Chapter: 316 - Her Next Moves (Patreon)

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Tala took an extra moment to consider her next moves. She needed to investigate Io’s corpse, but she wanted to proceed intelligently.

-The automaton body is not really dead, so is it fair to call it a corpse?-

But she is. Therefore, it is Io’s corpse, even if it isn’t dead.

-Yeah… that’s fair.-

Tala bit her lip in thought. You know, if I lost my head and my gate, but my body had enough latent energy to return itself to full health, I think it would be the same. I would be dead, so the body would be my corpse, but the body, itself, wouldn’t be dead.

-Yeah, I regret bringing up that very remote possibility.-

She shrugged. It’s an interesting comparison, if nothing else.

Tala returned her mind to the topic of Io’s body.

The inactive automaton had been set aside, placed into the vat of magical liquid to finish maturing. That process had finished, and the result had been waiting for her to begin investigations into its secrets for quite a while now. Thus, it really wasn’t surprising that her mind had moved back to the automaton and the need to kickstart that process.

I do think it is time.

-Really? … fine. No experiments, but you can go examine it.-

Tala quirked a smile. “Thanks, Mom.”

It was a funny thing, how she found herself speaking to Alat both internally and externally, depending on the circumstances. She hadn’t put together a pattern, per se, but she had started to take note of the various instances.

But that was not the matter at hand.

With a thought, Tala was in her sanctum’s lower reaches, standing near—but out of reach of—a tank filled with purple liquid.

The body was substantially more developed than when Tala had fought Io.

The automaton had seemed like a late teen at that time, by body size and development, but now, it was clearly meant to mimic an adult.

Armor plates with sophisticated, ingrained spell-forms covered the majority of form.

Their configuration clearly wasn’t designed like a suit of armor, so it wasn’t perfectly sealed by a long margin. Even so, it was obviously much more protective than the average person’s flesh.

Under the plating, Tala could see bits of the construct poking through. Now, it looked like nothing so much as muscle of braided and interwoven precious metals, but each bunch was surrounded with an odd, semi-clear material of unknown composition, filled with natural magics that Tala could sense were meant to replenish and act upon the metals contained within.

A muscular system that can be strained and heal back stronger?

-That’s what it looks like to me.-

Io didn’t have anything like that. I feel like I would have noticed.

-No, it didn’t when you fought it. That is the latest development, I believe. At the very least, the magical, metal muscles weren’t visible when we checked last, and everything indicated it was almost complete at that time.-

And it is complete now?

-Yes. From everything we can determine.-

So, the ‘muscles’ that had been there had expanded and been filled with this more biological-like, magical mechanism.

It seemed to imply that the body could train and be molded to its needed tasks.

Automata are more human-like than I had assumed.

-That seems to be true, at least if we assume that Io is actually made in their image.-

Do you doubt that fact?

-Not really? It seems odd to consider them being able to have such a profound impact from wherever they are sealed.-

Assuming they are sealed.

-Tala. If they weren’t—-

Tala waved her off. I know, I know. If they weren’t contained, they’d be doing more than simply influencing a random arcane researcher or two.

-Exactly.-

She returned her focus to the automata.

If it were freed of its growth tank, the form would stand taller than her, though it had similar proportions.

The figure was designed to have feminine characteristics, for whatever reason.

It’s almost scaled to be like the larger arcane species, but not quite that size.

-I agree. It seems like it’s as large as a being could be while still fighting a human scale with relative ease.-

Yeah… I don’t remember any overlarge features in the hold we took this stuff from. Maybe they just were an average sized group, so they made this creation to be powerful and overbearing, but still work within their facilities.

-That’s a pretty solid guess, actually. Certainly better than many other reasons we’ve considered.-

Tala smiled at that. Isn’t that the truth.

They had bandied about some rather insane potential reasons for all sorts of aspects of the automata they’d fought.

Tala stepped forward and placed her hand against the side of the tank. “There is so much about you that we don’t know.”

