite chose to come to her aid.

"Actually, we grew up together, back in Starberry Peak, north of Gilded. I was fast friends with both Brook and her brother before they moved here," he explained, completely omitting any further details of their teenage romance.

"We happened upon each other here in Bastion a few years ago, some time after Brook began working for the Magic Society, and I try to keep in touch when I am back in the city. Brook even helped me research some most important subjects too, and has been an invaluable help for this poor adventurer."

"Really? You did? Brook, that's amazing! I am, as always, awed by the way you seem to know these libraries like the back of your hand. The head librarian was wise to recommend you for the position now that he's planning retirement," Tall Branch said, turning to Brook who was now blushing beneath the praise. Kite didn't even need his spiritual senses to see how he went out of his way to praise her.

"Oh she did indeed," he said before Brook could protest.

"She has helped me learn more of both my familiars, as well as given me invaluable advice before I took on one of the Queen's Gates."

"No way!"

"It is most true, I assure you. Let me tell you all about-" Kite continued, but seeing the slight glare Brook was shooting him above her furious blush, he decided that he had probably rendered enough assistance for the time being.

"-it another time. Brook did say you were going somewhere, and I will not keep you. It was nice to meet you, Tall Branch. May the heavens keep you both and gods bless your evening."

"Thank you, Kite," Brook said, turning to Tall Branch.

"Mind giving us a quick moment?"

"Oh, of course, of course. Say your farewells," the iron-ranker said, bowing to Kite before making his way towards the edge of the park. As he was out of earshot, Brook turned back to Kite, a slight blush once more visible on her cheeks.

"Really, thank you Kite. I will tell him. It's just- I don't-""It is no trouble, I understand," Kite said, breaking in as Brook was fumbling for words.

"He really seems nice."

"He is. He's within the alchemy department. We've just started… Well… Seeing each other."

"Then as I said, may the heavens keep you both. Do you still want me to come by from time to time when I am in the city? I wouldn't wish to complicate things."

"No, please do. It should be alright. As I said, it's just so… new. And I really want to see where it will go," Brook said, turning to look towards the eagerly waiting alchemist.

"I should go. But it was nice seeing you, Kite. May the heavens keep you as well." With that, Brook turned set off towards her date. Kite waved and turned to go back to the others, but his silver-ranked hearing did let him catch a bit of Tall Branch's words as the pair went in the other direction.

"-really Brook, you know a silver-ranker? I'm so jealous."

"Well… I… two of them, actually. Kite's lover, Dragonfly, is an adventurer too."

"What? Amazing! Tell me all about it!" Lingtung, dreaded pirate among the Palayan islands, grinned like a sea devil as his lookout - a bronze-ranker with the eagle essence - called down from the crow's nest to confirm that the passenger ship was now visible ahead. As a silver-ranker, he enjoyed being the biggest fish in the small nook of these seas, the relatively magic-sparse multitude of small islands rarely seeing the attention of anyone with actual powers.

And with his crew, a few of bronze-rankers, a few more irons and some carrying one or two essences, Lingtung knew that whatever he chose to plunder in these waters would be easy prey, just as he liked it. Ahead, the ship - a huge catamaran-like vehicle carrying both passengers and cargo, came into view for his mighty senses. It had already started to light the warning beacons and Lingtun could vaguely make out small flittering forms across the deck as the sailors desperately tried to make the ship go faster.

"It is already too late," Lingtung smiled as he sent the mental command to his familiar in the waters to increase their speed. Beneath the surface, chains snapped taut as the ravager dolphin started pulling them forward while giving off eager clicking sounds in expectation of the blood that were soon to paint the turquoise waters a shade of crimson. The pirate ship rushed forward towards their quarry as if riding a gale force wind.

Lingtung could soon make out the panicking sailors in greater detail, with a captain trying to muster and prepare what defenses he could. And…

"Wait, who's that elf?" Lingtung thought, noticing a figure clad in flowing robes around gleaming silver armor, blonde hair flapping dramatically in the wind. Then, somehow carried across the distance even over the crashing of water against the hull of the pirate vessel, Lingtung heard the chant.

"The oldest weapon, the purest instrument, wielded by many yet mastered by few. I call upon the might of the phalanx, the purity of the thunderbolt and the means with which to drive darkness before me. By the grace of the skies, we act as one!"

Twenty-four spears appeared in the air around the elf, each glowing with different aspects of magical fury - from smoldering flames, to crackling lightning to the shuddering power of echoes and doom - and the elf raised his hand high as even more glowing javelins started appearing just as his next call carried across the waters to reach Lingtung's ears.

"No more delays! Destiny awaits me, and I don't have the time for the likes of you!" Then, judgment descended.