She knew that there was no consciousness to hear her, and she doubted her words would have carried through the rather thick, purple fluid regardless.

The tank was warm under her hand, both with heat and magical power. It was an impressively magically dense construct, all things considered.

-We need to get to work on researching all the spell-forms contained within.-

Tala only paused for a moment before nodding. “Let’s do it.”

Without further delay, she moved her bloodstars around the tank, panning her perspective over the automaton from every angle using mundane vision, magesight, and voidsight.

Her aura suffused the purple liquid, pulling all the information she could from that perception as well.

It would not be a fast process, and it would likely take many days to complete it properly, but together, she and Alat began building a comprehensive, three-dimensional understanding of the unusual creation that had fallen into their hands.

In the end, they hoped to have a map similar to what Inscriptionists used to design spell-forms for their clients.

They wanted to fully understand every aspect of the magics involved in the automaton’s construction.

This was a chance that they simply couldn’t pass up, and truthfully, they didn’t trust anyone else to do it.

They would bring in others to study what they pulled from the form, but the automaton itself? That would stay here unless someone like Master Xeel asked for it.

While they had it, they would not simply hide it away, fearful of what it could do, what it could mean.

No.

Tala and Alat would learn everything they could; they would find every secret and weakness hidden within the automaton, and they would pray that that information would never be needed.

* * *

Tala sat around a small table with Latna and Master Leighis.

Mistress Petra had outdone herself with the meal, even specifically mirroring the mundane food for the other two and Tala’s magic-filled fare.

The Mage-cook had made a selection of meat pies, varying the makeup of the crusts and composition of the contents for a truly scrumptious and varied spread.

It also made for a funny comparison.

While the Healer and Alchemist, between them, had five or six little serving dishes, each with three of the given type of pie, Tala had a single large platter with a full thirty sundry pies.

The evening began rather boisterously as Latna described how they’d made great strides in cornering the market for the iron paint that Tala had helped them acquire the recipe for.

The Constructionist Guild had a standing order for just a little more than they could make.

While it was slightly frustrating to leave money on the table, it also meant that what little they couldn’t supply wasn’t being fulfilled by another alchemist.

There wasn’t enough profit in it for another alchemist to fork out the cost for the recipe.

At least there was no reason until the contract Latna had negotiated came close to its end, but that wouldn’t be for another three and a half years.

They were using the time to get better at the process and reduce expenses surrounding the production. Latna guessed that they’d be in a place to offer rates no one else could match when the contract turned over.

That would cut into their profits, but it would cement their hold on the customer.

At that point, they would be positioned to increase production and possibly begin selling in the neighboring cities, or more likely, seeking out other customers in Marliweather.

The various aspects of that got them through most of dinner, at which point, the topic turned to magic.

Latna was beaming. “Master Leighis has been incredibly kind, taking his time to teach me the basics of inscriptions and the foundational theories of Magic.”

Tala smiled at that. “Oh? Are you moving her toward a specific quadrant or seeing how things fall?”

He smiled. “It is a bit early to be focusing on any specific quadrant or type of magic, honestly. I am just attempting to give her a solid foundation. She may stop at inscribed, but I don’t think so. I see her being able to go the distance. She’s bound to have a good chance.”

Tala heard the none-to-subtle statement in his last sentence. He thought that Latna should have a good chance of making it to Archon. Honestly, that was a weight off of Tala’s mind. She still felt like she didn’t really understand how to tell who would make it and who wouldn’t.

She simply didn’t have enough experience with meeting Mages before they made the attempt, in order to draw comparisons between those who did, and those who didn’t succeed.

Tala purposely let her gratitude at the information show through. “That is very kind of you, Master Leighis. Thank you.”

“It is my pleasure. My own master suggested that I solidify my base of understanding and examine my perspectives before pushing toward Fused…” He hesitated at that. “You have… rather exceeded that level of advancement.”

She pulled her smile back to a small, polite one. “I have had rather extraordinary circumstances driving me forward, most of which I would not wish on… anyone.”

She had almost said that she wouldn’t wish them on her worst enemy, but she realized that wasn’t actually true. Were he still alive, she would wish every manner of torture upon Be-thric.

I suppose it also isn’t accurate to say that I wouldn’t wish it on ‘anyone.’ Even so, it was vague enough to not really be untrue.

“I can understand that.” Master Leighis’ face softened. “I know the barest amount of what you went through, and I definitely agree, I would not want to pay that price to advance.”

Tala shrugged and shifted the subject. “So? How do you feel about your own progress?”

“Well, I am coming to be more at peace with who I am and what I do. I definitely have a deeper resonance and connection with healing. My master and I felt that my deepest barrier to my Fusing was that I was pursuing the path of destruction, when healing held a stronger calling for me.”

Not a problem for me, but I suppose that everyone struggles in different areas. “So, you are moving towards Fusing, then?”

“I am. I feel a component, for me, is helping others reach their full potential, not just physically.”

Tala had never really considered healing a manner of helping a body realize its potential, but it made sense as soon as he said it. Even so, that wasn’t what he was bringing up. “Hence, teaching.”

“Yes, teaching. My previous student was a good memory to look back on, and I came to realize that that pursuit was a part of what I needed. Latna has been kind enough to learn from me, so that I could test that theory.” He then got very uncomfortable and seemed to hesitate.

Not wanting to push, Tala took a long drink to give him time.

It was then that he nodded. “I’ll just come out and say it, we wanted to talk with you before we formalized our relationship.”

Tala spat out her drink.

She really couldn’t fall into coughing fits, but she definitely felt that some water had gotten into her lungs.

Her inscriptions removed it with speed and efficiency even as she forced out a slightly garbled, “What?”

Latna was frowning at Master Leighis, but he seemed to not notice. “I know it’s highly irregular, but I felt like it was prudent to consult you before I make her my mageling, officially.”

Tala blinked at that before asking, again, “What?”

Latna shook her head. “Master, I think that you gave her the wrong idea with how you asked.”

He frowned. “What do you mean? What did she…?” His eyes widened. “Oh. Oh! No, my apologies, Mistress Tala!”

He held up his hands, a look of genuine contrition painting his features.

“I feel that it is appropriate for the important people in a mageling’s life to approve of their master, before such a relationship is made official.”

Tala found herself nodding. That was not always the case, but it did make sense. A mageling-master relationship was a massively important one that often lasted for as long as the Mages both lived.

Master Leighis’ own obviously continued communications with his own master stood as testament to that.

“Well,”—Tala cleared her throat—“what information do you feel is pertinent for me to know, before I approve?”

Latna groaned before interjecting. Even though her tone was long-suffering, something about her made Tala believe that she was incredibly on edge, “I think it’s pertinent for you to know that I get to choose, and I’ve already chosen.”

Tala barely suppressed a smile as she gave Master Leighis a mock-serious glance, trying to draw Latna out of whatever was bothering her. “You certainly let your magelings speak disrespectfully toward those above them. Maybe we should discuss how you intend to handle discipline?”

He gave a half smile. “The beatings will continue until morale improves?”

Tala chuckled. “That’s a good start.”

Latna glared at them both. “That’s not very funny. Beatings aren’t good for morale.”

Tala and Master Leighis shared a look before they both burst out laughing. Tala took it upon herself to address her sister. “That’s the joke, Latna.”

Latna froze, coloring slightly. “Right, of course.”

Master Leighis continued to chuckle.

Despite the awkwardness, it seemed that the odd underlying tension of the topic had been thoroughly dispelled.

As such, the three settled into discussing the specifics of what it would look like for Latna to be his mageling.

He specifically offered Tala the chance to fulfill the master role for Latna, despite her sister’s clear hesitation.

Tala flatly refused. Though, she did thank him for checking with her and offering her the opportunity to refuse.

Where she was going, and what she was going to be doing in the near future, was no place for a mageling.

She had no way of healing others, either, and it would be irresponsible in the extreme to bring someone unsuited to danger into it without clearly set up layers of protection and recovery.

Tala might be a bit freer with danger than most Mages, but she only really acted that way with herself, because she knew she could take the fallout.

Thankfully, she hadn’t been wrong yet.

That moved them onto the topic of her future plans, and their plans, and all in all, they passed the evening in incredibly pleasant conversation.

They only paused to grab dessert, a multi-layered fluffy delicacy with just the hint of coffee.

Tala was refraining from diving back into that black hole, even though it would likely be fine for her now.

Dark, rich, amazing—

-Tala!-

Hmm?! What? Tala almost jerked at Alat’s outburst.

-You swore off coffee for at least another two months.-

I know, but…

-No coffee. This dessert is fine, but no liquid coffee.-

Fine…

It was nearly midnight when the two bid Tala goodnight, and she felt surprisingly tired.

Who knew? Being social is more exhausting than fighting a House’s worth of arcanes?

-Every introvert, everywhere.-

Ahh, but how many have the actual experience to truly do the comparison?

-Yes, Tala, you are very special.-

You’re not very nice sometimes.

-Go to sleep, Tala. I was derived from you, remember? And we’re tired.-

She definitely was exhausted. Still, she took the time to walk to her room rather than simply cause Kit to move her. I still need to study that more.

-Not tonight!-

No, of course not tonight. Don’t be silly.

-…you’re not in bed yet.-

Tala huffed a laugh, pausing in the courtyard that surrounded her dais to look up at the stunning night sky for just a moment.

“Beautiful.” She spoke softly, so it didn’t carry.

She knew it was fake, but she saw it as a sort of living painting. It didn’t matter too much if a painting depicted something that actually existed or not. It just needed to evoke the emotion it was intending to bring forth.

This did that in gold.

She drew her thoughts back together and walked into her room, pushing open the massive door and letting it swing silently shut behind her.

Her usually spartan room was now a little less so.

She’d added two little shelves.

One held a slightly wonky glass vase made with off-blue and brownish-red glass.

The other held a small cross-stitch of a wolf-pack, held flat in a frame.

Dagan and Alva had insisted on giving her the gifts. They were her favorites of what they’d shown her, and she felt a smile tug at her lips as she glanced their way.

In their own way, the little works of art were just as lovely as the faux night sky outside. In many ways, they meant more.

The sky had been commissioned for an indentured servant and commissioned from a workman who had likely made dozens, if not hundreds. Oh, the arcane had done an excellent job, but it had been just that: a job.

The two pieces of art from her siblings were works of passion, given out of love for their big sister, and the very idea pulled at Tala’s heartstrings.

She wiped away a tear and chuckled ruefully. “Rust, I really do need to sleep.”

Alat wisely didn’t comment.

Without further delay, Tala retracted her elk-leathers and glanced down at herself. “Well, that was pointless. I’m not going to get rid of the iron to sleep.”

There was no need for it to be in place either, but it felt more… normal.

You’re sleeping, self-entombed in iron. Nothing about this is normal.

-Well, to be fair, ‘more normal.’-

Tala huffed a laugh and flexed her willpower. The clothing regrew even as Tala sealed her own mouth and eyes.

She would sleep fully encased in iron, even if it wasn’t reasonable to leave herself so sealed while interacting with others.

It was a bit odd, sleeping without breathing.

At first, it had harkened a bit too much to her Refining, but through careful exposure, she was getting more used to it. By this point, it only occasionally caused dreams of drowning, or being buried alive, or suffocated or…

Thinking like that isn’t helping…

She shook her head and stopped mirroring her own perspective, letting herself be enclosed in utter darkness.

Goodnight, Alat.

-Goodnight, Tala.-

Sleep claimed her quickly.

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